I’m a big believer in finding mentors that work in your field and studying what they do.  You can read theory until your head explodes, but if you don’t see how something is done, and that it can be done, the lesson is less likely to stick.  Even worse, you’re less likely to use the lesson well.

Hands down one of the best people I’ve ever seen mentor is Steve Lieber.  He makes mentoring look effortless, mostly because he’s made it part of how he works.  It is a constant part of how he works and what he does.

Which is smart because mentoring makes you a better student; it gives you a different perspective on work and forces you to break down what you’re doing into smaller sections, which is often enlightening (and, I won’t lie, occasionally horrifying).

I like to watch Steve mentor others because it helps me learn how to be a better mentor.  Plus, I usually learn a thing or two about comics in the process.

Steve and Jeff Parker have a swell new comic coming out called Underground (Image Comics).  If you haven’t already heard the buzz about it, consider yourself warned: you want to be up front and center when this puppy comes out in September.

Otherwise everyone else will be talking about it and you’ll be sad and alone in the corner feeling left out, again.

Making it even more exciting, they’re pulling back the curtain a bit to talk about how the comic was made (a.k.a., being good mentors).  I highly recommend you check it out.

Then march down to your favorite comic book store and demand they have Underground ready and waiting for you on September 23rd.  Or else.

And do spread the word about the comic, pretty please.