The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics: Inside the Art of Visual Storytelling Paperback – October 8, 2013

The media could not be loaded. The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics is like an advanced introduction to drawing comics. It provides a good coverage of techniques that are required for creating successful comics, and also introduces the different aspects of the creation itself. Main thing to note is the coverage is mostly theory, the actual hands-on are covered by other DC Comics Guides.The book is authored by comics veteran and authority Carl Potts who while working at Marvel, also mentored Jim Lee. The text is written in a concise and easy to follow manner. The techniques discussed are supplemented by clear examples. It's insightful and after studying them will be you not just read but also understand how other comic artists layout their pages.There are four parts to the book.The first part introduces the concept of sequential visual storytelling, what it's all about and things to look out for.Second part covers paneling. Things like how they are laid out, establishing shots, the flow, and how they affect storytelling.Third part covers comics writing using the classic arc as main example. Here it also covers artistic style and approach to drawing, giving examples of realistic rendition or the more stylistic approach such as the use of black by Mike Mignola.The last part is a walkthrough of the process of creating comics from having a script. Three professionals are given the same script and we are shown how they interpret the script and lay out the pages. There are explanations from the artists as well as analysis from Carl Potts.At 192 pages, the book has quite a lot of useful information packed in. Overall, it's a good guide for beginner comic artists, maybe it has a few useful tips for intermediate artists also.To learn more about specific topics on creating comics, or get more hands-on, you can also check out other books from the DC Comics Guide series, such as:The DC Comics Guide to Writing ComicsThe DC Comics Guide to Pencilling ComicsDC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering ComicsThe DC Comics Guide to Inking ComicsThe DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing ComicsOther books worth checking out:+ Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Comics StudioThis is also a book of comic tips and theory, but the organisation is less structured, and focuses only on certain aspects.+ Wizards How to Draw guidesThere are three, namely Storytelling, Getting Started and Advanced Techniques. These books are more in depth (well because there are 3 books total) and also cover a bit more on techniques. The books are out of print and can be difficult to find.+ Stan Lee's How to Draw ComicsThis is more of a beginner's guide and an introduction to drawing comics. The topics are more elementary.+ The Insider's Guide To Creating Comics And Graphic NovelsThe basic topics on creating comics are covered but could do with more depth.In order of preference, I would recommend the Wizard How to Draw guides, followed by The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics and Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Comics Studio.(I've also reviewed some of the books mentioned above. There are more pictures on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

I have bought every how to make comics, including the writing, inking, digital comics, etc. They are all pretty good, but honestly this is the only one you need if your main focus is to draw comics. Chapter 7 - Step-by-step guide for artist is probably the single best chapter I have read in any of the books on making comics that exist, including the Stan Lee ones. It explains how to work from scripts, and plots. Then goes onto a step by step method for Artists.Examples of how 3 Professional artists ( one of them Whilce Portacio ) handle a script with detailed explanation of the thought process is given by both the artist and Author. It talks about layout, thumbnails, roughs, to finishes. This chapter is well worth it, and when you add the fact that the rest of the book is pure Soup to nuts this makes it the best book I have ever read on the subject of making comics. I am buying the hard copy no question.Some basic writing techniques are shown, enough for you to put together a story with all the required elements.If you are looking for a how to book try this one first you will not regret it.

This is an awesome book if you're looking into getting into the field of comics. Or just a fan and am curious about how comics are made. Great visuals and writing really help this book push the read along into understanding how panels flow and the right way to lead the reader :) I'd definitely recommend this book to all my friends :)

I can only give this a 4 cause I personally expected more, since I've read most of the other books in this series. keep in mind I was also a lot more of a novice when I read the other books. so I'm not holding my experience against this book. I have since reading my first DC comic guide broken into comics and learned a lot.That being said, this book has alot of information and is very complete. At times is can very general cause of the subject matter. Its hard to get into specifics when your talking theory. Things got to be judged by the case by case basis, but this book does a great job of getting you to think of things you might has thought of before. I think the real strength of this book is that i cover an area that is usually over looked by artist.but overlook this book if your serious about making comics. The scott mccloud book with a similar name might have been more complete but here it was neat to see DC characters used in the examples for stronger reference. should be said that this is closer to that book then it is a step by step book on creating comics which their are many of.

It took about three sessions to read the entire thing but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a testament to how well written an instructional tome this is.I enjoyed the steady flow of knowledge, so much so that like a good comicbook, it kept me glued to the pages as I awaited the next revelation. Before I knew it I was done.I especially found the section in which three pencillers tackled the same script compelling. Seeing three approaches broken down & critiqued was invaluable.I think this should be in every penciller's & writers library right next to Scott Mcloud & Will Eisner's works.I hope they release a follow-up.

Amazing book

A stand alone book if you want to learn how to draw comics, this book has helped me a lot, now I am drawing comics professionally, even if you just want to learn for fun, it is indeed a good dealattaching some pictures which I did after reading the whole book

This is NOT a how-to-draw book, this is, instead, a WHAT-to-draw book....or perhaps more succinctly, a what-to-think--while-drawing book.This is all wall-to-wall immersion into comics storytelling; a mix of cinematic theory combined with the frequently-unique technical considerations of preparing for print. Part of a series of books that are all equally good in their professional-level instruction and peel back some of the secret as to how this craft works.It starts with the basic approaches to storytelling; the staging of a scene, and progresses into the analysis of WHY such staging works, and how to manipulate the camera's POV to tell the story in specific ways.Applied cinematic theories, just as the 180 degree rule (aka the camera-axis rule) are shown and explained. Esoteric, but important considerations such as digitally "flipping" an asymmetrical character's design are looked at, as well as things like the rule of thirds are explained.There's a procedural step-by-step routine for creating a comic provided, and an accompanying chapter showing how pros use these theories and methods to tell comics stories.I've had the privilege to meet and sit down with Carl Potts , years ago, and actually have him critique my own comics storytelling.He's a smart, savvy gent, very knowledgeable of the craft, and this book reflects that.This stuff isn't hard to grasp, and the book lays out many good examples of the principles and theories at work.For someone aspiring to do comics professionally, this book is a college-level course in 192 pages and for about $25-$30 ( cover price) and really cannot be beat.

aber was man geboten bekommt kann sich jeder selbst beibringen indem einfach ein bisschen zeichnet. Ich hatte auf einen Leitfaden gehofft, der die Details dieser Kunst erklärt. Stattdessen stand nichts drin, was man nicht schon selbst durch Lesen von Comics wissen sollte oder sich zumindest abgucken könnte. Selbst die Beispielzeichnungen haben mir nicht gefallen.

For anyone wanting to create their own comics i highly recommend this book! at first it seemed like the different terms and information bombarded me! but after a night to muse over the information i understood it! the book explores in depth how to create compelling and stunning work! and also explains about different character archetypes e.t.c filled with useful information and beautiful illustrations it even explains how peoples brains react to reading comics! simply stunning! buy it, you wont regret it!Ive already created the first page of my own comic and it looks really professional!