A couple of excellent books about comics are, 'Understanding Comics' and 'Making Comics', both written by Scott McCloud. It should be required reading by anyone serious about the oft-unserious art of comics. I am fortunate that my library has them both, but if yours doesn't, you can get them online. I know that Amazon has them, and I'm sure other sites do as well.
McCloud also has another book, 'Reinventing Comics', though I've not read it. If you have, I'd like to know what you think of it.
Comments
Hi Keni,
I did read the book Reinventing comics. It's another good addition to Scott McCloud's other books but is more theoretical and speculative. When it came out it was looking at the beginnings of the digital revolution and what that meant in the process of creating, publishing and distributing comics. Since this book came out a lot has changed, though a lot of the ideas are still universal, since it's a book that asks more "What are comics" and suggests alternative ways of thinking about them and producing them. Still an excellent read and a great addition to the bookshelf.
Some other books that are fantastic:
Comics and Sequential Art by Will Eisner
Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative by Will Eisner
The DC Guide to Writing Comics by Denny O'Neil
The DC Guide to Pencilling by Klaus Janson
The DC Guide to Inking Comics by Klaus Janson
The DC Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics by Mark Chiarello and Todd Klein
One book I forgot to toss in here which is a fantastic help - especially if you want depth in your images:
PERSPECTIVE! FOR THE COMIC BOOK ARTIST by David Chelsea
DO stay away from books that say Cutting Edge or Draw like the Pros or Insiders Guide.
A quick Note: Scott McCloud books would be Comics 101 -foundation books to help understand what comics are, where they come from, how to think about executing them, or to consider alternatives in creating them.
Will Eisner's books are more advanced, though the story telling techniques, if you can wrap your head around them, are fantastic, and can be applied at any time. (He still did things 40 years ago nobody today is willing to do or try.)
The DC books are much more get your hands dirty and "This is how our company does it" approach. Lots of good insight and real world understanding.
Hope this is helpful.
Martin