Book Description

The foundation to drawing a character is the penciled under-drawing. An under-drawing that has somehow gone astray, once penned, ultimately results in artwork that just will not pull together or lacks balance. This volume explains in thorough detail how to handle the pencil, before the pen ever touches the drawing. Using actual examples of how a well or poorly penciled under-drawing can affect the final work, this book passes along many helpful pointers. Use this book to learn the absolute basics of penciled artwork, manga-style! ... Read more

Book Description

Following exciting new developments in the XMen universe, this revised edition of Ultimate XMen includes the best of the two feature films and the animated television series. Watch the evolution of the XMen superheroes from their conception in the 1960s to what they are today. Each chapter focuses on a different decade in XMen history, revealing new characters and their powers, the major stories and their settings. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Outstanding book for the money
This book is a must for anyone who ever read the X-men and saw the movie an wanted to learn more about the characters and history. True...it does have everything a die hard X-men ( Comic book) would want, but covers enough the story line and characters that it will not confuse the newer reader.

I'm sure the author and publisher struggled with the fact that they wanted a complete history of the X-men but also wanted the book to be affordable for the average consumer.

Yes, I fan of the X-men would pay $50-100 for a complete history, but would a young child? Would you Mom and Dad fork over $50 dollars when you were a kid for a comic book based book?

They also made the book very user friendly for people of all ages. The children in my life will be fasinated with the images in the book and its is my hope that this will prompt them to attempt to read the book.

I think they made a great comprise and created a Must have book for any X-men fan.

Not everything if you are a fan.
If you like nice big pictures without going to the full details of the x-men, this book is for you. If you are a long time fan, I would recommend get the previous edition, it still includes the annoying "behind the scenes" of the first movie (as if there were not enough DVD's with such feature) but includes more about the characters of the comics.. This updated edition includes just a few more pages but, some mutants don't appear or are not fully well described as in the previous edition, which you can still get here in Amazon. It's a nice book indeed, the cover and the quality of the paper and great illustrations, but they really need to get in touch with the fans to meet their needs. There is the need of a REAL X-men guide to all the characters, organized alphabetically prefferably.

Incompetence
I picked up the original edition of this book because the "updated" version isn't updated at all and actually contains less information. Anyway, it ended up not mattering since both versions are crap. Like others have mentioned, there are all sorts of problems with the poor layout and incorrect information in this book. In addition to that, most of the art is pretty bad, and there are tons of omissions that kinda defeat the purpose of an "Ultimate guide" (and are not corrected in the "updated" version). The book is slim. The Updated verion is only 8 pages longer (it's not 192 pages as listed here, it's 184 pages.) and those pages are dedicated to the new X-Men movie and lame stuff like X-Statix (which no one likes and doesn't sell, not that that matters to those geniuses at Marvel). To make things worse, each profile of X-Men characters featured in the movies contains a sidebar giving a history of the MOVIE version of that character! That's a complete waste of space and goes against the continuity of the X-Men mythos for a cheap commercial (when you can already buy books and endless DVDs with info on the movies). I can see the feature on the movies at the end of the book, but to interrupt profiles which were (way) too small to begin with for even more advertisements for the movie was too much and ruined this book. Another wasted opportunity, another failure for DK. You guys - and the current powers that be at Marvel - are utterly incompetent and clearly couldn't care any less about the fans. The best guide so far has been the Spider-Man one, which had major problems of its own, but stuck to the COMIC BOOK continuity, not a bunch of stuff about the movies.

great for the X-fans
There isn't a whole lot to say about this book. It's an 'encyclopedia' of the X-Men. It covers them and their history pretty well and also delves into some of the alternate X-Men. If you are an X-Fan, I'd definitely get this book, otherwise, go to something else.

Awesome Book on the History of X-Men
This book and the series gives good in depeth look at the X-Men and all its characters, friends, enemies, homes, and everything else. Anything you wanted to know of the X-Men. Hopefully they'll make more books like these. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Healthy Dose of Cartooning Fun
This book by Blitz is a combination of several smaller books. It is full of wonderful ideas and techniques for putting your cartooning characters on paper. The price is great and it's worth the purchase. I would definitely recommend. :o)

BRUCE BLITZ CARTOONING
Absolutely the most "checked-out" book in our 6TH GRADE art-class library.
I have two copies, and will buy more.
Kids can't get enough of this book!!!!!

The Best Cartooning Book I Have Ever Seen
This book shows you everything from the basics of cartooning to how to sell your cartoon. It shows you how to do many cartoon face features and even draw people you know. Bruce Blitz makes it easy and fun to learn how to cartoon. THIS BOOK IS GREAT!

Big Book of Cartooning
Bruce Blitz Big Book of Cartooning is terrific! The methods used are simple, easy to follow and entertaining. His ideas and experience are a must for people in the cartooning business. I am using his book as a number one reference for my cartoons.
It is a must buy book if you want to succeed in cartooning.

Excellente
Simple to understand, but heavy with content. Suited for tweens to teens who have a desire to learn cartooning. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great even if your not a cartoonist
The catalog of 150 emotions and expressions in this book is worth the price in itself. It not only teaches cartooning but also protraying emotion and life into a figure. Cartoonists, animators, illustrators, comic book artists, and even character designers could really benifit from this book. Tons of drawings, (a few thousand - plus)!, and very clear, understandable instructions. I can't begin with that it covers... I'd need a book just to cover all it's topics.

If drawing semi-cartoon, or realistic people / funny animals is your fancy,... don't pass this book up!, it can be a HUGE help even still. Look for his "Drawing the Head and Figure" book as well, another 5-stars on that title.

A complete reference on cartooning the head and figure.
This book is a clearly written, easy to follow, detailed and concise handbook on cartooning the head and figure by using several different styles and variations, and emphasizing humor and exaggeration. This fully illustrated reference contains over 3,000 step-by-step diagrams and illustrations and is structured into sixteen carefully organized sections that cover the basic and not so basic principles of cartooning.
It includes general topics like caricatures, cartooning styles and techniques, the head and face, the standing, walking and running figure, different positions for the figure, and emotions and facial expressions (the alphabetized catalog of 150 emotions and expressions alone is worth the price of this book). He also goes into specific topics like hands, feet and clothing, pretty girls, babies and children, and sports cartoons. As an added bonus he includes additional topics such as Advertising Applications for Cartoons and Special Problems which cover specific characters like hobos, tramps and the military, and conversations, special attires and crowds, among others.
By studying this book as if it were a textbook on a course, doing all the exercises and reviewing each section afterwards, my cartoons have come to life in a very, very short time.
The invaluable and practical advice in this book is essential for any artist's reference library and can be particularly useful for beginners, cartoonists, animators, characters designers, and comic book artists. It also serves as a great source book for ideas.

A must for people learning illustration
I think I've read this book more than 100 times. It is one of my favorite references for illustrating the human figure.

Chalk Full Of Visuals!
This book is full from beginning to end of illustrations and examples of the art it teaches. Jack Hamm tends to have a more realistic cartooning style than some, but the book has a lot to offer.

With such categories as: The face and hands. the pretty girl, the caricature, the figure in different positions, the walking figure, the running figure, the hands, the feet, the clothing, the advertising application--Newspapers, Magazines, Television, Etc., the baby and child, the sport cartoon, and special problems, not tel mention tons of sub-categories, this book will give you a healthy dose of cartooning experience for a very reasonable price. I would recommend this!

Essential Cartooning Reference
What keeps me coming back to Hamm's books is the vast amount of RELEVANT drawing advice he gives. Each page is crammed with innumerable examples and variations, snippets of practical advice, and a touch of paternal wisdom. I can think of no other drawing manuals that are so consistently good.

This volume focuses on cartooning, not realistic drawing. Exaggeration and humor are emphasized, and it's ideal for begginers, intermediate, or advanced artists. Everyone can learn something from these books and I consider them essential to my reference library. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cartoon stars
The Lee Ames series of books are good if you already have the basics of drawing down and some minor artist skills. They show how to take your basic skills and make some neat stuff. But this book is basically 1 page to a cartoon star, and about 6 drawings on the page to get a completed look. For some simple ones it works but on others it gets a little tricky. No text instructions here, just the drawings which you are just copying. If you want to LEARN how to draw and get the basic skills first whether you are kid or an adult, the books by Jack Hamm and Ed Emberly are the best place to start. They can make anyone an artist. Then come back to books like Ames.

This book was awsome!
I am 9 years old and love to draw. This book tells you how to draw a lot of famous cartoons. Some of the ones I like the best are PopEye, Flintstones and Scooby Doo. If you like to draw, you will enjoy this book.

It was great!!!!
I like this book because it has almost all those famous cartoons that you can barely get off the web. ... Read more

Book Description

Interest in anime and manga-the arts of Japanese animation andcomics-is exploding in the US children's market. PokŽmon, Digimon, Dragon BallZ, and Sailor Moon are just a few of the anime phenomena delighting kids ages 4- 12. Kids Draw Anime, the eighth book in the popular Kids Draw series, is the firstbook specifically designed to teach kids 6-12 how to draw the popular animestyle themselves. Focusing on sh›jo- and sh›nen-style anime, the book teachesthe familiar "big eye" look, in which characters are drawn cute and young asopposed to the angular, dramatic characters of adult-oriented styles.Young artists will find a complete introduction to anime style, taught withengaging text and full-color art. Dozens of fun, hands-on lessons demonstratehow to draw heads, eyes, expressions, hairstyles, the basic body, hands andshoes, good guys and bad guys, goofy characters, fantasy characters, robots, andmuch more. As in all Kids Draw books, each dazzling spread is easy to follow,fun to look at, and guaranteed to charm a new generation of artists! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not bad..................
It was'nt that helpful to me, but the book is specificly about teaching YOUNGER kids how to draw. I am SO sorry if the book dosn't teach you how to draw REFINED manga, becouse once agian the book if for younger kids. I dunno, I just had to blab about that.
This book is good. It tells you how to draw manga eyes, exaturated emotions, manga noses, hands, feet, alittle bit on the body, "action line", good guys and bad guys, little bit on anime robots, anime animals, little bit(very small)on the martial arts and some more advanced characters with how-to-draw steps and subsections for all that. 3 different artists drawing in this book and it's 64 pages. Theres nothing immoral in this book, and I think its a good primer. I recomend this book for people ages 7 to 10.

a misnomer
im sorry 4 those who like this book, and thats ok, but this name is a misnomer. this is not anime, but an american recreation of it called animerican. if u want real anime, may i suggest How to draw Anime and Game characters, vol. 1

Great for getting started!
This book was great and I learned how to do a lot, but there are still many books to teach me stuff I don't know.

Great instructional book
My kids loved this book. It kept them occupied for many hours and they really liked the style and the drawings. They followed tasks step by step and they really improved. They loved the section on how to make the eyes shine and drawing hands and feet. I loved the animal section. This book is highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Professional cartoonist Steve Barr shows kids how to use simple pencil shapes to create delightful cartoon versions of sharks, fish, whales and more. The book begins by showing readers the basic shapes and lines used in the drawings. Carefully designed step-by-step instructions give young artists the confidence to experiment and the know-how to draw colorful, refrigerator-worthy creations. The easily followed lessons conclude with a reproducible "Cartoonist's Apprentice" certificate. ... Read more

Book Description

Charles M. Schulz's beloved comic strip is brought to life in this lavish pop-up edition featuring scenes from more than fifty years of comic strips, including: Charlie Brown on the Football Field, Lucy's Psychiatrist Stand, and Schroeder at the Piano, rendered in spectacular three-dimensional paper engineering by Bruce Foster. This unforgettable tribute to Snoopy and the Gang also includes reproductions of the original comic strip each scene is based on. The only book off its kind, Peanuts: A Pop-Up Celebration will be treasured by fans and collectors alike for years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

From funny faces to sad expressions, this guide uses visual instruction to show kids how to draw a range of cartoon faces. Once children learn these basic drawing techniques, they will have hours of fun inventing their own cartoon characters. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Kids draw dogs
This book is teaching me how
to draw dogs very well. ... Read more

Book Description

Kids love animals, and with this book they can learn to draw all kinds of creatures. No-fail, step-by-step instructions illustrate how to create dogs, cats, horses, fish, mice and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Draw your favorite heroes right in the book!Comes with drawing supplies and tips from the pros, plus eight pages of tracing vellum overlaying full-color illustrations, so you can create just-as-good-as-the-comics artwork. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great present for any young boy!
My five year old son found this book at a friends house and had to have it! He waited by the door until Amazon delivered his prized package! The book takes you step by step in learning how to draw various action figures and gives wonderful art lessons at the same time. We have some real treasures hanging on our refrigerator from this book! I'm going to order one for each of my son's boy cousins for Christmas and a few spares for birthday presents!

This book really helped!!!
I like drawing Marvel Super Heroes,but I'm not good enough. But when I bought this book from the internet, I now know how to draw good. There are tips on every page, with drawing tools you can use.

One of the Best Drawing Books Ever Written
When I started out with this book, I was a clumsy, struggling artist, who knew nothing of muscle layout, stick figures, how to draw hands: mostly nothing. I had been illustrating my comic books with simple cartoon figures for some years.
After purchasing this book, in literally two weeks after I started reading, it my drawing skill increased three-fold! My simple cartoon characters found life in incredibly illustrated figures and costumes, bringing to life new characters in my excitement to draw new things.

This book is not just another drawing book; in fact, I have never seen anything like it. It doesn't just teach you to draw in the Marvel style, it kick-starts your unique artstyle. So in just a couple years, one will have almost indefinitely recognized their own way of drawing detailed figures.

Not just an average drawing book, this is a drawing book that shouldn't be passed up. This is the epitome of a wonderful drawing book for beginners. An enthusiastic 5/5!

Great art book for art class.
I brought this book to help me with an art project. With the book's help I got a 98 on the project. It gives steps on how to draw many marvel characters like from, Spider-man, Rogue, Storm, and many more. A great book for beginners of all ages.

This is a great help
My brother gave this to me and when I was done with it I could draw better than I was able to before. It takes you through step-by-step and shows you the whole process of drawing super heroes. If you want to draw well, I would definately recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide illustrates how to draw a lively variety of cartoon people. Using simple shapes and lines, young artists will create a range of characters from head to toe. Includes instruction for drawing several different facial expressions, hair styles, clothes and body types. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A methodically crafted instructional guide for young people
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon People: A Step-by-Step Guide was created by syndicated comic strip artist Steve Barr as a useful and "user friendly", methodically crafted instructional guide for young people wanting to create their own cartoon figures. Beginning with some expert preparatory advice and a few invaluable cartooning tips, Barr stars with simple, basic shapes and lines which can be quickly copied and expanded upon. The very nicely illustrated instructions continue on for drawing heads, hair, expressions, emotions, hands, arms, boys, girls, grandparents, and characters in motion. Also very highly recommended for budding artists are Steve Barr's two companion instructional books: 1-2-3 draw Cartoon Faces: A Step-by-Step Guide and 1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Animals: A Step-by-Step Guide. ... Read more

Book Description

In the best-selling tradition of How to Draw Pokemon, this new title in one of Troll's most popular series teaches heroes and villains, from Link and Princess Zelda to Ganondorf, Tektite, Goron, Lizalfos, and more! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Way too short.
What I was hoping for with this book was details.The inking was really thick, so the really fine details were hard to distinguish, making my purchase for that sake fruitless.
Also, the number of characters in the book is a piddling 13, and a number of those aren't characters, but rather monsters from Ocarina of Time.While they are marginally interesting in their own right, I think the space would be better used on more important characters.
The book's quite cheap, so you may want it as a guide to the rough proportions of a few characters.It's not worth much more than its cover price, though.

Rated E for Especially Harsh
The Zelda games are mostly rated E for everyone... Not this guide! Sure it's got lots of characters, like King Dodongo, and Saria, but drawing them is a different story. The instructions are very undetailed and I bet, even if you think your patience is supream, you'll agree, this is nothing short of not very usefull. If you're like me, and want to draw or at least get a few tips on how to draw Link, I still suggest, think before you buy.

Too much for a kid
Let's face it,most kids that play and are obsessed with Zelda have ADHD. I thought this book would be great for a 9 yr old but the instructions were too tedious for him. He ended up getting too frustrated and has never picked up the book again. I'm sure not going to give the kid Ritalin so he can draw a fricken decu bush.

The Lost Woods
Although this is a helpful book, it is missing some of the most important people.It doesn't have an adult Zelda or any of the Seven Sages.It does have Saria, though.It also doesn't have any of the Zoras.It has Deku Link, but none of his other bodies.The Skull Kid isn't there, either.I don't know if you should buy it.If there is a more complete book on the way, I would wait for it.What they do have is very good, though, so if you're happy with Link and Ganon, this book is great. ... Read more

Book Description

Fun, step-by-step examples and instructions all but guarantee successfor budding cartoonists! Starting with simple shapes and the most basic materials,professional cartoonist Steve Barr shows young artists the essential skills involved incombining shapes to make characters and objects, simplifying, and coloring them.

1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Wildlife includes general drawing tips and a host of animals: bears,hippos, elephants, camels, apes, lions, an ostrich and more! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Book Description

Steig’s classic word game – now available in color

C D C ? = See the sea?
E-R I M ! = Here I am!
U F B-D I-S = You have beady eyes.

To figure out William Steig’s word puzzles, you need merely read the letters, numbers, and symbols aloud. If at first the messages are unclear, there’s a clever picture accompanying each to give you hints. Originally published in 1984 with black-and-white drawings, this title is given new life in this full-color edition painted by Mr. Steig. Also included for the first time is an answer key at the end.
... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very enjoyable!
My four children have enjoyed this book , as well as CDB. I brought both books in to my son's 4th grade "Reading Day" and the whole class participated in the "puzzle-solving" text. They had so much fun with both books!! I highly recommend these books for a fun and interactive read!

Very clever, but not for all ages
This is a very clever book and it's quite fun reading. However, my 4 year old and I read together all the time and I bought this for him thinking it would be good for him too, but some of the picture themes are not interesting for a small child. This would be good for a 9-10 years +.

1 4 D E-G-S
If you enjoy struggling - and moaning at the punning clues - with the NYT crossword, you'll have a good time and a quick read, one that you'll want to repeat when feeling low. I brought my copy to the office; and am ordering more as gifts for twisted minds. FYI, the caption in question says to me, "Everyone here is dippy."

This book is very entertaining - - for the whole family!!!!
Couldn't figure out one puzzle that went something like - "Everyone here is ...." and then "D P".

Any clues please let me know the solution to the puzzle; it has been driving me and my 9 year old daughter crazy. Thanks.

A wonderful book, by no means only for ages 9 - 12
Although this is a companion to the equally clever " CDB", by the same author, this book, with its sophisticated phrases and illustrations, is even funnier and more impressive to grown-up readers. To rate it for "Readers 9 - 12" does it a disservice. It is a delight for any age. ... Read more