Comics & Narrative Practice
Use words and images to tell stories that captivate.
Learn how to tell powerful stories and create characters that leap to life from the pages of your comics and graphic novels. You’ll explore that, and more, in CCAD’s Comics & Narrative Practice program, as you develop a voice and a style that’s uniquely yours—and gain industry skills and knowledge, from pitching a story to crafting publisher-ready scripts to marketing your work. You’ll elevate your skills by learning to ink, color, and letter your comics. And you’ll do it under the guidance of our Comics faculty, who work with superhero powerhouses Marvel and DC; the iconic, creator-owned Image Comics; major children’s book publishers like Random House; and indie comics legend Fantagraphics.
In addition to all you do in the classroom, you’ll join a comics community that thrives on imagination—our hometown, Columbus, has the world’s largest comic book collection, at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum and hosts an annual convention with the who's who of the comics world at the annual Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC).
You’ll also shape your creative career with regular weekly workshops led by industry titans from Marvel and DC, indie comics legends, and even manga-ka from Japan! Throughout your time in the Comics program, you’ll hone your craft among the best of the business, ensuring that by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to tell the stories you’ve dreamed of.
Recent employers
- Andrews McMeel Publishing
- BOOM! Studios
- DC Comics
- Freestyle Comics
- IDW Publishing
- Image Comics
- Marvel Comics
- Milkfed Criminal Masterminds
- Oaktree Comics
- Oni Press
- Random House Publishing
- Ten Speed Press
Comics & Narrative Practice Student Work
How To Kill A ... Dragon
Rhen Rollins
Untitled
Lucky Christiansen
Untitled
Em Warren
Untitled
Ruby Paterson
Anthology
Abbie Swint
The last Voyage of Jules Verne
Fletcher Griffith
WOESOFA TEENAGE ROMANCE
Danny Gomez Rodriguez
Dear Diary
Swearingen Gillian
Black Gold
Jagger Stutzman
Boxerbob's Megaton Punch
Jonas Clagett
Over
Lucky Christiansen
Remains Forever
Megan Zalenski
Refuge
Skye Berggren
A Story Ready To Be Told
Tessa Luicart
How To Kill A ... Dragon
Rhen Rollins
2025
Ink and Paper
Untitled
Lucky Christiansen
2024
Digital
Untitled
Em Warren
2024
Digital
Untitled
Ruby Paterson
2027
Ink and Paper
Anthology
Abbie Swint
2025
Digital
The last Voyage of Jules Verne
Fletcher Griffith
2024
Digital
WOESOFA TEENAGE ROMANCE
Danny Gomez Rodriguez
2024
Digital
Dear Diary
Swearingen Gillian
2025
Digital
Black Gold
Jagger Stutzman
2023
Digital
Boxerbob's Megaton Punch
Jonas Clagett
2024
Ink/Digital color
Over
Lucky Christiansen
2024
Digital
Remains Forever
Megan Zalenski
2023
Digital
Refuge
Skye Berggren
2024
Digital
A Story Ready To Be Told
Tessa Luicart
2024
Digital
Publications
Spaces to Make
Our campus has the tools and the spaces to help you make your vision real.
Faculty
Meet the people who will help you along your creative and professional journey.
Adjunct Faculty
-
MJ Damsen[email protected]
-
Patrick Lay[email protected]
Course Spotlight
Comics Anthology Practicum
Team up with a professional comics/graphic novel writer to create illustrations for our annual comics anthology, Spitball. In addition to publishing, students will learn to market their work, both online and at comes and publishing trade shows and conventions.
Comics & Narrative Practice First Year Experience
Academic Year
Freshman Year - Fall
Course Title |
---|
2D Creative Practice |
Systems of Drawing |
Collaboration |
Mod Contemporary or Historical Art History |
Writing and the Arts |
Freshman Year - Spring
Course Title |
---|
Intro to Comics |
Drawing for Entertainment Design |
3D Making with Care |
History of Comics and Illustration |
Liberal Arts Self and Society Course |
Comics careers
After earning their BFA in Comics & Narrative Practice, our graduates leave ready to take on such roles as:
- Artist
- Character developer
- Colorist
- Comics illustrator
- Letterer
- Publisher