Comic books as we know them have been a staple form of entertainment for nearly a century. While I have written numerous articles here about them and what they are worth, we have never discussed how they are actually made.
The comic book creation process is a team effort, and a lot more complicated than most people envision. It involves a writer, penciler, inker, colorist, and letterer. Before any artwork is created the story needs to be developed and formatted to fit the number of pages within the book. Once the story has been refined the writer then makes a script for the penciler to follow and begin creating each page. The pencil work is only one-third of the artistic process. After the pencil work has been completed and reviewed by the editor the pages are then given to the inker. The inker is the artist within the process that gives depth and texture to the artwork, making the drawings far more detailed from the penciler’s original work. Finally, when all of the black and white artwork is completed, the letterer will then add the dialogue throughout the story. This might sound simple, but in fact is a high-pressure gig! The letterer needs to select the right typeface, size, and effect to convey the words and sounds the reader is hearing in their head. It is after this that the original pages are scanned and printed for the colorist to go in and paint each page and cover in preparation for final print.
What the colorist creates is known as a color guide, a piece of original art but also a tool to guide the printer in what colors they need to use. The coloring is so specific paints are calculated to a final percent and given a code. For example, a shade of red used for Spider-Man’s costume in a dark alley scene might be M78Y22, meaning 78% Magenta and 22% Yellow. To be a colorist you must be an extremely punctilious person and stay focused on the smallest of details. That is why Andy Yanchus was able to have a successful 17-year career with Marvel Comics. To be a colorist and model maker you need to pay attention to detail, and it was the perfect fit for Andy.
This coming New Year’s Day at Bruneau & Co. we will be offering Part II of the Andy Yanchus collection focusing on his comics and color guides from his time with Marvel. In the world of original art collecting color guides are unusual, in that they do not appear frequently on the market. Andy’s archive includes covers for X-Men, Avengers, Daredevil, and even an unpublished cover for Black Panther #16. It is going to be a fantastic auction, and an exciting way to ring in the New Year. If you would like to learn more about the comic and original art market, feel free to contact us at the gallery. You never know what you might have.
