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karnakjr's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
McCloud is still one of the most relevant formalists to ever work in comics. This book trades the broad usefulness of Understanding Comics, for an instructive introduction that makes making accessible. The exercises are interesting, and probably thorough enough to make this the core textbook of an introductory class.
If I was going to teach making comics, I would start here.
If I was going to teach making comics, I would start here.
weechito's review against another edition
4.0
As usual for McCloud, his ideas are sharp, his writing crisp, and his art is clever and clean. I’m not a comics creator, but this book still gives plenty of interesting insight into the process.
helpfulsnowman's review against another edition
This would be a great book to read if you had an idea for a comic and didn't really have the skills.
Scott McCloud isn't afraid to show how the sausage is made, and I think that for me, a reader who enjoys comics but doesn't so much want to write them, it took away just a little of the magic. This is totally a good thing, not a slam. The book sets out to explain how to do things within comics, and it does so just right. But for me, right now, I like a little mystery. I like to feel a certain way in comics and wonder what happened. I don't like to know what the author is doing.
But seriously, if you're someone who wants to make comics, pick this up and flip to the exercises at the end of any of the chapter. And for the sake of reader clarity, I urge you to pay attention to what he says about complicated, busy layouts that make comis hard to read.
Scott McCloud isn't afraid to show how the sausage is made, and I think that for me, a reader who enjoys comics but doesn't so much want to write them, it took away just a little of the magic. This is totally a good thing, not a slam. The book sets out to explain how to do things within comics, and it does so just right. But for me, right now, I like a little mystery. I like to feel a certain way in comics and wonder what happened. I don't like to know what the author is doing.
But seriously, if you're someone who wants to make comics, pick this up and flip to the exercises at the end of any of the chapter. And for the sake of reader clarity, I urge you to pay attention to what he says about complicated, busy layouts that make comis hard to read.
obnorthrup's review against another edition
4.0
Another great distillation of what makes comics worthwhile.
rachelhelps's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fun book to pick up and read a little bit at a time. I don't know whether or not McCloud recycled much of his material from Understanding Comics (haven't yet read it). I liked the idea and execution of illustrating how to make comics in comic book form. It lets the reader learn about comics in a freer way - through image as well as through text. I'd like to see more text books in comic book form, honestly.
rebeccacider's review against another edition
5.0
Read this for work, not because I have any (serious) pretensions of making comics. I loved it - it was a great followup to Understanding Comics and taught me a lot about how comics creators approach their craft.
I suspect that comics have a lot to teach fiction writers - just as novelists borrow cinematographic techniques, they could apply comics storytelling to narrative, characters, and worlds. For instance, I struggle at describing facial expressions and body language and have use artists' guides in the past to help me ground my characters in reality. On the more experimental end of things, applying the techniques behind comic panels could result in a narrative in which events are represented as a series of visual moments.
Finally, McCloud has helped me take manga seriously, which I regret to admit I have not always done in the past.
I suspect that comics have a lot to teach fiction writers - just as novelists borrow cinematographic techniques, they could apply comics storytelling to narrative, characters, and worlds. For instance, I struggle at describing facial expressions and body language and have use artists' guides in the past to help me ground my characters in reality. On the more experimental end of things, applying the techniques behind comic panels could result in a narrative in which events are represented as a series of visual moments.
Finally, McCloud has helped me take manga seriously, which I regret to admit I have not always done in the past.
msmo's review against another edition
3.0
After reading Scott McCloud’s Making Comics I have a much deeper appreciation for artists who produce comic books, manga, and graphic novels. There is the story to be told, drawings to illustrate, and dialogue to create… all with style. McCloud, a comic book artist with over twenty years under his belt, has written a guide for aspiring comic book artists in creating their own works – and he has largely done so humorously in comic book form. Discusses unique use of panels to tell a story, tools of the trade, perspective drawing, and special tricks to deliver the message. Includes many examples from other artists. Very well annotated and glossed, including art credits, bibliography and recommended reading. Although I have no illusions of drawing comics myself, I have much better understanding of how to read them, what to notice, and above all, better appreciate the talent this book form requires.