Reviews (2)

Important book to have
I think this book is reallyreally useful to have if you want to draw battles. Really useful. The only reason it doesn't earn it's last star is that the art is not really manga-style, and the fact that there are about three girls in the whole book...but if you know enough of drawing to be able to see the basic shape of the position, and draw it how you want it, then this book is an excellent buy! I love it and I use it all the time!!!!

AWESOME EXAMPLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
okay, I was sooo excited when i saw this book and I love it! This isn't a book that will show you HOW to draw, more like it will show you examples. LOTS of EXAMPLES that I found very helpful.

The types of fighting they show are:
judo
karate
KENDO
Boxing
and Street Battles

I especially like the Kendo part which has SEVERAL pages dedicated to this particular martial arts.

If you wantt hem to show you how to draw circles and triangles and what not with fighting then you'll be disappointed. As stated before is show dozens of examples, many times they have several different views of the same move.

They also include tips, and facts about the maritals arts which I found helpful to learn. They show the equipment that are used in detail which is helpful when you do close up versions of a punch for fancy foot work!

So, I hope this has helped. I LUV this book, so many helpful moves I can copy and look good in the process. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Al Hirschfeld is one of the greatest caricaturists ever to have put pen to paper, and this monumental retrospective is a testament to his genius. From '30s icons like actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine to the stars of Seinfeld, Hirschfeld's fluid line has limned some of the most enduring images of our favorite entertainers. The collection opens with a biographical essay by New York Times writer Mel Gussow that sketches the arc of Hirschfeld's career and the development of his reputation as a chronicler of American show business. Additional essays by Arthur Miller, Kurt Vonnegut, Whoopi Goldberg, and Hirschfeld's daughter Nina cast further light on the artist, but the bulk of the book is, of course, given over to his wonderful drawings. Hirschfeld has written that it is his aim to capture character, rather than caricature, and each of the hundreds of images reproduced here encapsulates its subject perfectly, without ever resorting to cruelty. After more than six decades, Hirschfeld has recorded the careers of generations of performers, and this collection further illuminates his work by including comments on each drawing by the artist himself, providing a delightful personal history of Broadway, Hollywood, and all points in between. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (6)

It's All Here...
Here is the indispensible Hirschfeld book - a must for any fan of his work, or of line in general. From his earliest pieces, all the way through his long career with New York theatre, his work is showcased - and done so through his eyes. Each piece is described by this great artist - his inspirations, methods, and thoughts. I cannot imagine a better way to present his wonderful drawings, and I am so very, very thankful that this collection was printed before his death. Although, yes, the work would show just as beautifully without, his commentary alongside each piece just opens up an entirely new viewpoint. This is a truly timeless book, and I highly recommend it.

An Amazing Gallery; An Extraordinary Career
Al Hirschfeld rose above titles like "cartoonist" and "illustrator", and every other tag specifically applied to visual artists who inject design and humor into their work. His intelligent blend of the caricaturist's eye and the designer's sense of the beauty in flat forms add up to an entirely unique contribution to twentieth century popular culture- and a highly influential one. His recent passing at age 99 marks the end of the century that he witnessed and commented upon so wittily and so stylishly. His legions of admirers (and imitators) will be well served by this 1999 book, assembled by the artist himself, with an excellent selection from his career, his invaluable commentary, and a fairly satisying selection of his amazing (and less celebrated) color work. The reproductions are fine here, and the volume is designed and presented well. It can only be hoped that more comprehensive releases and reissues of earlier books are in the near future.

"Nina"
I really enjoyed looking through this book. I am absolutely in love with theater and I love seeing how he depicts all of my favorite shows and actors. He's been through the "Golden Age" of theater and has also done so much work for modern entertainment. I also have tons of fun looking for all the hidden "Nina"s. Just in case you might not know what I'm talking about, let me explain. After his daughter was born, Hirschfield began hiding her name in his drawings. The number by his "signiture" indicates the number of "Nina"s in the drawing. "Nina" is also written all in caps. Because of this, this book is not going to be just some ordinary coffee table book that only his fans might check out. It could also be a great deal of amusement for those who like to play the kind of "Where's Waldo" games.

A delightful collection of Hirschfeld's caricatures
I bought this book as a gift for my husband, and I fell in love with with the book myself. I recently visited the Delaware River Museum and saw my first in-person Hirschfeld line drawing of George C. Scott housed in the museum. Mr. Hirschfeld captures a personality with the stroke of a few lines. This book is wonderful. It has inspired my husband, a professional artist, to study Mr. Hirschfeld's style, and I found my husband doing line drawings yesterday. Packed with 400 drawings and photographs, this is a "must have" book for any Hirschfeld follower.

Wonderful! What a GIFT this man has!
Mr. Hirschfield comes up with more creative ideas in one day than most artists come up with in a year+. The history of his life and career is thoroughly enjoyable. ... Read more

Book Description

This beautiful album will dazzle fans of Charles M. Schulz and his art, providing an unprecedented look at the work of the most brilliant and beloved cartoonist of the twentieth century. Here is the whole gang–Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, and all the others from the original Peanuts strips.

More than five hundred comic strips are reproduced, as well as such rare or never-before-seen items as a sketchbook from Schulz's army days in the early 1940s; his very first printed strip, Just Keep Laughing; his private scrapbook of pre-Peanuts Li'l Folks strips; developmental sketches for the first versions of Charlie Brown and the other Peanuts characters; a sketchbook from 1963; and many more materials gathered from the Schulz archives in Santa Rosa, California.

The art has been stunningly photographed by Geoff Spear in full color, capturing the subtle textures of paper, ink, and line. The strips–which were shot only from the original art or vintage newsprint–reveal how, from the 1950s through 2000, Schulz's style and the Peanuts world evolved. The book features an introduction by Jean Schulz and has been designed and edited by renowned graphic artist Chip Kidd, who also provides an informed and appreciative commentary.

This celebration of the genius of the most revered cartoonist of our time is a must for anyone who has ever come under the spell of Peanuts.
... Read more

Reviews (37)

A Must for any 'Peanuts' Fan and a True Work of Art
I have loved Peanuts since childhood, and have an almost complete collection of Peanuts books. Charles Schultz has always been an inspiration to me in my work as an occasional professional cartoonist. Not only is Schultz unsurpassed as an artist, he is also one of the great philosophers of twentieth century life in America.
This book is, first and foremost, a celebration of the comic strip. It is a work of art in its own right. All the cartoons in the book are photographed from either their original drawings, or directly from the newspapers. The reader can see the artistic details that Schultz has used in creating each frame in photos of the originals. And the use of the original strips, with their rough paper and newsprint lines, brings back the joy of reading the comics for the first time in the funnies. The Sunday comics are complete with the little color dots that created the color images. There are literally hundreds of comic strips, both daily and Sunday, in this book, and they give a good overview of Schultz's long career.
There are many photos of Schultz's doodles and rough sketches, of his desk and his artist's tools, early cartoons 'Sparky' sold to the Saturday Evening Post, early drawings of certain characters, some of which pre-date 'Peanuts' itself. One can actually see the characters develop, artistically and as human beings. Interspersed with the cartoons are textual explanations and stories about Schultz and his characters, including many insightful comments by Charles Schultz himself about the evolution and personalities of his characters. Also included are photos of early Peanuts toys and dolls, and even these are photographed lovingly and with attention to detail and shadow.
This is a magical book, and any Peanuts fan would love it and treasure it. It is a book one can return to over and over to enjoy. Leave it lying around the living room where everybody can enjoy it and relive the joy Charles Schultz and the Peanuts gang gave us for over fifty years. Better yet, introduce a new generation of kids to the strip. The Peanuts gang is a microcosm of us, and reading it reveals much about ourselves and helps us to look on life with tenderness and humor.
Buy this book, read it, and share it. It would make a wonderful present as well. It is the best Peanuts book to date.

Peanuts Masterpiece
Now, _this_ is the best collection you can get! Going through vast archives - including Charles M. Schulz's collection of _original_ strips, and newspaper clippings of the 1950s and beyond, as well as comic books of the 1960s, memorabilia like board games, records, bobbing-head toys (made by the Lego company before they made Lego!), and more, this is truly superb. And, the strips are presented in a unique form - instead of just reprints, we see photographs - detailed, high-quality, crystal clear photographs - of the originals, providing us with a massive increase in clarity - plus, with the newspaper clippings, we see those old dot-colored versions of the Sunday strips, and rarities - like what a strip looked like before Schulz adjusted the art for the published version, and a 1954 Sunday strip of Lucy and Charlie Brown at an ADULTS' golf tournament!! (The effect - that we only see them from about waist-down - is like how we saw Nanny in "Muppet Babies" -remember that?). We alo see Schulz' studio tools, left as they were after he finished the last strips in December 1999, and features like this - and the concluding pages - add a poignancy to the book. But it all works. There's no disappointments here!

A Beautiful and Moving Compilation
If you are or were a fan of good old Charlie Brown, I highly recommend this beautiful and moving compilation of Schulz's work. More than 500 strips are reproduced, from his last penstrokes to his pre-Peanuts work. There are also modest quotes from Schulz throughout, as well as some interesting photos of his working space. As I re-read some of the earlier strips, I could vividly recall reading them as a kid. Something indelible in the seemingly simple lines of Schulz's drawing.

Its interesting and somehow affecting to trace the development of the characters, to see Lucy as an innocent baby, and then follow her into domineering fussbudgetness. And Charlie Brown grew as well, losing some of his original pumkinheadedness over the years, but also losing some of his spunk and mischievious sense of humor. You can get the sense of the strip maturing, as in the earlier strips the characters were innocent, even in their anxieties, where later they became more knowing and resigned to their lot in life. Even though the strip changed over time, it had a timeless quality. There is evidence of a world outside of Schulz's palette, as in his few strips dealing with Viet Nam. But as with his drafting p.o.v., social issues are drawn from a child's perspective, a son's anxiety over his dad's absence, the fear of being sent off to somewhere strange in the future. There is no grand moralizing or strident argument, only a small, worried child.

50 years at the board, a worthy and dignified labor of love.

Sheer genius
Charles Schulz. In one word...genius. It may be safe to say that I learned much about life from Peanuts. At the very least, I was able to see the humor in it. It's definitely safe to say that Charles Schulz is my all-time hero for one reason: an ordinary man through a simple medium was able to affect so many people by making them aware of what it means to live and what it means to be human. This is the obvious reason why Schulz's work transcends what we perceive to be unbreakable boundaries -- race, class, and language. Reaching 355 million readers worldwide is a breathtaking, if not, unbelievable accomplishment.

This book (the expanded edition in paperback) is well worth the buy. I bought the original hardcover copy, but the expanded edition includes a few more gems from the Schulz family vaults and the asking price is, of course, more incentive to lay your money down. While this is not a collection of comic strips proper, that is, strictly page after page of strips for the collector, it provides a most fascinating glimpse to the early days of the strip and the development of characters with whom we identify and whom we adore. Granted, there was a lot to put in this book. so many of the early strips are reduced in size and "horded" onto a single page, but it's worth the sacrifice to "squint" and take a peek at them. Many of these have not been reproduced and have not been seen in years.

The book is a unique glimpse into the work of a man who simply wanted to be remembered for creating great cartoons and pleasing people. It's nice to know that whenever life "get rough", we can retreat to Peanuts and laugh at ourselves. If you love Peanuts or want to pass on Schulz's legacy to others who are interested, buy this book, even though it's not a comprehensive collection or laid out the way a normal collection of strips would be. Consider this book a enjoyable "warm-up" for a major event -- the release of the ENTIRE Peanuts collection, complete and in chronological order starting April, 2004, from Fantagraphics Books. Pay them a visit on the web or search Amazon for The Complete Peanuts for more information. This is Peanuts lover's dream come true.

This is not really for comics fans...
I bought this because there is currently no other collection of Schulz's earliest Peanuts strips being published. I certainly like the book for what it is - an art book. The wealth of material inside is fantastic, and the book focuses on the strip in a holistic way, examining its influence on pop culture as well as presenting a good overview of the actual strip. However, and this is extremely crucial, this is NOT a book to buy if one wants a good collection of older Peanuts material to read and reread. Most of the strips are just photos of old newspaper clippings (I'm not quite sure what they were going for there) and hundreds of them are reprinted so small that they hurt your eyes. Also, there is virtually no continuity among the reprints. They just seem to be a random collection of the book's creator's favorites. If you are a serious fan of comics and a serious fan of Peanuts in particular, save your money for the Fantagraphics-published Peanuts albums that are coming out in April, 2004. I'm keeping this book until they do come out, and then I'm giving it to someone who's an art student with better eyesight than me (who might appreciate it a little more). ... Read more

Book Description

King Arthur, Merlin, and all of Camelot's dashing, regal and romantic figures spring to life under the gifted hand of a master illustrator/cartoonist and inspiring teacher. Hart provides lucid instruction and rich examples for students to follow as they learn to draw the handsome men of medieval legend in shining armor, beautiful maidens in gorgeous gowns, funny and fierce dragons, and backgrounds of imposing castle settings. Step-by-step exercises present many versions of characters in a variety of poses. 170 illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wow
I am not probably the most better drawer you`ve seen but this book surely improved my drawing technics. It is not matter if you are an artist or a total beginner this hints from the real guru will certainly be a big help. A+ and a five star recommendation from me. ... Read more

Book Description

You've probably heard that Flash is something used to make lively, interactive, web-based interfaces or animated movies. Flash is certainly well suited for those applications, but did you know you could use it to create computer graphics that put PhotoShop to shame? Flash-based Bishoujo (Japanese for "pretty girl") illustration techniques are quite advanced, and this book shows you the complete, essential, start-to-finish techniques of six pioneering animation masters. We've literally stuffed the pages with tips on everything from how to draw with Flash to how to make your Bishoujo cuter. At the end of each section, you'll find a gallery showcasing each artist's work. Flash has the power to make your dreams come true. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good, but lacking...
I wanted this book, since I first found it at my local bookstore. I finally got it, and I have to say that it does give you some pretty good tips. There are some parts that it leaves out though. Like how to exactly do a gradation on the skin. It just goes quickly over it. I use Flash MX 2004, and this book doesn't cover it. So some of the techniques they were conveying were troublesome for me because the Flash I use has things in a slightly different place. Not to mention, each of the artist have a different technique to how to use Flash. So take what's best for you and make up your own way. To get a true experience from this book I do recommend getting a graphical tablet (just like I need to do). I just hope the next book covers at least simple animations, such as blnking eyes, tapping foot, and maybe some hair blowing in a breeze or something. Get the book, it's enjoyable and educational for the people who are wanting to give coloring in a different format a try.

Great for the Manga weak on the Flash
I am a big fan of these "How to Draw Manga" series. I bought this one primarly for the Flash techniques and I have to say it falls short on that topic. Although it covered Flash, it only covered it to the basics and spent a little too much time on the over all process and pages of barely dressed Bishoujo. Don't get me wrong the images in this book are amazing it just did not include the juicy gold nugget techniques and shortcuts I was looking for. ... Read more

Book Description

Visual media artists-comic book artists, film and video storyboarders and animators, and creators of interactive games-must express purely with pictures everything that the writer can't communicate in words. As a result, truly effective visual storytelling must be compelling, dynamic-and have the appearance of reality. In Visual Storytelling, veteran comic book publisher Tony Caputo demonstrates everything the aspiring visual media artist needs to know in order to master sequential art. In Part 1, artists will discover, through clear illustrations and pictures, each stage of the production process, including plotting, writing, penciling and lettering, inking, coloring, and painting. Part 2 shows, step by step, the basics of figure drawing and anatomy, and basic light and dark techniques. Finally, Part 3 details the basics of page composition, layout, and design as well as the art of creating incredible comic book covers and splash pages. Filled with fascinating illustrations by such legendary artists as Mat Nastos, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, Wally Wood, Andrew Loomis, Scott McCloud, Terry Moore and Jeff Smith, Visual Storytelling also features a ready-to-use guide that helps chart progress and skills in visual storytelling media. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

misleading
This book is unfortunately very misleading in its content - Aimed as a multi format guide, the book rarely strays away from comic book technique.
For filmmakers/animators, this book offers little beyond rudimentary film theory and skills. Plus the majority of the example material is very sub-standard. Avoid this one.

Good read but doesn't keep its promise
There is no doubt this book is good value for money. What basically lets it down is its illustrations - much of the text is explained by illustrations and some significant examples are so poorly reproduced or so small that the meaning is lost.

On the whole, with a few exceptions, I found it skirting around the topics offering little depth.

The books gave a good general coverage and pointed out the areas to follow up with further reading/viewing.

This said, I still would recommend this book for anyone interested in the techniques of visual storytelling.

Don't pass this one up!!
This book belongs in the library of anyone who is or would like to be a storyteller whether it be comics, animation, film or any multimedia field. This is one of those rare books that doesn't get published enough. The fact that it covers more than one medium makes this an invaluable reference title. Besides, how often do you find a book that tells you how Steranko does it?

THERE IS NO BETTER GUIDE.
I can not find a better guide that spans so many mediums. This is an excellent read as well as resource. Thank you Mr. Caputo on another wonderful book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Fantods and epergnes
Fantods and epergnes do exist - at least they're in the dictionary. One is under glass in this book. It's impossible to review this wonderful book without quoting from it. Roughly speaking it's a short book about a strange-looking man writing a novel but that doesn't tell you much about it. We know he's strange-looking because of the illustrations. These are indescribable.
Come to think of it I might as well give up attempting to describe or review.
You can still get this book legally at Amazon.com so hurry up. For some reason Goreys often go out of print and then you have to resort to begging, which would be bad for your self-esteem, or stealing, which could get you you in more trouble. The unthinkable thing would be not to own this book.

How to Write a Novel
A brilliant tale of how best to go about writing the all-American novel. Or British. Whatever. I carry this book close to my heart, as do all serious authors.

No cliches - just bizarre, uppity humor
"Mr Earbrass belongs to the straying, rather than the sedentary, type of author. He is never to be found at his desk unless actually writing down a sentence. Before this happens he broods over it indefinately while picking up and putting down again small, loose objects...He frequently hums more in his mind than anywhere else, themes from the Poddington 'Te Deum'."

Gorey is strange. Not weird strange. Just strange. His glib verbosity is a fantastic challenge. He takes the absurd and the stark into a play-acting of 1920s (I choose this era only because it is a feeling I get from his drawings) melodrama with a twist. I suppose his writing wouldn't have the same impact without his illustrations. His unblinking faces and penguin bodies are black comedy parodies of our over-rated catalogue of mannerisms and expressions. I laugh when I realize how serious Gorey is about taking his characters down a seriously mad path.

In the 'Unstrung Harp', Mr Earbrass' boredom and inability to write are a bizarre focus. Gorey finds so much humor and psychology in our seemingly empty, drifting moments. Makes me realize that boredom really is a thing in itself to appreciate. Mr. Earbrass, after all, gets more from his "straying" than his actually writing, enjoying the "about to happen" rather than the "happening".

Start your collection. His books are tricky to come by, but even more difficult to part with.

the dark world of a writer
"In the blue horror of dawn the vines in the carpet appear likely to begin twining up his ankles." Although I haven't attempted to publish my books, as a writer I can understand some of Mr. Earbrass's tribulations while he experiences the realm of his own novel. Although it is a humorous story, for the most part I find "The Unstrung Harp" moving, passionate, and honest. Earbrass is a heroic solipsist descending into his own mind to survive, at the same time offering up what he finds there for public scrutiny. I wish I could read his famous Hipdeep Trilogy. (And don't forget that Gorey's illustrations are beautiful.)

It's back! A classic of life's little frustrations.
I grew up with this book, but tragically lost it a few years ago. Now it is finally available again. The story of Mr. Earbrass struggling with every phase of writing a book is a classic of wry humor with non-sequiturs at every turn. The illustrations (drawn actual size) are even more of an attraction than the story. Be sure to look for the distant hot-air balloon in one illustration, and what happens to the fantod under glass. What's a fantod? Read the book to see one! I also recommend this book for developing childrens' sense of humor, although I found the long-headed people and oblique references to English place names a bit difficult to understand when I was six. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is looking the gift horse in the mouth, but...
Although it had been promised to be a "definitive biography" by the publisher, Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood continues the piecemeal format of everything that has been available about Wood and his contemporaries (Severin, Elder, Ingels, Crandall, Williamson, Craig, Davis, et al) for the last 40 years. -Which is to say it's a rambling book of personal essays/reminiscences, panel discussion excerpts and brief, fan-flavored interviews. The books one undeniable saving grace is that it is very generously embellished with samples of the artist's work. But overall, it feels like a blow-out issue of Squa Tront.

This will scratch the itch of the diehard and casual fan who wanted a coffee table browser on the subject. For those, like me, who hoped, finally, to see the subject's life drawn in one cohesive portrait by an insightful Boswell, it's a letdown, or "more of same."

I hope the book does well. It is, perhaps, an urgently needed Wood intro for newer generations who lack a sense of history. It is a welcome public reminder/declaration of Wood's place in The Comic Pantheon, where he clearly stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Roy Crane, Milt Caniff, Walt Kelly, Al Capp, Chester Gould and, dare one utter it, the Great Charles Schulz. Honest, it's not a bad little read. But I wish it had offered something new on the subject, or at least somehow extended the genre of fan appreciation/criticism established by Squa Tront during the 60s and 70s. As it is, this book has an odd way of making me feel that an entire generation, my generation, never really grew up.

Blazing Colors!
This is the penultimate guide on an artist who changed the way comic art is rendered today. This gargantuan exercise on artist Wallace Wood is an absolute for those who grew up with Woods magnificent style as well as the modern aspiring artist. Everything we see in comic art today can be traced in some shape or form to this master of pencil and India ink. The hand which so elegantly wielded the brush has been expertly brought back to life by Bhob Stewart. The text is written with a panache and flair almost completely missing from modern journalism on a subject so sadly underreported these days. Thanks to this wonderfully illustrated labor of love, the art of Wally Wood shall continue to live on for generations to come. All of today's modern heroes would not, could not exist had Wood's artistic creations not covered the span of decades. He was a true 20th-century Renaissance Man. "Against The Grain" is a work to be savored, embraced, shared by all serious artists who desire to know where it all began, and the man who rendered a new direction for a new century, Wally Wood.

A Worthy Look At Wood's Work
I've been reading "Against The Grain" on and off since late
December and, if you're a fan of comics art, this is a must-get for your collection: the late Wallace Wood was one of the comics field's greats, both as an illustrator and a cartoonist.

Like Wood's work, this is a beautiful book, well worth having; editor Bhob Stewart (assisted by Bill Pearson and Roger Hill), has done a great job. There are 35 essays by people who knew the artist, covering every aspect of his varied career. The selection of art does that as well: I have a fairly comprehensive collection of Wood's work, but there's quite a lot here that I was aware of and hadn't been able to obtain, as well of material I never knew about but was glad to see (like his illustrations from "Planet Stories," and his roughs for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). There's his early work when he was just learning his chops, his roughs, his pencils, his cartoons, his comic book work, his illustrations --all done in variety of different techniques and mediums, all (save for the early material) displaying Wood's beautifully crisp line style. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Bob Staake has another winner!
This book really is the best thing a Caricature artist like myself can have in his libary. Crammed with tons of drawings by both Mr. Staake and dozens of other artists, there's definitly no shortage of examples in this brillantly illustrated book. However, this is not your traditonal "step-by-step, this is how to draw" kind of book. Rather than directly teaching you how to draw caricatures, Bob Staake explains in great detail all the important aspects of caricature, such as how to incorporate the subject's personality into the drawing and what are the best reference materials to use while drawing. Truly a must have for ANY artist.

Incredible!
I had heard this was the "definitive" book on Caricature, and a truer statement couldn't be made! My goodness, this book is absolutely incredible. The caricature samples are diverse and inspiring, the presentation well designed, but Bob Staake's text is just marvelous. Doesn't matter if you're an artist, cartoonist, caricaturist or just a casual reader, this book will have you hooked from the first page. Can't possibly over-recommend it -- truly the most complete book on the art form of caricature. ... Read more

Book Description

This second volume of the popular series is geared towards artists who have mastered the basic techniques of tone work and want to give their manga three-dimensionality and a wide array of audacious special effects. The bonus CD-ROM contains 100 types of tone patterns favored by manga artists. This Computones series is guaranteed to expand your manga horizons. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive collection of paintings by outsider icon Robert Williams.

Simply put, this is the coffee-table collection of the paintings of Robert Williams, one of the most lauded and controversial American painters of the 20th Century. Williams sprang from the hot rod culture of Southern California and the roots of underground comix, ultimately transcending both by cultivating a mastery of oil paints and forging a career as the preeminent artist among a generation of painters gathering inspiration from the shadowed corners of contemporary culture. Williams singlehandedly became the model of the "Outsider" art movement, influencing a generation of artists to create without concern for the fine art world, which Williams held in contempt (a feeling reciprocated in kind for years until recently, with Williams's past two shows at Tony Shafrazi's New York gallery selling out before opening night.

Originally released in 1997 and now back in print, Malicious Resplendence features over 200 full-color paintings spanning Williams' life and career, reproduced with breathtaking clarity (no small feat with Williams' hyper-kinetic visions). Along with a comprehensive and carefully compiled retrospective of Williams' body of work, the book also features extensive biographical information by critic C.R. Stecyk, an introduction by noted curator Walter Hopps, and dozens of rare and never-before-seen photos of the artist and related ephemera. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

No better book of this sort
A must have for aserious Williams fan. Considerd by most to be the founder of this genre. Exceeded my expectations.Xlnt value.

Retinal Delights
Immerse yourself in this mind-bending collection of original art. A full compliment of drawings, sketches, comic book covers and paintings round out this look at the career (still going strong) of Robert Williams. The paintings are lavishly reproduced on high-quality paper stock and the over-sized dimensions of this book are perfectly suited to appreciate the artist's awe-inspiring technique. A MUST for any fan of underground art, culture and surrealism!

America's greatest living painter.
I have been a follower of Robert Williams' work for about 8 years. I own all but one of his previous books and was under the assumption that "Malicious Resplendence" was a collection of new work only. Thankfully I was wrong, and completely blown away. Not only does this huge beautifly hard back show his most recent paintings, the book is actually a collection of his entire history of art. Robt.Wms is truly a master painter in the classic sense, a painter of our century who can actually stand up to the vision and draftsmanship of the greatest painters of history ... Read more

Book Description

Character design guidelines and drawing tips used by professional designers are compiled and presented in this guide to drawing anime and game characters. The authors, who are instructors of illustration and character design, impart the knowledge they have been using as educational material over the years. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is an amazing book, very helpful...
Tho its the last vol. I bought it first as well as vol. 3 (which I found was not very helpful unless you know few body poses and/or alignment of body parts when poseing... big disappointment for me -_- but I must admit it was a little hepful on things like reaching, sitting, running, and stuff like that.) when i read this book, and scaned details of characters and thier body language I found few flaws. I was amazed at how much better it was compared to other books I own. Like in the other volumes it show mistakes of begginers and does them over show the corrected areas. It also gives ideas for clothes, backrounds where to place the character in the backrounds, differnt angles, acsseories characters use, emotions, body language, poses, costumes, characters used in some manga stories/comics, and personalities of the characters. I wish I could show you a picture I drew using this book alone and how much better it was compared to earlier drawings. Also I helped my older cuz. (who confesed she couldnt draw to save her life) draw an almost perfect pic. of a character from the book. Altho I gave just a few tips Iv picked up from other not so helpful books I didnt do much of anything, the book did it for me (so to speak). I must confess that im not begginer tho im still learning and this book lacks the beggining steps such as... how to draw facial body parts like the eyes, nose, or ears and other such beggining things even tho its the last vol. its supposed to be a reveiw sorta, so that dissapionted me cause somtimes I cant get it off the top of my head and steps make it easier to remember but besides that it is all around a great book even for some adv begginers. In conclusion I give it 5, even if it lacks a small skill or two, I think Tadashi Owzawa and his book earned a 5 for everything being just about perfect. ^_^ Oh by the way you should get this book, begginer or not.

A good book
The fifth book in this series basically brings all of what you learned in the previous books together with some new features. The beginning of this book is dedicated to character types, their common facial features, clothing, etc. The bulk of this book is dedicated to clothing including school uniforms, nightwear, job uniforms, beachwear, skiwear, kung fu costumes, and many more. They also go into small details such as bags, shoes, and guns.

That said, I must say that I really didn't get as much out of this book as I did the other ones. Everything was basically explained in more detail in the previous books. This does give you nice clothes and character types, but you can also come up with that stuff on your own. It's up to you. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Art of Shag: Bottomless Cocktail by Shag
This is a wonderful book with the art of Josh Agle (SHAG). It is a nice sampling of various types of his body of work. A great coffee table book. I highly recommend it to any SHAG fan or fan of 50's and 60's looking art! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An eye-candy treat of the best in digital toons and comics!
This is a suberb overview of the current state of digital cartooning. It showcases many of the top digital cartoonists and comics artists working today.It features beautiful full-color spreads of digital art, reproduced large (thank you very much), and details on the background and approach of each featured artist.

The book also includes many useful tips and techniques for digital cartoonists, although its real strength is as a showcase of some of the best digital cartooning and comics art out there. A beautiful book. ... Read more

Book Description

A visual feast of swingin' cartoons for jazz lovers.On the long road to becoming an Oscar-winning animation director, Gene Deitch became an intense jazz fan. At the age of 21, he discovered The Record Changer, a jazz collector's magazine filled with fanatical, scholarly, and purist essays about jazz as well as listings of hard-to-find jazz albums.Every jazz swinger in the '40s was called a cat (as in "cool cat," derived from the West African word "Katta," a human), so Gene Deitch created a cartoon feature for Record Changer titled "The Cat," which quickly became a fixture at the magazine. He also started drawing the covers, which graced almost every issue from 1945 to 1951 along with "The Cat." Deitch's stylistically virtuoso images exquisitely embodied the essence of jazz and became a visual paean to the joy of collecting and appreciating jazz.

In the 1940s, jazz was a vaguely disreputable musical genre and Deitch's visual embodiments of the music acquired a cult; to this day, his original Cat cartoons are bought and sold on the internet.

Fantagraphics Books is proud to collect all of Deitch's Record Changer covers and "Cat" cartoons in one coffee-table, landscape-format art book, reproducing his covers in the same gorgeous colors in which they first appeared as well as the black-and-white Cat cartoons and a commentary by Deitch—who later went on to become an award-wining animator as the Creative Director of CBS/Terrytoons, where he created Tom Terrific and Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog for The Captain Kangaroo Show, as well as many other animated features, including a legendary stint on MGM's "Tom and Jerry" series. Fully illustrated throughout; 90 pages color. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Cat is Back
Great 1940s comics that capture the world of the jazz fanatic circa 1945-1950. Deitch's artwork is clever, original, somewhere between Virgil Partch and Harvey Kurtzman -- far above the amateurish efforts one associates with fanzines. Anyone familiar with the loonier aspects of record collecting will find much amusement in these cartoons (The Cat berates one guy searching a huge pile of records with, "That's the 'A' master which is relatively common!"). Deitch also drew some interesting covers, reproduced here in full color. Anyone into vintage comics, records, and/or jazz will dig this.

The packaging is a bit overkill. The width of the book is huge, but there is a lot of white space on the inside pages. A smaller size would not have detracted from the artwork, and would have made this a more affordable book. Also, nobody seems to have proofread the copy, as there are quite a few typos.

Beyond Fantastic
This book gets seven stars.At first, I think I thought it had something to do with Mad Magazine, like Spy Vs. Spy.What I found was a goldmine.Rarely do I see books dealing with geeking out on something.Gene Deitch clearly loves Jazz Music.This book documents a dope artist, blossoming into greatness through an interest in an outsider sound.His honest comments on obsesive geekdom, as well as race relations, are appreciated.A super cool gift, as well as a beautiful, beautiful book. the OilCan highly recommends. ... Read more

Book Description

Now that readers have been enchanted with the Golden Age of American comics as presented in Michael Chabon's Pulitzer Prize- winning best-seller The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, isn't it time for the real stories of the era? Not some academic's dry-and-dull history or a second- or thirdhand account, but the true story as written by an eyewitness and participant of the age? The Comic Book Makers is exactly such a book. Filled with real-life anecdotes and entertaining insights, it tells the compelling, definitive history of the talented creators who gave us Superman, Captain America, Archie, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, and dozens of other comic book favorites . . . as well as the stories of the other people who helped shape comic book history. Meet the crime comics editor who would himself be accused of a gruesome murder; the horror artist who was periodically released from a mental hospital in order to meet his publishing deadlines; the famous Senator Estes Kefauver, whose subcommittee investigated comic books as a cause of juvenile delinquency; and dozens of other fascinating personalities. The Comic Book Makers also tells fascinating stories of the birth of the American comic book industry, deals brokered in publishing offices, epic collaborations-and terrible feuds-among the creators, and the working conditions and industry practices that left the creators of these legendary characters destitute while the publishers made fortunes. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of examples of these artists' dynamic works, The Comic Book Makers provides an important documentation of a time looked upon with nostalgia and not to be forgotten. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Real history of Comics...
The top headline of the book says it all.

'The Young men in the golden age of Comic Books were as bizarre as the characters they created.'

Joe Simon was one of those men. He, along with Jack Kirby, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bob Kane, and a host of others toiled in the early comic book trenches blanketed in anonymity for decades. The major creators were well paid for a time, then their fortunes fell and many died in poverty, obscurity, and bitterness. Fortunately, with the rise of Comic Book Scholars and Historians, and the growing necessity to record the events of the Golden Age of Comics, we have 'Comic Book Makers.'

The history of comic books is a twisted story. Fraught with danger, and drama, the publisher vs artist/writer power struggle threatened to destroy the very industry in its' infancy. Publishers like Donenfield, and Martin became wealthy, while those who created their 'power', struggled to survive. Joe Simon was there. Bob Kane was there. And today, after decades of denial of many of the creators have finally received their due.

The Comic Book Makers is a powerful, and lively book. Co Written by one of comicdoms greatest talents, it exposes the comic book industry at its' creative and financial peak. Joe Simon was there for many of the quintesessential moments. Co creator of Captain America, friend of Siegel and Shuster, associate of Bob Kane, and long time friend of Stan Lee, he has been privy to many of the critical times in the industry.

Written in an episodal format, in each chapter he discusses the history of comics from various perspectives, and includes fascinating first person stories about the many influential comics professionals. Details of his conversations with Martin Goodman, Will Eisner, Victor Fox, Jacob Kurtzberg (Jack Kifby), Stan Lee (Stanley Lieber), Charles Biro, Creig Flessel, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Jack Liebowitz, Alfred Harvey, Allan Harvey, Harvey Kurtzman, William Gaines, Ham Fisher, Al Capp, add significant value to the book, giving it a 'history' feel.

Sections on the Captain America wars with Marvel Comics, the witch hunt of the 1950's that led to the creation of the Comics Code Authority, his untold origin of Spider Man from 1953, Simon and Kirby's creation of the Romance Comic, and his last flings with King Kirby at DC on Sandman add more flavour to this tasty comic book morsel.

Illustrated profusely with both published and unpublished pieces from industry giants, his artwork for Boys Ranch, The Boy Commandos, The Fighting American, and ghost work for Palooka and Capp are represented in loving detail. The life of Joe Simon was NOT one of mediocrity, but one of creative excellence.

The Comic Book Makers is a joy to read, a joy to look at, and a book that I am proud to say that I own. Thanks Mr Simon,.

Comic Book Makers is available from Vanguard Productions, (www.creativemix.com/Vanguard) or your local comic store.

Deserves to be on the Shelf of any Comic Fan
There is an old adage that goes something like; 'Don't walk the walk unless you can talk the talk', and I have to say, when it comes to the history of comic books, Joe Simon can walk it and talk it with the best of them-he was there. He created or co-created: Captain America and Bucky, Boy Commandoes, Fighting American, Boys Ranch, The Fly, Manhunter, Sandman, The Newsboy Legion, the entire genre of romance comics and more. He worked on Dick Tracy, Captain Marvel, Joe Palooka, and many others uncredited. He was the first Editor-in-Chief at Marvel Comics, and at various times an editor at DC Comics, Archie, Harvey, and Fox Comics. His work has appeared in the New York Times, used for the Olympics, and he has been inducted into the International Comic Book Hall of Fame. Whew.

With The Comic Book Makers, Mr. Simon, along with his son Jim, have created a memoir regarding the early days of the comic industry, which is impressive in its execution. Do not think that this is some dry history lesson. They make the past come to life with humorous anecdotes and gorgeous full and half page art from some of the biggest names in the field at the time. Artists like Lou Fine, Dick Briefer, Joe Shuster, and Mr. Simon's frequent partner Jack Kirby, in glorious black and white so you can see the pages as they were intended. There is also a beautiful color section highlighting the art of such luminaries Jack Davis, Jack Kirby, as well as Mr. Simon's own work-truly beautiful.

He shares stores with such insight that even I, a long time comic fan and bit of an historian myself, learned something new-and let me tell you, that is no easy feat. The style of storytelling, as his art, is crisp and dynamic, humorous and insightful. You will learn new facts about the sale of Superman to National Periodical Publications, the near sweatshop conditions that artists used to work under, the birth of Captain America and the development of the character for the Saturday morning movie serials. He talks about the lawsuit of Superman vs. Captain Marvel regarding copyright infringement, and the birth of many characters; some faded into the annals of obscurity, while others have become classics like Li'l Abner and The Spirit.

I should also mention the beautiful work done by the publisher Vanguard Productions. I have had the pleasure to review several of their books, and I have to compliment them of the consistent quality and care to details they have shown with each of the releases I have read. This company is striving to honor the forbearers of the industry, and it shows in the work they do-my compliments to them.

The Comic Book Makers by Joe Simon and Jim Simon deserves to be on the shelf of any comic fan; it doesn't matter if they have been reading for decades or just picked up their first issue not too long ago. It is always important to know the roots of anything you love, and this shows them with the love and respect they deserve from a man who was there-and it just don't get no better than that. ... Read more

Book Description

The Silver Age (1956–1970) was one of the most popular and influential eras in comic book history for creators and readers alike. THE SILVER AGE OF COMIC BOOK ART highlights the careers of eight acknowledged hall of fame artists who drew definitive versions of the industry’s greatest characters, while often setting trends in the look of comic book art itself. Arlen Schumer’s book is the first to concentrate on the importance of these artists and their work, as well as the literary and sociological aspects of the Silver Age. Designed by the author using a distinctive graphic style, actual comic book art is enlarged to dynamic full- and double-page spreads, along with biographical text by the author, and thoughts, ideas, and quotes from the artists themselves. Finally, here is an art book that pays proper homage to this great era of comic books and the amazing artists responsible for it. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Homage to comic book artists
The period 1956 to 1970 is considered to be a very influential one in the history of comic books. This book looks at the careers of eight influential artists of the time, including Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane and Jim Steranko. These artists redefined the art form and created timeless comic book characters.

The author also looks at the literary and sociological aspects of this period and how these were reflected in the work of these pioneering artists. The actual art is presented in an enlarged form on full or double pages. There is biographical information on each of the eight artists as well as some of their own quotes and thoughts. I found the section on Steve Ditko especially interesting and enlightening.

The layout is most impressive and Schumer is a great analyst of the trends and styles of comic book art. I think The Silver Age Of Comic Book Art is a masterpiece and the definitive investigation of the art of the important period that it covers.

High Art
Arlen Schumer has done for comic book art what Roy Lichtenstein failed to do...he has elevated, and rightfully so, the art of the comic book to its place as a true art form. And in so doing, he brings the overdue respect to the brilliant creators of the silver age who shaped the art form. This book transcends the idea of comic book art as merely popular culture. This is art folks! A true art form in itself. Schumer had the brilliant notion to show the art as it was meant to be seen...printed from the original comics. Past books that vainly tried to pay tribute to the form would perpetually shoot black and white stats of the original pages, sans color. Here we see the bold colors of the printing process that is so crucial to the form.

This book is such a fitting tribute to the talent of these men. If you appreciate art, you will want to own this volume and I will guarantee you will fall in love with every page.

Silver Age, Tarnished Book...
Before this volume came out, I was really enthused about perusing a volume dedicated to SILVER AGE COMIC ART. But, silly me, I thought the author and publisher would at least obtain the original art pages (or same-size stats of the original pages) from which to shoot the comic art for this book. After all, various prozines/fanzines (most notably Alter Ego) have been able to utilize originals or clear copies thereof from which to reproduce comic art by many classic artists.

Sadly, this book reproduces Silver Age comic art from the ACTUAL Silver Age comics themselves, hardly providing any greater clarity or presentation than when the comics were originally published. Printed actual size, the reproductions are no better or worse than the original publication comics. And, the author and publisher go further with questionable production philosophy, printing other art pages and panels too small in size, while printing other items grotesquely large. (By the way, Mr. Schumer, when you greatly ENLARGE a published Silver Age comic book page, you also enlarge all those "red dots" that serve as the "flesh color" for a comic book character -- and it looks downright hideous!)

Bad layout and an unnecessary limitation of the classic Silver Age artists presented are also flaws with this volume, one that fails to deliver the quality expected for a book sporting its suggested price tag. My advice is to go "mining" for classic Silver Age art elsewhere, as this publication offers only a new incarnation, "Fool's Silver."

Poorly assembled
This book is virtually worthless to those of us who are iunterested in owning a quality collection of the silver age comics we remember from '66-71. The writing is printed in a fake "comic book" lettering style that is impossible to read against the jumbled mess of cluttered color underneath. Extremely amateurish in layout and design, it has nothing to offer the art lover. The choices in artwork are not the classic images one would hope for, and have nothing to do with the most important developments in the medium. I would not have bought this book if not for the rave reviews here, and now I regret it. Bad on all accounts, I will porobably never open the book again. An insult to the great creators that contributed so much to my youth, this book is virtually a total rip-off.

Jumbled Crazyquilt
Too many pictures overlaid with other pictures. You can't see anything, cos its too cluttered. The writings are hard to read too, because they use small handwritten letters trying to be like the comic books, but it looks bad. Other review make it sound good, but they must be fake ones. Bad choices for pictures, cos there not the best ones from the comic books, just ones that you idn't see before. The way they lay them over each other and put fake shadow under the top one makes it look bad, like you eye cant tell whats going on. They should re-do this one or take it back and have somebody else do it good. ... Read more

Book Description

The Art of Walt Disney is one of Abrams' enduring classics. Thirty years and well over half a million copies after its first publication in 1973, it is still considered the definitive study of The Walt Disney Company's vast artistic achievements through the decades. The book tells the remarkable story of Walt Disney and the company he built, from Mickey Mouse to animated feature films to theme parks. Based on hundreds of interviews with Disney staff members past and present, the text is illustrated with more than 800 illustrations ranging from concept art to film stills to views of the theme-park attractions.

This revised and expanded edition covers all of the major projects since the 1995 edition, including the films Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, and Home on the Range, as well as Disney's collaborations with Pixar: Toy Story I and II; Monsters, Inc. ; Finding Nemo (the highest-grossing animated film in history); and The Incredibles, due for release this year. The live-action films and Broadway productions are also covered, as well as the latest theme-park developments, including brand-new parks such as Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland. AUTHOR BIO: Christopher Finch is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest and the author of more than 20 books, including The Art of the Lion King, Jim Henson: The Works, and Abrams' Norman Rockwell's America. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Expectations based on the original printing
If the revamped edition is half as good as the first, then fans of Disney (and animation, in general) have found "The Magic Kingdom"."The Art of Disney" is a beautifully written homage to the genius of Walter Elias Disney.

The stills from Disney classics, alone, warrant forking over a couple of bucks to add this one to the library.

All about Walt Disney Company
If you are looking for details from Walt's personal life, forget about this book. This book is a masterpiece on The Walt Disney Company from Walt's birth, until nowadays.

Brilliant!
I bought the original version of this book when I was twelve(now I'm 36) and remember, that I was blown away by it. Believe me, back then there was nothing worth mentioning on the topic of animation. Now there are trillions of books on the topic but I still have this one sitting on my bookshelf, side by side with 20 other Disney books, proud like the king among the others. The only book which is equal on the throne, is "The Illusion of Life", but that book is more for people in the animation profession. I've grown up to be in the animation profession myself and this is the book that got me started(I've even worked at Disney studios in the mid- nineties). At this point I should mention that I've always been a bigger fan of the Warner Bros. cartoons and have never really been a Disney fan. Many people accused Disney of having been right-winged, racist or what so ever. But you definately have to acknowledge his achievement and influence on animation and I would consider him a genius. This book definitely shows you the brilliance of this man and the work created by all of his artists.

one of the best books ever
One of the best books that and bought!! Even when the edition is summarized, the information is enough gratificante.. the images are even a support exelente and their explanation but.

Terrific book on the Art of Disney
This book is packed with photographs, drawings and artwork from Walt Disney's life and from the Walt Disney Company.In addition to the all the images, there is a lot of good information about Walt Disney and the DisneyCompany in the text.Even the cover of this book is well done andattractive.Anyone could feel proud to have this book sitting on his orher coffee table.

The book was well researched and contains a lot ofhistorical information about Walt Disney and the Disney Company.In termsof information on Walt, it is not as complete as some of the biographies ofDisney that I read.However, it is a very good overview of Disney's lifeand a good chronology of the Disney Company.

I appreciated the way thatthe artwork was coordinated with the text and well explained.There isartwork and photographs from Disney's very early days all the way throughto the 1990s.The author did not seem to miss anything in this book.

Ihighly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the art of Walt Disney andthe Disney Company and would like to know both a little better. ... Read more

Book Description

Manhwa—Korean for comics—is fast becoming the next big craze in Asian comics. Many fans of manga don't realize that their favorite comics, like Priest, Ragnarock, and Island, are actually manhwa, not Japanese manga. This tutorial helps artists master the differences between manga and manhwa, including less focus on big eyes and more on expressions and personality, replacing spiky hair with a more natural look, and drawing characters that don't typically possess magical powers but are instead fierce fighters made of flesh and blood. Artists learn through a step-by-step process how to draw the entire range of manhwa characters-from the extreme fighting-machine heroes and giant beasts to the sexy women, anti-heroes, and evil warlords.

For aspiring comic book artists and manga artists looking for the latest craze in Asian comicsAuthor's Manga Mania series has sold more than 350,000 copies in less than three yearsManhwa is the Korean name for comicsIncludes artwork from the very best Korean manhwa artists working today ... Read more