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A review by joemcduck
How To Make Webcomics by Dave Kellett, Brad Guigar, Kris Straub, Scott R. Kurtz
5.0
First and most importantly, I believe the advice is solid. This book is written with the clear understanding that the web is a delivery medium, not a format or genre. I think the authors successfully navigate the balancing act between fundamental advice for the ages and relevant practical advice for the web as a platform. The advice on writing and drawing could be given to a newspaper cartoonist from 1970, the audience interaction advice could easily apply to a musician with a strong web presence, and it's all with the flavor and attitude beneficial to any entrepreneur or freelancer.
I also appreciate that it seeks to train and develop the cartoonist, not give a formula.
Obviously, some of the advice is still dated to the point of obsolescence. The authors are usually pretty good at estimating the shelf life, and in my experience, you can usually use the dated suggestions as an example of one option, and pretty ably suss out what the more contemporary "version" of applying that principle is.
The format is a little odd but it serves the book well. The four authors take turns at writing each chapter, with the other three chiming in with conversational asides and sidebar content as relevant and/or entertaining. This sometimes results into some sticky layout issues, but by and large it's more of an asset than a liability.
I will admit that I can't deny a criticism I've read here about the book: You do have to get over some typos.
If you're unfamiliar with the authors, they each have their own individual webcomics, and each of them had a decade or more of success there before they embarked on the book. If you enjoy the interplay, I'd also recommend checking out their Webcomics Weekly podcast. But even if you don't particularly like their work, I think you'll find something in this book worth keeping.
I also appreciate that it seeks to train and develop the cartoonist, not give a formula.
Obviously, some of the advice is still dated to the point of obsolescence. The authors are usually pretty good at estimating the shelf life, and in my experience, you can usually use the dated suggestions as an example of one option, and pretty ably suss out what the more contemporary "version" of applying that principle is.
The format is a little odd but it serves the book well. The four authors take turns at writing each chapter, with the other three chiming in with conversational asides and sidebar content as relevant and/or entertaining. This sometimes results into some sticky layout issues, but by and large it's more of an asset than a liability.
I will admit that I can't deny a criticism I've read here about the book: You do have to get over some typos.
If you're unfamiliar with the authors, they each have their own individual webcomics, and each of them had a decade or more of success there before they embarked on the book. If you enjoy the interplay, I'd also recommend checking out their Webcomics Weekly podcast. But even if you don't particularly like their work, I think you'll find something in this book worth keeping.