Book Description

An overview of the life of Herge, Tintin's creator. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great snakes! A beautiful and enlightening book
I became acquainted with Tintin in second grade, when I discovered a shelf of Children's Digests which ran abridged, black-and-white excerpts of his adventures. The digests were in no particular order, so I found myself reading, for example, a few pages of "The Black Island," then a smattering of "Tintin in the Picaros" followed by the ending of "Cigars of the Pharaohs."

It didn't matter that the bits were all out of sequence and context, I loved Herge's characters and stories. Recently, a couple of decades later, I started recollecting the complete Tintin adventures and stumbled onto "The Tintin Companion" in a local bookstore. It was shrinkwrapped but I took a chance and bought it anyway.

It was definitely worth it. This book gives a great history of Herge and his career and work. It also goes into detail about each of the stories and the inspirations behind the illustrations.

An extremely beautiful, enlightening, well-put-together book. Fans will love it.

For the Tintin fan who has all the books
My family collected Tintin and Asterix books when I was growing up. My parents have a complete set as do several of my sisters. "Tintin: The Complete Companion" was the perfect gift for them.

"The Complete Companion" discusses the political, scientific, and sociological climate present when Herge wrote the Tintin books. It is very satisfactory to read about the state of space travel and to know where Herge was citing research and where he was leaping ahead.

This is not a story book but inquisitive minds from 8-88 will enjoy it.

Read this and enjoy Tintin even more
In Tintin: The Complete Companion Michael Farr takes the reader on a trip from the early beginnings of Tintin in The Land of the Soviets to the final and unfinished album of the Alpha-Art. With a contagious enthusiasm Farr describes the creation phase of every album and reveals some remarkable trivia you would normally miss while reading Hergé's masterpieces.

It is refreshing to see how thoroughly Hergé documented himself before letting Tintin loose on yet another adventure. A lot of this documentation is reproduced in this book together with the final drawings, so you quickly get a feel of professionalism Hergé showed in all of his work. This is clearly the main team of this companion.

While guiding the reader through the complete works, Farr does not neglect to describe some of the personal problems Hergé had to deal with during his career. Although Farr gives most of the time his personal view on topics such as Hergé working for a newspaper led by Nazis during the occupation of Belgium and the break-up of Hergé's marriage, the author still gives the readers enough room for their own opinions. The sometimes quite remarkable links between the unpleasant episodes in the life of Hergé and the fantastic adventures Tintin and his elaborate entourage are getting into, can only give the reader more respect for one of the most important European cartoonists of the previous century.

This book is a must have for every Tintin-fan.

Everything about Tintin and Herge I didnt know I didnt know.
I always liked Tintin as a kid, but never appreciated the amount of work that went into the creation of the books. Herge based several drawings on real photographs, some of the originals are here. I also used to think that translating the books into different languages was just a matter of changing the stuff written in the balloons. Hell, no! For example, in the original French version of Tintin in Africa, a rhino gets blown up. In a Scandinavian edition, the Scand editors refused to print such gratuitous violence to animals and several frames had to be changed so the rhino runs away, terrified but alive. Several pages are devoted to Herge's decision to continue working in Nazi Europe. The only problem with this book is that it's not long enough. I am sure Farr could have said a lot more if he'd been allowed to by the publishers!

If you like TinTin - MUST get this book
I have been a Tintin fan for 25 years, have read what I thought was every TinTin book available. Still, I was surprised at how much I learned reading this Companion. Almost every page I read in this guide taught me a lot of things about Tintin: how the characters were created, what are the stories behind them, what are the changes made between the present editions and the originals, etc. It's like reading Tintin for the first time ... ... 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

Amazon.com

It's hard to imagine a book on this topic that's better than Drawnand Quartered. Authors Stephen Hess and Sandy Northrop have created ahistory that is lucid, authoritative, and fun. The profuse illustrations are, as one would expect, varied and entertaining. Even better, the cartoons featured do an excellent job of demonstrating the evolution of political cartooning from Ben Franklin (America's first editorial cartoonist) to the present.

Hess and Northrop do an excellent job of relating cartoons to the political and social climate in which they were created. For example, "Caricatures of [Martin Luther] King, Malcolm X, and the other African American leaders who rose to prominence [in the 1950s and 1960s] are hard to find. Cartoonists and their newspapers grew so sensitive to the volatility of caricaturing black leaders, fearing that they would be perceived as racial slurs.... Instead, cartoonists employed generic situations and peopled them with generic black figures. Martin Luther King Jr. became an invisible man in the cartoons of the [era]."

Readers casually interested in the topic will find Drawn and Quartered an entertaining and unique book. Aficionados will be satisfied with the book's sagacity and depth, and may even discover illustrators that they did not know. All will agree that Hess and Northrop deserve a round of applause. --Michael Gerber ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Both entertaining and educational.
This well-conceived book truly reminds us that political cartooning has held a giant role in our nation's history -- and perhaps more than it has ever been given credit for. The authors make a stong case of cartooning's political vitality, past and present. The book is a very engaging and fun read not only because of its generous use of cartooning, but also because the authors take effort to put each cartoon they use into a fitting historical context. The reader is also on a guided tour of cartooning's historical phases, starting from the 18th century. The authors suggest that some six different phases (eras) of American political cartooning can be traced. ... Read more

Book Description

With its expressive art and humorous, often philosophical musings, Mutts has become one of the most popular comic strips in the world, with an estimated daily readership of 50 million. Peanuts creator Charles Schulz called Mutts "one of the best comic strips of all time." Simpsons creator Matt Groening concurs: "Mutts cheers me up every day. It's not only sweet, simple, and funny-a rare combination-it's also the best drawn comic strip around." This comprehensive volume, the first to focus on the entire range of Patrick McDonnell's art, includes not only a vast collection of his Mutts strips, but also sketches, paintings, and wood carvings by the man who has made Earl the dog and Mooch the cat such beloved contemporary icons.

McDonnell's text-which serves as autobiography, comic history, character explication, and art history rolled into one-lets readers into his private universe to observe his process, influences, and passions. The result is an intimate and revealing look at the complexities of the cartooning craft and the forces that drive his own creative endeavors. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very, very good, but not much is new here
One of the best new comic strips to come down the pike in the last ten years is Patrick McDonnell's Mutts.

Cute doggie Earl and rascally Mooch have an understated charm that's reminiscent of the relationship between Snoopy and Charlie Brown before Snoopy took to the air in his imaginary Sopwith Camel.

Mutts is a down-to-Earth examination of how pets fit into the lives of their masters and vice-versa.

McDonnell's sensitivities derive from his simple yet eloquent style that draws upon the love and empathy that the strip's characters have for each other.

The book itself is a wonderful reprinting of many of his best daily and Sunday color strips. Also included are notes that cite the sources of the title panels of the Sunday strips that pay homage to old record albums, comic book covers, famous works of art, and movie posters.

The true fan of the Mutts strip will consider this book a 'must-have'. However, I have to admit that if you've been purchasing the Mutts collections printed so far, there's scant new material in this book. For a book of its size, the autobiographical information is very lean. There was probably more to read about McDonnell in a recent Star-Ledger newspaper interview than in this book.

I bought it for myself as a frivolous, self-indulgent treat. You might not want to do likewise.

Yesh! A Book Better Than a Pink Sock!
Patrick McDonnell's work is among the very best gracing the newspaper comic strip pages today. There is a genuine quality to his work; an honesty that shines forth from the funnies. It is truly wonderful to see Abrams honor McDonnell and "Mutts" with this absolutely terrific monograph. The design of the book is scrumptious. Each page is carefully considered and I love the way that the designer combined sketchbook doodles and finished comic strips. It was also great to see references given for the Sunday page logo panels. They bring you just a little bit closer to the work.

And the work is really the main event here. The reproduction quality is glorious, giving us a sneak peak at what originals might look like. The color--oy, what color--is beautifully printed. If you can't see the original drawings, this book is the next best thing. The selection of work is great. They chose some of Mutts' very best, including the wonderful ice cream cone gag! That one remains one of my very favorites.

There are some really nice insights here, though they're not overblown. Like the strip itself, McDonnell writes in a true, succint way, then he lets his strip do the talking. You really get a sense of how invested he is in his creation.

If you're a Mutts fan, you can't pass this book up. And if you know of any Mutts fans who don't yet have this book, you can bank a bunch of karma by buying a copy for them. They'll love you more than a pink sock for it.

Yesh!
This is the ultimate MUTTS book. In addition, it's a wonderful description of the creative genius that Patrick McDonnell applies to every detail of his art. For those of us who are decidedly not artistic (me, for instance), the book is educational and thought-provoking: hey, what did happen to the "artistic" side of my brain? Note: if you are a MUTTS fan, be sure to visit the official website at muttscomics.com.

Whish I could give 10 stars for a beautiful book!
Often artists who draw for newspaper syndication rightly complain about how their work suffers when it is compressed into the small, ugly world of newsprint. If you've ever wanted to see your favorite strip full-size and gorgeous, and "Mutts" is that strip, then you will want to buy this book! McDonnell's art has never been more beautifully displayed on the printed page. For instance, in this wonderfully oversized book some color Sunday panels take up two whole pages while gaining, not losing, crispness and vividness in color, clarity and detail - elements lost in small newsprint.

Loyal afficinadios of McDonnell's "Mutts" will not be able to resist this fascinating book. Anyone interested in the evolution of and creative process behind comic strips will enjoy the work. The price may seem steep at first, but the sheer quality of the book as well as its content make it a bargain.

First, the book quality is first-rate: the glossy pages are heavy and clear, the binding is tight, and the illustrations leap off the page. The layout (well-conceived and artistic, as befits the subject) and accompanying text provide an enthralling history lesson of comic art in the 20th century (and how that history has influenced McDonnell - he even shows certain "Mutts" strips against other strips to illustrate where certain of his ideas originated). Of course, the book specifically displays the talent, sensitivity and humor of McDonnell. Finished strips are grouped into themes, e.g, characters (it's fascinating to see Ozzie come to "life,") or content (the important and endearing "Shelter Stories" gets its own section); these are accompanied by intriguing sketch work, doodles, preliminary drawings, and the like. (NB: for the reviewer who wondered why there were two bios in the book description; the other gentleman is an "editor" of sorts; he helped McDonnell compile work, organize it, and provide history. So it is relevant information, though it could be better labeled.)

In sum: for those "Mutts" fans who have waited to get a "little sneak peek" at the person responsible for "Mutts" magic, this book will be on your holiday gift list! It's already on mine!

I'm not sure I'd recommend *this* book for the "uninitiated" because of price and detail. Buy some of McDonnell's other collections first (I believe there are eight or nine) and let yourself fall in love with Mooch, Earl, Ozzie, and the rest of the "Mutts" menagerie. Then get this book and dive into this amazingly detailed look at the wonder and genius involved in creating the world of "Mutts" and a revealing look at the creator of that world.

Duh, it's Mutts, of course it's good
I love this book. I love all his books. You see so much of yourself in the humor he conveys with all of the animals, not just Mooch and Earl. I do have one question though. "What does this book have to do with John Carlin?!?!?!?" See the above review referring to the following: "John Carlin has been a lawyer, college professor, art critic, music producer, and TV director. He is currently organizing a survey of 20th-century American comics, cartoons, and comic books for the Museum of Contemporary Art and the UCLA Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Cofounder of the media design and production company Funny Garbage, he is also founder and creative director of the Red Hot Organization, a not-for-profit music and video production company." Somebody made a boo boo. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An homage to Barks
I am writing this within just a few days of one of the saddest days any comic book fan could imagine. Carl Barks has just passed on to that great Duckburg in the sky. This book is, without a doubt, the definitive tribute to a man whose genius is just now being recognized by many.

As you read these outstanding adventure stories - and that's what they are - you will come to know the technique of how this extraordinary man transcended the comic art into the realm of high fiction. Each story is written on two levels, sprinkled with humor and illustrated in such a realistic, yet exaggerated manner that allows the reader to identify strongly with the characters.

My personal favorite is "The Second Richest Duck." In this story, Scrooge, Donald and "the boys" have their true personalities come out with a richness found only in the best writings of major adventure authors and is the equal, at least, to the best Indiana Jones or James Bond story.

I read these stories to my son as he was growing up and promised him the book for his future children. My daughters now each have their own families and the stories are now read by me to my grandchildren. Truly, this tome is part of our family heritage.

I own the hardcover, coffee table edition with a signed, numbered print by Barks. I shall never part with the print, and will hand it down to my son in my estate.

Thank you Carl, for many hours of delicious reading pleasure and the exercise of my imagination. If I could rate this book an infinite number of stars, I would.

Comprehensive and Entertaining !!
This is a fantastic book, covering Scrooge McDuck's life from his days in the Klondike to space travel and flying saucers. The book contains many of my favorite stories including "The Second Richest Duck" and "Land of the Pygmy Indians". There is extensive written material about and by Carl Barks giving much insight into the man behind the duck. Finally, there is a checklist of the comics in which Uncle Scrooge appeared from 1952 to 1988. All in all, this book is a "must-have" for any serious fan of Uncle Scrooge.

The Duckman at his Finest
One of the best collections of comic art ever published, this superlative volume not only takes eleven of Carl Barks' best book-length Scrooge adventures, adds an original story and includes his own comments on each, but Peter Ledger's recoloring makes these stories look better than they ever have or ever will. The only flaw with the volume is that it will send you into a frenzy to read more about Scrooge...but thankfully, Gladstone Comics has all the stories still in print. Simply superb.

this is some good readin'. Mr. Barks is the best.
Carl Barks is a genious. He knows how to make an entertaining comic, unlike some of todays "hottest" comic book artists and writers. He has created, in my opinion, the greatest Disney character ever. Scrooge McDuck. Mr. McDucks adventures in this book take him from the Klondike, to the ocean in search of a box of horseradish, and many other places. Trust me. This stuff is good. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

From The Master
I was in desperate need of a book of this type when I saw this. It is the best book ever written on this subject. Mr. Caputo should teach a class. If you are interested in comics at all this is a must read. I can't praise this book enough. Complete and educational this book tells you everything you need or would want to know about publishing comic books.

"Complete" is right!
I've been on both sides of a comic book... the buying side and the publishing side, and I can tell you for fact, that there is no where else to obtain the information in this book without working for years on staff of a major publisher.

It covers the creation process, the printing process and even distribution.

If you are a future comic book creator you're going to want to have this reference tool on your book shelf. Even if you never self publish a title, there is plenty of behind-the-scenes insight.

A Wealth of Resources
This book is worth getting just for the comic book resouce listings it contains.

How to Self-Publish Your Own Comic Book:
I am an indy comic book publisher at eigoMANGA.com, and I used this book for the last 3 years to get my company started from the very bottom.

This book is my bible in terms of building my company at eigoMANGA.com. I have it secretly stashed in my desk and let people believe that I'm a comic book genius.

The blueprints are spelled out in this book so you can't go wrong. Yeah, it can be alittle intimidating sometimes so read the parts that are relevant to your needs at that time. When I started out in my dining room several years ago, I didn't need to know about worldwide distribution, now I do.

This industry is a real rat-race, with very few big time people wanting to help you. Mr. Caputo and this book is a blessing!

With a little bit of desire, work ethic, and Mr. Caputo's book, you are destined to go far in this industry. TRUST ME!

a nice book for ideas but..
the infotmation is now 5 years old so while its a good book to get ideas about cost that information needs to be updated.
The book is not geared to the just starting out writer or artist as one reviewer already stated. unless your rich or have a good business background this book is not for you
at least not right away
i am not sorry to own this book but i think the book could have done a better job on actual creating of ads rather then waste a few pages with comic con types of aadvertising. more tips to finding good people rather than just pluging a few talent scouts also whould be helpful ... Read more

Book Description

The second in a surprise hit series.A host of techniques are introduced, including the motion lines and structure lines that always appear in manga, along with shading techniques and how to express texture.You won't find another instructional guide as easy to follow or as awesome. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good,but not the best
This is good book, but really expensive and short.This is about backgrounds in manga,and this book teaches how to make background , what shows mangahumans feelings.This book has about 4 pages whit naked mangahumans, so this is up 13 aged.Im 13 and i like this series ... Read more

Book Description

From one of the funniest minds--and pens--of our time, at last, the definitive collection of the very best of Opus, everyones favorite maladjusted penguin.

One of Americas most beloved comic geniuses is back, with this collectible 25th anniversary compendium of the best of Opus, joined by his hilarious supporting cast, including Binkley, Milo, Bill the Cat, Steve Dallas, Ronald Ann, and the rest of the residents of Bloom County and Outland.

From Antarctica to Omaha, Opus has cavorted with space creatures, impersonated rock stars, fended off accusations of penguin lust, and even campaigned for office. Now, in addition to the classic strips, Berkeley Breathed also brings us never-before-collected Bloom County cartoons and original all-new material from his Opus comics.

Brace yourself for the sidesplitting, table-pounding, milk-through-the-nose-spewing laughter that only Opus and his outlandish friends can generate. The perfect collection for both die-hard fans and those discovering the matchless humor of Berkeley Breathed for the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The best art teaching book available...
"Drawing Cutting Edge Comics" has been the best drawing book I have seen on the market by Chris Hart in a long time. Totally blows his other books away! How ever, it's more for ppl who already know how to draw human anatomy...a.k.a they don't show you how to draw the human body in motion like "How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way." This book is def. like a book for ppl who are serious about going into the Comic Book Industry. It's a must buy.

Doesn't get much better than this
Two thumbs up! This book blows Hart's previous how to books based on comic art out of the water. It shows examples of correct anatomy, facial expressions, different camera angles, foreshortening, perspective, page design, and genre types. And for those who want to draw beautiful women and massive men this book shows you how. Those basics are a must have for those of you who want to be aspiring artists, because the comic industry is very compeitive. Some of the samples of art are outstanding! This book is for more of advanced artists. It also gives you tips from top people in the industry from TopCow and Chaos comics. The styles shown is this book are how many top artists draw now so if you wanna be a perfessional comic artists I implore you this book is absolutly a must have! I use this book as an everyday reference so it's easily worth it's money and can help you develop that cutting edge you need. DO U ENJOY DRAWING COMIC ART AND READING COMICS AND LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT, E-MAIL ME.

You want to draw better?
I'm a begining artist and I must say this book helps a lot. I would recommend you start with Hart's earlier book on human anatomy made easy to get you started. This book is for advanced artist looking for that extra something. This book will definately help with that.

Good compliment, but can't stand on its own
The good thing about this book is that most basic drawing ideas are covered: faces, basic anatomy, and perspective. One of the articles I particularly like is the drawing comparison between different top artists (from using the same reference). It gives an idea of how to develop your own unique style rather than copying someone elses. The focus in the "cutting edge" comic market today is to give a "dark" feeling. Hence inking is exaggerated and skin tones are darker (compare Witchblade to Wonder Woman and you'll know what I mean). If you're interested in these aspects of drawing, then this book will give you a taste that no current other book can offer.

Despite the uniqueness of this book, the problem is that book is NOT a stand-alone (all-in-one) guide to drawing "Top-Cow" and "Chaos" style comics. If you are a newbie in drawing, then this book is more eye-candy than an aid to help you. You will have difficulties reaching Al Rio's level of quality on this book alone. There are little step-by-step instructions or diagrams. Since there are different artists contributing to different sections of the book, it can be a distraction. No offense, but I don't really think Chris Hart's artwork is "cutting edge." It looks rather cartoony as another reviewer said. Hence, I think this book can be better streamlined and edited. In addition, there should be more about shading, more about anatomy and poses, and more about creating impact. I think Andy Smith's "Drawing Dynamic Comics" has better basics than this book. In fact, it would be good to pick up that book as well because it gives a different perspective from another author. In any event, this book tries to do too much. I would rather have this book dump all the "basic stuff" and dig deeper into the advanced stuff.

The tutorial for comic artists
I ordered several comic drawing books, and being an artist for many years, this book adds punch to your drawing arsenal. While this book does not teach you the bare basics of drawing or drawing comics (I highly recommend "Drawing Comics The Marvel Way" If you need the basics) it teaches you how to make your drawings better.

While this comic style may be a "fad" and some critcs say the modern style of comics is overdone and cliched, this book goes beyond the cliches and the fads... it teaches you how to think out of the box, which is what comic fans want.

Recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

All 50 of Doré’s powerful illustrations for Milton’s epic poem, with quotes from the text and a plot summary of the entire poem.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

A necessary companion to the Literary Masterpiece
Dore, known perhaps best for his woodcuts of Dante's "Divine Comedy", was not only a fantastic illustrator, but a prolific one as well, producing scores of woodcuts for great literature, including "The Holy Bible" and "Orlando Furioso". Before there were movies, a person could look at these pictures for motion, excitement, and dramatic storytelling.
This is a necessary companion to "Paradise Lost", a great work in its own right. Dore's illustrations clarifies, vivifies, and expands on the reading experience. The pictures are brilliantly reproduced here at a small cost to the consumer. The book stands alone for great artwork and is worth the minimal price.

Stunning Display of Woodcut Artistry
It is amazing how such complex woodcuts could be done! Some of these are used in books. An example is the book cover illustration of the book "Raising Hell: A Concise History of the Black Arts and Those Who Dared Practice Them" (ISBN: 0399522387).

If you like to see high standard of woodcuts, get this book.

An exceptional gathering of his finest work!
This is with out a doubt the best of Gustave's biblically inspired works. His mastery is proven by creating a visually stunning and poetic world of a time long ago but not forgotten. It's hard to remember what I used to imagine when I thought of the Garden of Eden or the descension of the fallen angels must've been like prior to reading this work. ... Read more

Book Description

Creating 3-D Animation, originally published in 1998 and based on the work of Nick Park and Peter Lord of Aardman Animation, creators of the wildly popular Wallace and Gromit short films, has become required reading for animation courses around the world. In addition to being the most thorough treatment of 3-D puppet animation, also known as stop-action animation, the book was the first complete how-to guide that catered to both novices and experienced animators.

Since the book was published, Aardman released Chicken Run, its first feature film and an enormous box-office success. Also during that time, the studio began to rely more heavily on computer graphics. This revised edition brings Aardman's technology and achievements up to date. With 32 additional pages that include techniques developed during the making of Chicken Run and a further exploration into the use of computer graphics-a necessity now for animators-this edition remains the best book on the art of puppet animation and a must-have for all animators and animation junkies. AUTHOR BIO: Peter Lord, with partner David Sproxton, founded Aardman Animation in 1976. He has received several Academy Award nominations for his work on Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, and Creature Comforts. Brian Sibley is a writer and broadcaster who has written extensively about Aardman, including Abrams' Chicken Run: Hatching the Movie. Nick Park joined Aardman in 1986. His Oscar-nominated A Grand Day Out (1989) introduced the world to Wallace and Gromit. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

You've gotta get this!
This is a great book for anyone interested in 3D animation. There is alot about the history of animation with clay and puppets. Included is info on cameras, lighting, sets, and how to build characters in clay. Learn about movement of characters and see great pictures of Wallace and Gromit being built as well as other short films. Get "Chicken Run Hatching the Movie" book too. You'll love it.

A great place for beginners, but lacks depth.
If you are a first-time animator, or are just starting out, this book is a good place to start. It provides a good overview of the animation process, with plenty of pictures and examples. It covers equipment, lighting, techniques, models, sets, and performance. It also covers the history of animation. In depth. In great depth. In fact, about one-third of the book is dedicated to the history of animation. That's all well and good, but I was really wanting (and expecting) quite a bit more in some of the other areas. For example, the section on models and modelmaking gives several examples of Aardman models, and briefly describes the processes involved in making them. Although there are many helpful hints in these pages, I would have liked an in-depth description for at least one of the models. I want to know what tools I need, what supplies I need, and step-by-step instructions for building a simple model with a wireframe skeleton. Unfortunately, the pages that described that were replaced by 50 pages of history. If you are interested in animation, and need a place to start, 'Creating 3d Animation' is great for beginners. On the other hand, if you are looking for answers to the many problems that face 3d animators, you may be disappointed.

Excellent--- Saved me from messing up a project!
This book was excellent! It saved me from totally [messing] up a research project on Animation I am doing. Though they only describe how they really make their professional films, and how to do it with stuff like their custom armatures and foam latex, which i had NO WAY to get my hands on, It helped overall.

A More Accurate Historical Account of Stop Motion
no comment

the real work!
This is one of the finest books on clay animation and stop action filmmaking. Hits right to the heart of Aardman studios art! ... Read more

Book Description

This book shows the techniques for drawing charming feminine characters and fully explains a woman's range of poses and the expression of the bodyline.Also, clothes, accessories, make-up, and various other materials and how they rest on the body are thoroughly explained. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Firefly Review
As the cover suggests, this book has a very mature theme. This book does not show you how to draw pretty girls; rather it is a book for those who already know how to draw them. There is a very useful series on a comparison between the adult and girlish figure, a page at the end of each chapter. However, there is nudity (you will see nipples) and many shots from underneath a short skirt so that you can get a good view of the underwear. Like the other titles in the how to draw manga series, this is a high quality book, with an excellent translation job and great pictures. This is not a step by step book.
This book has five chapters:

1. Roundness and Curves: A short chapter on presenting a female character in an alluring way.

2. See-through Garments and Suggesting the Body Under Clothing: Pretty much what the title suggests, this long chapter covers all sorts of materials and how they appear on the body. This section covers a detailed section on how to express transparent clothing with screen tones, or wet clothes clinging to the body. It also has some odd things like wrapping the body in ribbon, and oiled or metallic skin. The fetish and bondage fashions aren't so bad, just weird. The best part is that they show you materials like leather, rubber and stretch, and how to draw them on the body.

3. Accentuating Particular Body Parts: Starting with a sexy picture of a gorgeous manga girl titled: women are beauty incarnate; this section goes through all the parts of the body and how to express them with their own particular accessories.( Hands, arms, the nape, the back, feet etc..) This is my favorite part!

4. Attention-getting Poses and Situations: Goes through all sorts of poses and ideas for drawing characters in striking ways. This part covers jumping over fences, kissing or biting things, putting on make-up, etc. There is, of course, a part on the ever popular sailor suit, and its styles. Also, a not so useful part on what to wear under a bathing suit is also included.

5. Learn From the Pros: This last chapter has four complete artworks with a commentary and the rough sketch included. They are not cutesy pictures, but I like them al the same. The FETISH FRIENDS picture is beautifully drawn despite its controversial theme. It is a picture of two girls, one girl with her hand on the other girl's nude breast both of them with veeeery happy expressions on their faces, if you know what I mean.

This book is for advanced artists. If you don't get any use from it immediately, it will come in handy in the future as your skill improves.

More good than it is bad..
I bought this book in October and when I'm having difficulty drawing some body part or another I can always refer to this book. It covers ways to make the hands, feet, back, neck, breasts, and waist look good. i've always found hands and feet to be two of my trouble spots when it comes to drawing manga, so this was helpful. I do have to say that there is quite a bit of nudity in the book and a few things that would not be appropriate for someone under age 13 (bondage fashions, see through clothing...) So if you're thinking to buy this as a gift, be sure the recipient is at least 13.

Very helpful book
I found this book very useful for shading and drawing various parts of the body. I also liked the section on hands, because I'm not very good at drawing them. The section on drawing backs was also helpful. by the way, I AM a girl, and yes I found every aspect of this book helpful in some way or another. I don't believe that the other female reviewers I noticed had a very good idea of how much you can learn from this book...

Excellent Resource Book For Those Experienced In Art Basics
First off, do not, I repeat, DO NOT let the nudity turn you off to this book; most of it is in the vein of Playboy rather than hardcore skin flicks. Let's be realistic, when a book's main focus is the female form, seeing a girl's birthday suit is expected. All of the naked bodies are not gratuitous, but necessary for learning the subject. But, to each his/her own.

For the mature, knowledgable artist, this book has many wonderful sections dedicated to drawing such difficult clothing materials as leather, rubber, jeans, and others. Hayashi also goes over the subtle, sexy things about drawing a pretty gal: the nape of the neck, the back, etc. Works from well known artists are displayed in the back of the book (including "Fetish Friends") which show the genesis of the drawing all the way to the finished product.

In short, I would not recommend buying this book for a young teenager, but for the grown up artist who has the desire to improve their skills for creating sexy women (even it involves looking at a set of breasts or two.)

Not a good buy
If you actually want to draw pretty females, then find some other book: this one is just an excuse to leer at the naked girls printed, not a real handbook to actually learn to draw. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Absolutely Incredible!
I first heard about Andreas Vesalius when I read about his work in BODY OF KNOWLEDGE. His drawings have been the basis for THE ATLAS OF HUMAN ANATOMY and GRANT'S DISSECTOR and other reference books used in Anatomy classes at medical schools throughout the country.

What makes his work incredible is to think the fascinating illustrations of the human anatomy were researched and drawn by Vesalius in 1543. His book has been called "one of the most noble and magnificent volumes in the history of printing" and "one of the greatest treasures of Western Civilization". More incredible is the manner in which he performed the dissections and the relative accuracy of the drawings which have survived to this day.

The introduction gives an absorbing and enlightening account of Vesalius' life in the first half of the 16th century. The book is for the curious and those interested in anatomy, art, graphic arts and printing. You will read and look in awe and wonder about the history and progress of medicine and science.

Medical Materworks
Andreus Vesalius, whom I speculate was a student of Da Vinci, shows the body in all sorts of poses, while in each page you see the body "drips" off its skin and muscles all the way down to the bones. Some masterful work and imagination employed here! Just marvelous! Taken from his monumental work De Humani Corporis Fabrica, which is still used today in the medical fields. Also included are plates from his Epitome of the De Humani Corporis Fabrica and Tabulae Sex. Essentially this is only the illustrations, but it also includes a lengthy introduction as well as excerps from the original text. Highly reccomended to the art student and medical student for this indispensible reference. Also a great book just to appreciate some amazing art. Some of my favorite plates are of the nervous sytem in which it is a full body posed standing upright. I imagine how Andreas created this, and also realized how well he must have known the body's anatomy in order to attempt such a feat. Awesome! ... Read more

Book Description

A fresh, up-to-date approach to creating comics shows artists of all ages and talent levels how to build basic figures into stylized characters, set them in action, and add the backgrounds needed to complete the visual storytelling process.

Chapters include instruction on basic shapes and perspective; human anatomy, figure drawing, and stylizing the basic figure; the head and comic facial expressions; and backgrounds and inking techniques. Terrific tips of the trade are provided by prominent young professionals in the comic book industry who share their insiders' overviews of the business, giving aspiring cartoonists a decided edge in becoming savvy newcomers as they prepare to enter a very competitive field. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Still not the ultimate guide to drawing comics
Another handsome volume on drawing comics from Watson Guptill. And Kubert School graduate Andy Smith uses this book to take you through the basics of drawing comics figures and arranging them in panels. What you make of the book will be determined by your tastes and drawing level.

Though it claims to be for any talent level, I don't believe this book would be useful for a complete beginner. While drawing heads and figures are well-represented, he mysteriously omits instruction on hands and feet. As these are the two major stumbling blocks for tons of aspiring artists, this omission is a bit puzzling.

Smith's style is the heavily exagerated muscle style that some desperately want to emulate (I'm not one of them, myself, but that hasn't affected my rating). There are only a few examples of other artists' styles, and many of them are from Bart Sears, who makes Smith look restrained in his depiction of the heavily muscled. It would have been nice to have a discussion of different ways of representing the super-heroic musculature ranging from cartoon simple to ultra-powerful over-realistic.

The section on inking is helpful, but only if you know how to use the tools already. Though the user is encouraged to use a brush, there's no mention of the correct manner of holding the brush. You are told it takes a great deal of practice to use a brush, but not how to go about that practice.

On the good side, there are great discussion on panel layout and flow, using reference materials, drawing the face in different ways and in different ages and a very good guide to the different facial features. The writing is clear, the art well executed and the teaching style encouraging.

For someone serious about drawing comics, this is a worthwhile addition for your bookshelf. But don't start here. I'd personally start with Christopher Hart's How to Draw Comic Book Heroes and Villains, which covers the same ground as this book while including most of the omissions I mentioned above. And for working on your figures, I highly recommend How to Draw Anime and Game Characters: Basics for Beginners and Beyond (don't be put off by the manga base for this book, it will benefit anyone interested in comics).

Better than the others, so far...
Granted this book isn't particularly special and covers pretty much the same sort of basics, fundamental principles, etc, as a lot of the other 'how to draw comics' books out there - it's a bit different and somewhat better by comparison. It's extremely tough to find a good 'how to...' book out there that covers both basics and more advanced areas which is also helpful and satisfying for most people with different needs for it. I have searched many bookstores and I found pretty much the same sort of thing every time. In the end I thought of which one was more informative, precise and practical without being overly stressful, repetitive or boring. One that didn't rely on flashy colourful examples or reference material that looks great but doesn't really guide you in the right direction. I thought this one was one of the better ones, if not the best. I thought some of the other books really focused more on the finished product and work which was appealing, slick and contemporary-looking - but there wasn't much of a guideline for how to achieve those sort of results. They sort of suggested that most serious comic-drawers draw in the same style. This one isn't really an exception in that way, the same sort of old-fashioned aesthetics and ideals apply. However, I felt this book covered most areas further and the points were not as strict or stubborn. Anything you learn from this book can be loosened and applied to your own individual style. I also felt that this book was easier to understand, adventurous and fun. This is one of the best 'how to...' books so far. It explores most areas further than the other books and introduces new themes. It's probably not what some comic-drawers are hunting for but it's better than most the others
(that are more accessible) and it's also excellent for those who want to recap a lot of things.

Great help
This book is worth getting. Andy Smith gives great tips to help you draw better, how to use simple shapes to form figures and objects. Of all the books I have gotten a lot of books on drawing and this one just help it all click. I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn how to draw.

DDC DELIVERS!
Many people have given this book fewer stars, citing it's ommissions as the reason. I feel this is unfair as this a book intended to teach the reader 'HOW TO DRAW DYNAMIC COMICS', not just 'HOW TO DRAW'.

It may not be a book for a complete beginner (even though it does cover many basic drawing techniques), but someone who has a modicum of artistic talent and wants to know how to develop his skills for the comic book genre will find this book invaluable. As for the ommissions such as hand drawing and digital colouring, these are topics that deserve an entire book to themselves, and to try and cover either (or both) of them in a manual of this size would only have done both subjects a disservice.

For subjects such as hands, animals, and vehicles, the reader would be better served by looking at the works of Burne Hogarth (Dynamic Hands), Jack Hamm (How to Draw Animals), and Christopher Hart (How to Draw Fast Cars, Monster Trucks, & Fighter Jets). Once you've got these skills, turn back to this book to see how to use them in the creation of a comic book.

Andy Smith has written a book that promises to teach us how to draw Dynamic Comic Books. It does exactly that, with entertaining text and many superb illustrations. He talks about tools, techniques, and style, and covers everything from basic anatomy, figure construction and posing, to perspective, panel layout, and inking.

Drawing Dynamic Comics delivers the goods. What more can you ask?

This would be a great addition to anyone's how-to library.

Got Technique?
Andy Smith has put together a truly solid reference for those who are looking to improve the quality of their comic book artwork. The sample characters he uses to demonstrate figure drawing are excellent examples of the "modern superhero/superheroine" style.
Using basic form-blocking methods to establish proportion he shows how to then add the sleek and well-defined musculature typical of the most popular comics today.

Other areas of instruction include light and shadow, 1,2 and 3-point perspective, page layout, choosing "camrera angles" for panels, composition and visual pacing/flow through a page. Other sections detail scripting and script types, inking techniques/tools, and an epilogue page about breaking into the industry.

All in all, this book is a pleasure to work from. I highly recommend it as a desk reference for anyone starting out and also for those who want to return to basics and rediscover what makes the difference between great comics and those that collect dust on the shelf. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

ALMOST the complete history
Faiz Rehman (faiz79@hotmail.com) from Wales welcome look at the history of the man of steel Heavy on the pictures, this book is an excellent look at 60 years of Superman. Don't miss the covers - the dust jacket has original art work from the past, while the cover of the book proper has modern versions of the same art by the one and only Alex Ross. It overs the origins, the merchandise, and the adaptations. Although not as detailed as you may hope for, there are still plenty of facts to discover. The book does not gush over all aspects of the legend - it is critical of some aspects of, for example, the Dean Cain series. The books is not complete - for example, it does not mention the excellent radio series produce by Dirk Maggs in the BBC which is probably the closest adaptation of the comics stories. It does look gorgeous, though, and is much better than the majority of books of this type.

Entertaining history of the rise of the Man of Steel
Need to know something about how Superman changed over the years? Need to find out how the character evolved from comic books, to radio, to television, to motion picture, to TV again? This is the book to answer all those questions. Plus it has lots of nice photos of Superman toys and merchandise over the years. (The only thing missing is Superman Spinball Pinball, an amazingly fun toy that Mattell churned out to coincide with Christopher Reeve's first Superman film.) Tells you how the characters evolved, and more importantly, why they did, as the behind the scenes activities at DC Comics changed. A nice book for superhero fans of all ages.

Good overview of Superman's history
This is a great book for anyone who is interested in reading about the history of The Man Of Steel in all of his media incarnations (it's a few years old, so misses out on any info on the tv series Smallville). Well written and illustrated, it's a must-have for any fan of Superman.

Hardly the True Story of Superman
There is no doubt the comic book industry owes a great debt to Superman, or rather, to Siegel and Shuster who created him, but in his book, Les Daniels frequently looks for ways to minimize, rather than credit, their contribution. DC Comics made millions of dollars on the movies, TV Shows, cartoons, and other merchanising over the decades, while Siegel and Shuster shared in hardly any of it. The most shocking thing now is, this book, written with the cooperation of DC - rather than apologize to the two men, or even express any kind of gratitude, it actually takes stabs at Sigel and Shuster. Rather than simply state the facts regarding to Superman's history, Daniels frequently assails the characters of the two men, claims they took most of their ideas from other places, assigns poor motives to both men, even mentions extra-marital affairs they may or may not have had. The book is supposed to be about Superman, who cares about any of that? Of course Daniels would never turn a critical eye towards DC, who seem to have hired him, it's surprising they still seem to be bitter about two men that made them so much money for the last sixty years. There is no doubt, DC has been the best comic book company when it comes to promoting their characters, but they have also been very lucky in the courts. Not only did they force Superman's creators to relinquish all rights to the character, their lawsuits also managed to force Captain Marvel, a character more popular than Superman at the time, out of business. They claimed they were too much alike, but anyone who knows comics could see their differences. Later, DC took over Captain Marvel and actually began publishing him themselves (!). This story is only touched on briefly here. I give the book two stars because the illustrations are good, but the text deserves one, if even that. Everyone is entitled their opinion, but, in a book like this, people don't want to hear about it, they expect a decent read about the character of Superman. The true history of Superman is really not told here, it actually involves greedy businessmen sitting back and counting their money, while the creators that were the ones to make these characters, end up dying peniless.

A great history of the greatest superhero.
Superman is, without a doubt, one of the most recognizable characters in the world. But how did he reach that point? Les Daniels excellent history of Superman tells that story, and is packed with great pictures and photos as well. A perfect book for comic or pop culture fans. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

"Lowbrow" it may be called, but high-profile best describes the cultural impact of this contemporary art movement. Found everywhere from wine labels and high-end bar accessories to major motion pictures (Teacher's Pet, the upcoming Pink Panther), the visibility of this dynamic work has rapidly increased in the last few years to worldwide recognition and acclaim. Weirdo Deluxe is the first significant manifesto of the genre—a riotous blend of pop culture, street culture, pop art, and surrealism—and includes profiles of and interviews with 23 leading artists and hundreds of outrageous examples of their work. Special features include an expansive timeline, and peeks at the artists' collections and influences. Weirdo Deluxe is at once a primer and lowbrow art sourcebook as well as a visual homage to pop culture. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Doesn't do justice to the art
It's a decent book, but the reproductions don't do justice to the art.If you're looking to save a buck or two and pick up a collection of the art of this growing movement, this is the book for you. But I recommend the book "Pop Surealism" if you want a truely beautiful coffeetable art book.

The Wild World
of Pop Surrealism & Lowbrow Art
Matt Dukes Jordan's first book release is a witty, hip, camp, and inspired curation of lowbrow art, tracingthe origins of this genre's rise from obscurity to maturity, with beautiful color plates of some 23 artists known and collected for their renegade and liberating imagery, like Robert Williams, Pizz, Todd Schorr, and Gary Baseman.

Weirdos chronicles the Lowbrow art movement from its reaction against the high art that hangs on the high walls of museums and those whose work spawned the name. Jordan details a timeline that reads like a "Lowbrow for Dummies" guide. In Jordan's sophisticatedly "Lowbrow" style, he lists world events and local fads from where the artists drew their inspiration.


From the animation-influenced style, to the humorous and "carnivalesque sense of satire," tattoo art, romantic-era literature, and, not to be forgotten, hotrod culture, which Jordan has observed, the point is made that these are not only similar artists, but brothers in blood. Jordan points out that "eventually some of these artists seek admission to the great cathedrals of culture, only to discover that the high priests hesitate to show their work in the sanctorums" where "high brow" works are stored and revered. A polemic between appealing to mass audiences and working to be honest to one's own art is a contstant theme, showing up, for example, in Robert Williams' "The Ascension of the Mobile Abominators" combines no less than Assyrian lore, goddess worship, and trailer homes being decimated beneath an Aztec pyramid.

Mr. Jordan has placed a marker in the annals of history. If there is anything which captures the entirety of Lowbrow's drive, purpose, and themes, this is it! Jordan shows how these artists and many more not listed in his book are bonded by a titled motivation which has given form to a movement stressed by themes of alienation from not only society but the world of art. In doing this, the human condition is brushed over every picture and every artist's story. ... Read more

Book Description

Includes hundreds of step-by-step instructions and examples of caricatured subjects that show the art in action.

Reviews (9)

Very nice lessons in this book
I really like this book very much. I do think that there is an expectation of a certain amount of artistic ability from the get go but there is a certain amount of rudimentary skill building included as well.

It is a nice large size that I think is necessary for art instruction books and it is also a fairly big book as far as total pages go. One issue I have with many *how to draw* books is that they tend to be pretty thin. This is quite a nice size.

In the beginning there are a lot of examples of types and styles of features that people have...not in caracature form but just in general. I like this. I find this very helpful in general drawing as well as helping you focus on what features you can play up for the art of caricature. Proportion is also discussed with an eye on how to manipulate it. It is also a great lesson in general drawing.

The examples that are used to show what to do are quite good. there is a photo (or photos) on the page and the drawing that accentuates certain of the features. It's very helpful, I think, to start with an actual photo and see how the artist picked up on certain features in his finished drawing. I do notice that the people selected for photos *do* tend to have obvious traits that are easy to pick up on (a VERY square jaw... A *very* pointed chin... Large bags under the eyes, etc) I think this does get you used to looking for these things but perhaps a few more examples of less obvious features would be a big help.

Over all I like this book very much. It shows different styles and while the focus is on the caricature it isnt on making the subject look bizarre. Quite a good first book.

I think a lot of people will be dissapointed
This book is a dissapointment. All it tells you to do is picture a perfect face in your mind with all of the facial features the perfect size. Look at the face that you're drawing and if he/she has any facial features that are too big, you make them even bigger and if he/she has any facial features too small, then you make them even smaller. Only true beginners will benefit at all from the information stated in this book. It never tought me how to draw caricatures like the ones I see people draw at amuesment parks or the ones I see in MAD magazine. The author doesn't have the same drawing style as them. It only told me the very very basics of caricaturing, which I already knew. If I were you I wouldn't buy this book, you can learn just as much by looking at how Tom Richmond and Chris Rommel draw their caricatures at tomrichmond.com and chrisrommel.com.

not bad,quite good
i really taught this book was going to be another step-by-step book,i mean it`s entitled `HOW TO DRAW` rayt?but it doesn`t mean i didn`t like this book,i found some of his theories quite heplful,like the use of the in-betweener.i`m still hoping guys ...would really put out a really,really,really helpful `how to draw caricatures` book.

An easy start for a wannabe cartunist
Len Redman could be an ok cartunist but he's definetely a great professor. His book shows how to catch the comic detail, a corner stone for a good cartoon, in a simple and direct way.
If the wannabe cartunist have some talent, this book will be a great help for a good start. I recomend.

One of best books for learning cartoon caricature!
June, 2001- I own more than twenty books on the subject of how to draw caricatures and cartoons. Following only five weeks of practice, I recently started working part time as a caricature artist at a major theme park (mostly for the fun of it). I have no previous experience in art or drawing. Studying Redman's book did more for me than any other. The key to success in caricature is being able to produce a clean, simple sketch that has adequate likeness to the subject's face yet, in a kind way, also employs some fun with "exaggeration" -- not distortion. Redman's book does the best job, for the complete beginner, of any text out there. This is one of the only instructional references that makes a special point to include at least one and often several photographic views of each subject before showing you how to construct the basic caricature drawing. There are many such examples of photo studies and caricature results. He also covers children and and a wide variety of ethnic groups. Redman includes examples of how to draw the same subject using several different caricature styles. There are also examples of famous people done in caricature. Too many of these to even count. If you combine this book with Jack Hamm's Cartooning: The Head & Figure to learn cartoon bodies to go along with the faces, you have a great pair of reference books. As a cautionary note, Redman's book does contain some cartoon nudity which I feel was not needed at all to make the text a valuable learning reference. Parents might want to remove these few pages before the book is used by children. This is a great learning tool. Good luck!
July 2, 2002- As a follow up to the above review, for those seeking the very best caricature training references, I must add a third book from the many that I have reviewed. I recently purchased, for a reference on cartooning, The BIG Book of Cartooning by Bruce Blitz. To my surprise and delight this turned out to be perhaps the best text yet on CARICATURE as the art form is applied in theme parks and private parties. Like Redman's book, Blitz offers many training exercises starting with actual photos of the person to be sketched and showing step by step how to "construct" the caricature. More than this, Blitz ties together at a beginner to intermediate level the techniques of "catching" a caricature likeness and adds a huge resource of comic techniques and gag ideas.
Redman's and Jack Hamm's books are still the best for starting to draw caricature. However, a theme park or private party caricaturist in their early years of development will see a BIG jump in skill, income, and tips after a thorough study of Blitz's BIG Book of Cartooning. Blitz's book, having been published in 1998 is more current in its examples and styles, and, due to its emphasis on gags and cartooning, more likely to hold the interest of young artists of say junior high or high school age. Warm regards, Brock ... Read more