Storytelling Secrets of Comics - Manga and Graphic Novels

Book arrived early and in great condition.

I was recommended this book by a comic artist, despite his high regard of the book I was still surprised at it's quality. It is a wonderful reference that even includes exercises to help drive home the concepts in each chapter. Most useful to comic artists, regardless of format, but also a good reference for sequential art in general.

Outstanding resource for the aspiring -- and even experienced -- comics artist and writer. I've read a lot of books on this topic, and this one is #1 by far. Covers every aspect of the art of comics and is a treasure trove of smart tips and insights. I use my copy regularly like an encyclopedia whenever I get stuck during a project, and I always find practical advice I can use, whatever my issue happens to be. The pages on facial expressions are worth the price all by themselves -- what an incredible help that has been to me -- but this volume contains so much more than that.

McCloud's Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art is also outstanding.

The resolution of the graphics is so low that the text becomes impossible to read in a lot of places. Wether that text is important or not is impossible to say, since it isn't legible. The statement that "it is optimized for larger screens" is nonsense, the images are low resolution. I've now ordered the printed version instead.

We are returning the book because the printing on 10+ pages in the beginning of the book were smeared. Hope this wasn't on purpose. My son was pretty disappointed. Hope to get a new one from a different supplier. Thanks.

This is not judging the quality of the book itself but the Kindle Versions formatting is simply atrocious. I bought it for convenience but quickly had to return it thanks to the text being way to small to read. If you need to get this book, a physical copy of it is the way to go.

The last of Scott McClouds three books that delve deeply into the ethos of Comic Books, Making Comics is focused more on the actual creation of the works. The first in the series, Understanding Comics, was an exploration of comics as a pop icon, and explained the physics of comics and their storytelling ilk. The second volume, Reinventing comics, was a history of comics, and a predicted future. Making Comics takes the next step for would-be comic creators who, now that they understand all that comics entail, where they come from and where they're going, need a few more tips to get themselves started.

The first two volumes are more of an analytic perspective of comics; Making comics is a practical guide with technical details including recommendations for buying office furniture and art supplies. For me, this was the least valuable information, since I'm not planning on any type of dalliance with creativity. But for the analyst in me, there are wonderful bits of information about scene composition, types of lettering styles and deciding what not to draw.

As with the other books, McCloud breaks down key concepts into four categories, around which he structures the entire book. But it's clear that this particular book is geared towards the all-in-one creator (like McCloud himself), as there are many specifics that pertain to artwork. He does touch on all aspects, however, and provides ample bibliographic information for any of the disciplines involved.

Anyone who is serious about getting into comic creation - or anyone who, like myself, is curious about the art of sequential storytelling - would do themselves a world of good to read at least the first and third books; anyone who wants to create and market their work should include the second as well.

I don't get the impression in "Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels" that Scott McCloud at the time of its making planned to go beyond it (as he has) with additional volumes in a how-to-with-Comics series; so this book is intended to cover as much in an overview of the writing, drawing, and even marketing of comics as possible. Mr McCloud does this and he does it very well, with humor, and with humility, for such a well-known and recommended comics creator and teacher. The book features Scott "selfie" cartoons, transmuting and contorting throughout, to visually demonstrate the teaching point being made.

As a beginner in the comics mode of rendition (I'm not technically a "beginner", but the last time I produced a [non-published!] comic was 1964, so I am, really), there's several things I appreciate about Scott. One is his honest and quite humble approach to teaching. In the anatomy/life-drawing section, for example, he inserts "...um...well....my own figure drawing isn't exactly the greatest...But if you're like me and anatomy doesn't come easily, you can still IMPROVE..." and then goes on to show various techniques of doing so. Like most artists, I have all kinds of room for improving figure-drawing myself; but I found Scott's "overview" to be far more than adequate: He really *isn't* at all bad, even in realistic renderings of the human figure. Also, I get that delving too deeply into anatomy itself, while appropriate for life-drawing, can lead to *over*drawing in Comics. And in any case I've found other books that go into masterful detail on that subject, like Jack Hamm's superb "Drawing the Head & Figure". Scott has a section on Facial Expressions that may well be all the comics artist needs for a foundation on that front -- that, and a handmirror.

Too, I found McCloud's upfront admissions of the vast amounts of *(hard!) work-time required* of him to render quality (as a rule, realistic) drawings that "pull the reader inside" the story, to be encouraging for sincere - and especially, young - artists new to this medium. Far more so than those egoists who roll out their yard-long lists of their past achievements and awards, while retaining an elitist mystique as to exactly how they did that! Here, in realistic rendition of Scenes, Scott if anything, underrates his own abilities.

The book's only drawback, I found, would be for *writers* or for when the primarily-artist creator sits down to the *writing of*, comics: McCloud gives no full examples of his or any other's *Story* - giving truncated samples that contain misandric messages drearily often enough to be almost distracting to the student writer. The "making" of comics in this volume consist primarily of the how-tos of their visual over their writing aspect.

Here is a comprehensive book for beginners - or intermediates in any given subcategory - in the comic-books artform, by a very talented, masterful "people's artist" who tells any aspirant from the beginning, that all he needs is a cornerstore pencil, pen or marker, and a sheet of blank paper.

The difference between reading comics and creating comics is the same divide that exists between understanding Norwegian and speaking Norwegian. You might pick up a few things through some exposure, and you might understand the rhythms and know how to ask where the bathrooms are, but it's almost impossible to really hold a complex conversation without hammering out a few fundamental rules and immersing yourself in it. Scott McCloud is here to teach us how to speak the language of comics, and to reveal the subconscious cues that those sneaky artists slip into their pages to make us think and feel different things.

I don't want to say that McCloud's various published analyses into the world of comics are beyond reproach, but I will anyhow. As both a skilled writer and a skilled artist, McCloud has an organic sense of what goes where and why, as well as the ability to explain the subtleties of these things. McCloud's strength lies in the idea that while he expertly instructs us how to create a powerful visual narrative, he also acknowledges creativity and encourages the readers to punch holes in his lessons and redefine the language of comics. Nothing is presented as an absolute, and that's the best kind of creative teaching.

I spent a year teaching comics at a private school before I decided that it wasn't for me, but Making Comics was a constant crutch for me, since it provides many examples for the daily lessons that are appropriate for every age group. Making Comics is divided up into an obsessively detailed table of contents, arranged by the traditional order of steps in the comic creating process. One might think that a thick, analytical tome about how to make comics would be a bore, but McCloud's signature "thing" is to instruct about comics using comics--and because McCloud is explaining the diversity of ways that comics can be expressed, every page is absolutely full of variety and amazingly interesting layouts and ideas. Open to any page and be visually arrested. Each chapter is recapped with exercises to try and a verbal summary of what had just been conveyed--but don't worry, it's still mostly pictures. Every nuanced line can have books written about it, but McCloud simplifies just enough.

I also appreciate the fact that McCloud, though a talented artist, accepts his own limitations when providing examples of comic techniques. McCloud made the effort to reprint exact examples from the material that he's referencing, whereas the authors of some other books in the same genre of "teaching comics" try to emulate these examples--often unsuccessfully. If McCloud is talking about Frank Miller's use of inks, he shows a Frank Miller panel, which is far more valuable than someone sloppily mimicking Miller.

Making Comics is the No. 1, absolutely essential resource for anyone who might be interested in making comics or anyone who'd like an insight into what those crazy artist guys are thinking when they're tossing panels and angles around. Aspiring artists might think they know exactly what they're doing, but there are always ways to do it even better, and a few more Norwegian words to bulk up the lexicon with.

-- Collin David

I've always found it fascinating to imagine how a comic book author/illustrator creates the stories and images that appeal so much. Having been a non-fiction book author for many years, I have a firm understanding of the writing process. I sometimes pick out a few illustrations to put into a book.

But building a story around the illustrations, that seems like a trip to the planet Neptune to me. I was very pleased to find that Scott McCloud is very good at explaining (and illustrating) the creative and production processes he uses. I was delighted when I realized that he had also described how an individual could make a few comics to share with friends.

With computer art getting to be easier to do, I can see that there's even hope for those of us who couldn't draw out way out of a paper bag.

Mr. McCloud has the kind of mind that sees everything in perspective, in this case as facets of an overall story-telling task. He always has the goal of engaging the reader in mind and relates his points well to that purpose.

The work is impressive at another level . . . it's a masterpiece of providing instruction. The book shows more than tells, as a book about comics should do.

If Mr. McCloud ever tires of making comic books and graphic novels, he should go into explaining non-fiction subjects. He would make a fortune!

Scott McCloud became the premier comics theorist with his first book, Understanding Comics. His second book, Reinventing Comics, was much more controversial and not nearly as well received as his first. Finally, 13 years after his first magnificent insight into the comics world, Scott McCloud publishes Making Comics, a book he was destined to make since 1993. All of the theories in Making Comics are not only sound but brilliant and insightful, covering a vast range of topics from body language and facial expressions to the tools of the trade to the ever expanding genres and ways to publish comics. McCloud thoroughly dissects and examines every issue comics creators come across during the creative process and presents it in a way that's easy to comprehend and mindblowing at the same time. Along with presenting these findings, he tacks on notes to the end of each chapter with exercises that are easy to do and perfect for getting the creative juices flowing for aspiring comics creators. Not only is Making Comics an effective textbook for learners but, as a structured book, it's an intriguing narrative as well with McCloud bending, breaking, and exemplifying every rule he discusses. Through his narrative and visual style, Making Comics becomes an adventure with a character that can literally do anything. All through the book Scott displays a drive to create the ultimate comic book story he knows he's capable of making but all indications show that with Making Comics, he's already made it.

An excellent book, or rather a whole comic-college-course-in-a book, which we highly recommend to all our graphic novel artists who want to break into print or to newbies who want to become professional writers/artists. This course will teach you how to create comics (and manga) from start to finish; how to design your panels, compose your scenes for maximum effect on the reader, develop your plot, characters, twists, etc., etc. Everything is explained in a comic book style as from a comic maker to comic makers, so you don't have to read pages and pages of "dry" theory. Just watch the comic unfold before your eyes, read the balloons, and implement all the knowledge into your own graphic novel, whether you want to create it traditionally or digitally, or both (hybrid). This is a fantastic art-college-level textbook for all who are serious about this century-long business. Thanks, Scott!

This is a great tutorial and reference for anyone considering writing a comic book for the first time (or perhaps someone more experienced who'd like to get a fresh perspective and/or deeper understanding of fundamental structure). Scott has taken all those elements that go into making a good comic book (that you've probably noticed subconsciously but couldn't put into words) and laid them bare with expert analysis.

The analyses and guidelines are presented in a light-hearted, comic book format that is both entertaining and enlightening. You won't find yourself getting sleepy or distracted while reading this book - and you will understand every concept with perfect clarity, even if you are a complete novice.

Get this book! I found it at my local library and read it twice (cover to cover). I plan to buy it so that I'll have it handy for reference as I plan and begin drafting my first comic book.

Highly recommended.

McCloud has not just explained comics, he clearly explains how to tell stories, through the medium of comics. McCloud contends that the heart of any good comic is the story, and then shows us how to build characters, themes, moods and worlds around those stories. He has drawn/writen a broad and deep book on the heart and art of drawing stories in comic form.

I liked it especially because it showed me how to analyze movies like movie critics. It is just as good for learning how to analyze or read fiction and literature too. Not only that, it also is clear enough so that if you're a screenwriter, playwright or writer, it can help you understand how you can excel in telling stories through your particular medium.

You get even more understanding on your fifth read.

Complete garbage. I expected some useful how-to information and all I got was a lot of long winded rambling about emoting and style. There is maybe a 4 page section on tools and a single page dealing with the web that basically says, "use photoshop", there is no useful info on webhosting, drawing, publishing, or animation sequences. He doesn't cover storyboarding, design layout, print media or anything else for that matter, its just a bunch of hipster garbage that was overpriced at 10 bucks.

Scott McCloud has become the Prometheus of the Comic Book idiom dispelling the knowledge of the gods to us mere/ mortals...!!
This book WILL become the Guidebook, Map and Talisman to the ART of Graphic Narrative.

All the chapters in the book lend merit to ANY artist wishing to explore content as well as form:

The 5 Choices is well thought out and begins to give you the WHY as well as the HOW in graphic narrative. Many books show you HOW to draw comics; this book gives you the keys to [ahem..] MAKING COMICS!!!

The following chapters: Stories for Humans and Power of Words are exceptional explorations and discourses into the mechanics of REAL story telling. The section in "Stories for Humans" with the SIX basic facial expressions and the various "recipes" [83] of expressive combinations is WORTH looking into. I was looking at SPANISH tele-novellas [soap operas] and comparing expressions w/ Scott's formulas...IT WORKS!!! I wish Scott focused equally on bodily expressions.

In "Power of Words" you see correlations between the 7 types of word/picture combinations and the 5 choices.

The "World Building" section is equally rich and compels one to create worlds/ environments of substance with which one's characters can traverse.

The "Understanding Manga" is an refreshing excursion into a sub-set of comics much imitated but not much understood.

The chapter on "Tools & Technique" is worth the price. And, the examples at the end of chapters 1-3 are worth LOOKING INTO, APPLYING and DOING THE WORK!! I have seen a MARKED improvement in my comics as a result of using these excerises.

As an art educator, college instructor I have ALREADY incorporated the excerises within my current curriculum.

This book is worth using as a reference time and time again.

Firstly, this is a worthy companion piece for Understanding Comics and a great book in its own right. Continuing the easily understood style from the previous books, the book delves into the stylistic construction of comics in a much more detailed way than Understanding Comics and features an utterly jaw dropping section on anatomy.

The anatomy section, although only a few pages long, is well worth the price of the book alone. In a few diagrams McCloud shows a deep and considered understanding of facial expressions and clearly explains how to draw them. I cannot stress enough how inspirational and useful this section is to aspiring artists and people who struggle with this aspect of their drawing.

Overall the book is a very easy read, which belies the importance of the ideas and ease with which McCloud communicates them. Put simply, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to do comics or improve their drawing in general.

This is the best cartooning and illustration
book that has EVER been created. It accomplishes cartoons and
illustrating and explains everything. THIS is
the only book you will ever need. Don't let this
book escape you, you will NEVER forgive yourself if
you let this treasure get away. It is total visual
instruction. Easy to understand. Easy to attempt.
It is the book I keep on the drawing desk next to me
because it is so complete. Wow!!!!!!---- Luisa Felix

Si hacer comics fuera una religion, Scott seria el profeta.

Este, junto a sus otro 2 libros, es uno de los indispensables en la biblioteca del artista del comic. No importa el nivel en el que te encuentres, tanto para novatos y expertos, la lectura de making comics te lleva mas alla de lo que tipicamente un libro de "como hace comics" enseña.

Este no es un tutorial de como dibujar de cierta manera o de hacer guiones, sino una guia de como aplicar tu estilo y recursos de la mejor manera... y seguir descubriendo tu propio arte.

Muy inspirador.

-----------------------

If "comics" were a religion, Scott would be the prophet.

This, with his other 2 books, is one of indispensable in the comic artist's library. It does not matter the level in which you are, for novices and experts, the reading of Making Comics takes you beyond which typically a "how to" book teaches.

This it is not a tutorial to draw certain style or to write scripts, but a guide to apply your style and resources at your best... and keep discovering your own art.

Very inspirating.

I definitely don't care to make comics and although I occasionally pick-up a random issue or a graphic novel, I really don't read them much either. I was mainly interested in this book because I heard of good things about it and I wanted to be more informed about the process someone has to go through to make a comic. Although this book mainly focuses on creating a story, it held my attention and I feel like I walked away with a little more knowledge than I did before. I lot of the storytelling techniques I read in this book are things I've heard of in books about storytelling in other mediums, but it contains a lot of things specific to comics too. This is probably one of the more funny books I've read on the subject of storytelling and I like this approach better than a straightforward textbook approach. I don't think I'll be coming back to this book much for reference, but I'm glad I read it.

This book gave me all sorts of wonderful insights on how to make comics. I love the references McCloud has given to the reader, facial expressions, body portions, ect. If you're going to start out making comics, this is a MUST HAVE.

I'll keep it short and sweet...With Making Comics, Scott McCloud gives a quick overview of the large points of his seminal 'Understanding Comics' and then proceeds to teach the reader the language of comics. If you're here looking for a book to teach you the craft of making a comic, do it. Commit. This is your book.

Scott Mccloud's Making Comics resembles a constitution for those want to establish their comics either as a hobby or as a carrier. It goes through so many details regarding creating your panels, establishing scenes, storytelling, characters designs and feelings, drawing styles, and the list goes on. Simply, the book gives you a guideline for establishing a living world in papers. What makes "Making Comics" unique is that it can teach you how to be a comic artist even if you're not good enough in drawing. The book illustrates the fundamentals of drawings comics and let you be creative for starting your own comic book. All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book, and it will help me a lot for my comics' drawings.

Scott McCloud has distilled the content from his previous two works (Understanding and Reinventing Comics) into one very accessible graphic novel. If a person is more interested in comic language, I suggest reading "Understanding Comics". It provides a framework for analyzing the comics form and is more intellectually stimulating. "Making Comics" has wide appeal and is perfect for younger folks with interest in using the medium to produce comics. Most of all it's a fun read.

The previous reviewer accuses Scott McCloud of lacking the authority to write a guide to making comics. But McCloud's book is based on clear demonstration, not on authority.

McCloud does a remarkable job of showing--not just telling--the reader about how details of characters' expressions and body language reflect their mental states, how different "camera angles" and types of panels control the flow of the narrative, how the way an environment is presented affects our relationship to it, and more.

Reading the book, I encountered insight after insight about things that I had noticed intuitively about comics but never really been conscious of.

If you've ever wondered about the finer points of crafting a comic this is the book for you. This is not a how to draw book and if thats what you are looking for than this isn't for you. It IS a very intelligent and thought provoking insight into the story telling aspects of the creation of comics. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone serious about comics.

Making Comics is great for someone trying to understand the comic making process or maybe even get over a creative block. It's quirky, conversational nature makes it easy to read while still being incredibly informative. Even if its concepts are things you already understood, hearing them expressed so clearly both visually and in words will give you a richer understanding of the craft.

I found this book both helpful and fascinating as it shows the secrets to making comics stand out. I am considering being a comic book writer/artist (although the video game field is first priority for me), so this book can prove useful. Of course, I feel this book can be useful in other ways...

McCloud has essentially responded to Understanding Comics becoming the classroom textbook about Comics. But an Art Appreciation textbook isn't an Art Textbook. This is finally a coursebook for the medium, and a breath of fresh air to the aging shelf of comics "how to" volumes.

Scott McCloud is known best for his masterpiece, <u>Understanding Comics</u>. Whereas <u>Understanding Comics</u> clarified and simplified the principles of comics in a universally appealing way, <u>Making Comics</u> succeeds at removing the screws and getting into the cogs and gears that keep juxtapozed-pictorial-and-other-images-in-deliberate-sequence ticking.

That understood, this isn't really a book for someone that isn't interested in making comics, because most of the information within isn't easily applied to other disciplines, media, or general understanding of our own cognitive processes--at least not in the ways it so successfully did in <u>Understanding Comics</u>. That being said, the book also doesn't seem to offer a lot of useful information for the thoughtful veteran of comics creation, either. It's a bit like he's describing the subconscious actions that go with driving a car, but those won't necessarily make you a better driver.

Making Comics is definitely worth a gander, though--it's important to realize that even an average performance by Scott McCloud is quite well-done.