McCloud, Scott - Making Comics
(subtitle: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels)
I think this is McCloud's third book on comics/manga/graphic novels, the first two being Understanding Comics and Reinventing Comics. Like the other two, this one is written in comic format. It sounds gimmicky, but it actually isn't, as McCloud uses the format to illustrate how and why comics are a different medium. Also, it's so much easier understanding what he's talking about when you can actually see the techniques in effect, such as word balloon placement, gutters, panel layout, and etc.
I haven't read Reinventing Comics, but Understanding Comics is still the textbook on the techniques of comics. Making Comics goes even further and has McCloud explaining exactly how certain techniques and tricks work to support or take away from the narrative. He goes into character creation (more the appearance than the character's background), panel layout, narrative flow, and etc. He breaks down the artist/writer's choices into five: choice of moment, choice of frame, choice of image, choice of word, and choice of flow. These cover fonts, word balloons, panel layout, style, establishing shots, and more.
I can't really say how useful this would be, since I don't actually write or illustrate comics, but as a reader of the medium, it's fascinating. There's even a chapter 5 1/2 online so that McCloud can show the readers how the nature of browsers and the internet change things for comic writers and artists.
My only problem with this book is that it isn't long enough; I wanted even more details that McCloud provides, including in-depth analyses of manga pages, comic pages and graphic novel pages. But I suspect that would make the book four hundred pages long or so. When I say that it isn't long enough, I don't mean that McCloud doesn't give enough details. He has created a great overview into the techniques that any comic writer/artist needs. It's just that... he's so good that I want entire textbooks.
I think this is McCloud's third book on comics/manga/graphic novels, the first two being Understanding Comics and Reinventing Comics. Like the other two, this one is written in comic format. It sounds gimmicky, but it actually isn't, as McCloud uses the format to illustrate how and why comics are a different medium. Also, it's so much easier understanding what he's talking about when you can actually see the techniques in effect, such as word balloon placement, gutters, panel layout, and etc.
I haven't read Reinventing Comics, but Understanding Comics is still the textbook on the techniques of comics. Making Comics goes even further and has McCloud explaining exactly how certain techniques and tricks work to support or take away from the narrative. He goes into character creation (more the appearance than the character's background), panel layout, narrative flow, and etc. He breaks down the artist/writer's choices into five: choice of moment, choice of frame, choice of image, choice of word, and choice of flow. These cover fonts, word balloons, panel layout, style, establishing shots, and more.
I can't really say how useful this would be, since I don't actually write or illustrate comics, but as a reader of the medium, it's fascinating. There's even a chapter 5 1/2 online so that McCloud can show the readers how the nature of browsers and the internet change things for comic writers and artists.
My only problem with this book is that it isn't long enough; I wanted even more details that McCloud provides, including in-depth analyses of manga pages, comic pages and graphic novel pages. But I suspect that would make the book four hundred pages long or so. When I say that it isn't long enough, I don't mean that McCloud doesn't give enough details. He has created a great overview into the techniques that any comic writer/artist needs. It's just that... he's so good that I want entire textbooks.