Building Trust with the Reader in The Eye Collector

In this solo episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. Jonathan Ball talks about his writing decisions behind Image Comics’ The Eye Collector, focusing on how to build—and earn—reader trust during a strange, complex story.

Using specific examples from the first three issues, Jonathan explores techniques like “selecting” the right readers, training them to handle ambiguity, layering subtext, and using questions, myths, and mirrored scenes to signal that the writer has a plan.

Along the way, he discusses the cosmic horror genre, postmodern storytelling, and the unique demands of serialized comics, offering practical insights for writers who want to challenge their audience without losing them.

Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠.

Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Watch The Princess and the Dragon ⁠on Apple TV⁠.