Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics: From Manga to Graphic Novels, and Beyond

by Jessica Abel, Matt Madden

Overview

"A gold mine of essential information for every aspiring comics artist. Highly recommended." —Scott McCloud

Drawing Words and Writing Pictures is a course on comic creation – for college classes or for independent study – that centers on storytelling and concludes with making a finished comic. With chapters on lettering, story structure, and panel layout, the fifteen lessons offered – each complete with homework, extra credit activities and supplementary reading suggestions – provide a solid introduction for people interested in making their own comics. Additional resources, lessons, and after-class help are available on the DW-WP website.

Customer Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596431317
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	06/10/2008
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	102,275
Product dimensions:	8.54(w) x 11.86(h) x 0.79(d)
Age Range:	15 - 18 Years

About the Author

Drawing Words and Writing Pictures was created by comics superstars Jessica Abel and Matt Madden and based on their classes at the School of Visual Arts. Editors of the Best American Comics series and creators of a number of groundbreaking graphic novels including 99 Ways to Tell a Story (by Matt Madden) and La Perdida (by Jessica Abel), Abel and Madden are always at the forefront of the comics industry.

Editorial Reviews

Lively, sophisticated, and comprehensive, Abel and Madden's course in visual storytelling covers every narrative and graphic element, from drawing figures and character development to panel transitions, composition, lettering, depicting action, and penciling and inking techniques. Technically precise, zippy, and inspiring, this is an outstanding teaching book.” —Donna Seaman, Booklist

“Smartly designed and easy to understand, Abel and Madden's text is an edifying course in creating comics ... A valuable resource for all interested in the field and a natural companion to Scott McCloud's quintessential texts Understanding Comics and Reinventing Comics. (appendices, index, bibliography) (Nonfiction. YA & adult)” —Kirkus Reviews

“Comics are increasingly appreciated as complex, sophisticated blends of illustration and text, and this volume is a timely, in-depth examination of the format. This exhaustively comprehensive guide to creating comics features fifteen individual lessons that take readers from concept to finished product ... Serious readers seeking information will be drawn by the witty, informal tone and casual narrative voice as much as the impeccably designed and accessible lessons.” —BCCB

“The text, designed for classroom use by teachers or as an individual tutorial, comes with further reading suggestions, homework assignments, and extra credit projects at the end of each lesson ... This book is not designed to teach would-be artists how to draw but how to write and give dimension to drawings through penciling strategies, lettering techniques, and inking with pens or brushes. Students looking to create their own mini comics for publication will welcome the design pointers.” —Laura Panter, VOYA

From the Publisher

Abel and Madden write a concise textbook for people wanting to learn how to create coherent and marketable comics. Lessons focus on panel design and comic layout with detailed illustrations demonstrating each concept. In comics, writing is as important as images and the artist needs to make sure each component is conveying the correct meaning so as not to confuse or bore the reader with irrelevant dialogue. Comics require a story line not unlike a novel where the protagonist keeps the action moving until a situation or conflict is resolved. How to create that story and design it into a comic format is outlined through fifteen chapters and several appendixes, from the formation of thumbnail sketches and character development to the production of the final comic copy through photocopying or scanning in Adobe Photoshop. For those unfamiliar with Photoshop, simple step-by-step directions are given to assist in creating the final masterpiece. The text, designed for classroom use by teachers or as an individual tutorial, comes with further reading suggestions, homework assignments, and extra credit projects at the end of each lesson. The assignments are well formulated to reinforce the techniques taught in each section; however, students looking for drawing instruction on creating characters and backgrounds will be sorely disappointed. This book is not designed to teach would-be artists how to draw but how to write and give dimension to drawings through penciling strategies, lettering techniques, and inking with pens or brushes. Students looking to create their own mini comics for publication will welcome the design pointers. Reviewer: Laura Panter

VOYA - Laura Panter

How to quit griping that you can't draw or don't know where to start and actually make some real comics.-M.C. (LJ7/08)

—Martha Cornog

Library Journal

Smartly designed and easy to understand, Abel and Madden's text is an edifying course in creating comics. Comprised of 15 comprehensive lessons, readers are taught the basic elements necessary to conceptualize and produce their own comics. Assuming an audience range from individuals to a group, this pedagogical survey is written to serve a wide array of learners. The authors suggest everything from preferred brands of supplies to types of stretches to alleviate strain. Extensive backmatter, including helpful appendices on such topics as homework critiques, and a considerable bibliography round out the volume. This erudite study should leave its readers with a greater understanding and appreciation of the command one must possess to create graphic media. A valuable resource for all interested in the field and a natural companion to Scott McCloud's quintessential texts Understanding Comics and Reinventing Comics. (appendices, index, bibliography) (Nonfiction. YA & adult)

Kirkus Reviews