5 Essential Books to Make Better Comics

[@smallmanbigmouth2699]

I just bought Scott McCloud’s “Making Comics” , a sequel to his “Understanding Comics” and as an amateur creator, I found it very informative and easy to understand. Definitely recommend.

[@channelz2929]

It's on my wish list....

[@jimmygownley9573]

Not a book, but the thing I’d recommend to anyone wanting to become a better cartoonist is Cartoonist Kayfabe!

[@portland-182]

Blotting paper was super absorbent paper to rapidly dry ink. A blotter was a large sheet of blotting paper in a frame that sat on a desk underneath the area where you are using ink. This would protect the desk, and always be on hand to dry ink on a page. The blotters would regularly have advertising illustrations around the edges...

[@AdamHammel]

Yusuke Murata uses a roll of toilet paper for blotting heavily inked spots. Where can I find an example of the blotting paper illustrations?

[@JoshuaHoaglund]

I make black and white comics using traditional techniques then digitally polish where needed. My top 5 essential books cross the genre of film and comics, which synergize each other. 1) Making Comics/Understanding Comics By Scott Mcloud ( These are 2 books but should be read together for the overall emphasis on expanding the possibility of what COMICS can do) 2) On Writing by Stephen King (This has a strong emphasis on storytelling without pictures) 3) Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams (for it's emphasis on good drawing and figurative poses. Animation principles are key to storytelling) 4) Framed Ink Marcos Mateu-Mestre(Good inking and Composition, ) 5) Rendering in Pen and Ink: The Classic Book On Pen and Ink Techniques for Artists, Illustrators, Architects, and Designers by Arthur L. Guptill (A must have for inking)

[@chuckgibson3973]

That hot pink envelope story... J Scott Campbell ILLUSTRATED his envelope containing his Wildstorm samples. Every inch of the envelope was covered except the spots where addresses and stamps go. Stands out among ordinary blank envelopes.

[@geekxilladennismagnant4292]

The Dc guide to penciling has original Whilice Portacio pages . He’s one of my all time favorite artists and his approach to composition is always interesting

[@channelz2929]

His Punisher issues from the 80's is on my watch list...

[@jeffmatherly4105]

Just ordered RED ROOM #1 and already had a trade held for October! Love you guys.

[@protozoalord]

I'd love for a proper video focusing on your lettering books! I'm always looking to up my craft and have more tools at my disposal.

[@officegossip]

Manga in Theory and Practice is great. A lot of great advice on writing stories and characters in that book. I highly recommend it, it’s easily available everywhere as well.

[@Jason-ql7wb]

How to draw by Scott Robertson. Imaginative realism by James Gurney. And any of the old Jack Ham books on drawing and cartooning are money well spent. I don't draw comics but I found these books to be very generous and good value.

[@frdh1357]

Second the Hamm books.

[@officegossip]

Hitchcock/Truffaut and Framed Ink are amazing resources for visual storytelling.

[@BluShuwu]

I've been trying to improve enough to make a comic the past while so this is pretty good timing xD

[@user-ix2uv9er1v]

Same. Making comics is difficult but rewarding 😁

[@jasonlapidus1812]

Great episode, guys.

[@jstyles8912]

I would personally recommend books like framed ink 1 & 2, and understanding comics, and making comics by Scott McCloud.

[@smallmanbigmouth2699]

I just bought Making Comics and I totally second that recommendation.

[@jimmygownley9573]

Poor “reinventing comics” never gets any love 😂

[@Svrakiss]

they already covered Understanding Comics in a full vid here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npK6qqucjLWhsJI

[@channelz2929]

@@Svrakiss I just checked "Understanding Comics" out from the library and got through it pretty quick. I found some parts quite humorous and laughed out loud a few times.

[@RyanWinnInking]

I have the original 3 FA huge binder books from my grandfather. They are amazing.

[@JeetHeer1]

You guys should look up the guide to cartooning Roy Crane prepared for his assistants ("How to Draw with Bendy"). It's been excerpted in Cartoonist PROfile and Comics Journal but the complete thing is Syracuse University (where I got my copy).

[@JeetHeer1]

Just found it. Crane's "How to Draw Buzz Sawyer" appeared in Comics Journal #301. That's a small excerpt of a much longer (and in real size much, much larger) work. Worth tracking down in terms of master cartoonist giving advice on cartooning.

[@TheWhmaxwell]

I enjoyed the DC guides and I'm a little shocked that you didn't include Klaus' guide to inking. I love that book (and got the man himself to sign it for me a couple of years ago).

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Fantastic pics. Need to read a couple of these still.

[@russworks2882]

Oof that's a lot of great stuff. Richard Friend's channel turned me on to the comics-centric Framed Perspective books by Marcos Mateu-Mestre. They start simple but get pretty intense, so I'm working my way through in slow motion. Every once in a while he imparts some near-mystical insight; for instance, if your vanishing point is off the page, he has an incredible trick I'd never heard of to avoid taping down extra paper and using a gigantic straight edge.

[@NietsdlogKram]

Are you referring to the Brewer Method for handling two point perspective? If so, there are a number of useful instructional videos on KZbin.

[@evanvonshketch56]

Not a book, but another great resource with examples on how to be a better cartoonist is Alex Toth's correspondence with Steve Rude.

[@channelz2929]

Any suggestions on how to get this?

[@paulpunisher]

@@channelz2929 google Alex Toth Steve rude Johnny quest. Top answers should give you an idea. Brutal but invaluable information in the critique.

[@Used__Napkin]

The one book I’ve looked I to is Hirohiko Araki’s Manga in Theory and Practice, Akira Toriyama has a book on making manga, but the only language i can read it in is French, and my French is really rusty.

[@paulpunisher]

Great video. I have and love the DC colouring and Lettering book too. That whole range in the early/mid 2000s was great. To add, based on your suggestion to add some of our favourites, some of mine are the Visual Story by Bruce Block (for film, but great for storytelling in general), Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu-Mestre, (film and comics), Panel Discussions: Design in Sequential Art Storytelling by Durwin Talon, The DC comic guide to Pencilling comics by Klaus Janson, and Writers on Comics Scriptwriting vol1. By Mark Salisbury. Great watch as usual. Cheers 🍻

[@CartoonistKayfabe]

I considered all of these. That Visual Story book in particular is a favorite of mine. It covers Perspective in fresh ways that may be tailored to film but I find really interesting for comics. And I've never seen anyone in comics talk about depth and perspective like Block. Very insightful. - Jim

[@adamgreene9878]

Durwin's book is really fun. He was a great comics teacher when I went to SCAD.

[@frdh1357]

I was trying to learn from Rex Vicat Cole's "Perspective: The Practice and Theory..." on the advice of the Further Reading section in the back of "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way," but it jumps exponentially above my understanding. I've switched to "Perspective! For Comic Book Artists" by David Chelsea, and its much easier going. I mean, it's not like I'm designing cathedrals for the Pope.

[@BatFan1]

theres a book i got at SDCC years ago that i am thankful i came across, Artists on Comic Art by Mark Salisbury. Just look at the lineup of artists included: Jim Lee, Brian Bolland, Alex Ross, J Scott Campbell, Joe Quesada, Frank Miller, Brian Hitch, John Romita Jr, Dave Gibbons, Steve Dillon, Dave McKean. Whenever I hit a wall its a book i go back to often. Check it out

[@buddybuck2113]

Thanks Edd for the penny ruler trick I'm gonna try that today

[@UNCANNYGEORGE]

Great video! Really appreciated y’all discussing these books!

[@KeithHarper]

I've heard Chaykin and Simonson, both recommend the Famous Artist Course in interviews recently.

[@russworks2882]

The original Famous Artist Illustration Course (not to be confused with the Cartooning Course) is a mind-blower. I expect that's what they recommended. Wrightson used to talk about taking the course as a kid.

[@KeithHarper]

@@russworks2882 I know I have seen those online somewhere in PDF form. I’ll have to dig through my bookmarks and I’ll post a link if I can find them.

[@russworks2882]

@@KeithHarper The 1954 edition is supposed to be the best art and has the original teachers. They're a set of gigantic volumes about 12 x15" and some years back I found them on Ebay for maybe $60, and well worth the experience of holding them in your hands.

[@KeithHarper]

@@russworks2882 this is the link I was thinking about. Is this the same course? randomnerds.com/learn-to-draw-cartoons-with-the-now-public-domain-famous-artist-cartoon-course-textbook/

[@russworks2882]

@@KeithHarper That looks like the wonderful book Jim has a photocopy of; looks like a fantastic resource for comics artists. There were three different courses: Cartooning, Painting, and Illustration/Commercial Art. The illustration course is the one I have (and the one I believe Wrightson et al referenced), 24 lessons in three big binders. There are also sections on anatomy, movement, animals and lettering in this one, only as related to commercial and illustrative art. I tried to find it; right now it seems the 1960's edition is more readily available to view. There's also a recent book called Drawing Lessons from the Famous Artists School, which might be a good stop-gap. Here's a look at the set I'm talking about : www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/famous-artists-course-set-three-1954-243830867. And here's the new book: www.amazon.com/Drawing-Lessons-Famous-Artists-School/dp/1631591223/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=famous+artists+illustration+course&qid=1620482621&sr=8-1

[@drawrobot]

If you won the Day Prize at SPACE, you would get a signed copy of Sim’s how to book, a lovely steak dinner at the Hyatt downtown with Sim & a check. I still have mine. While his heart was in the right place, much of the advice would be soon chucked out the window because of the Internet and shifts within the industry.

[@matthewbustamonte9147]

Don't have to tell me twice; scooped up that Love & Rockets like snap!

[@usedbymyusername]

Aaaaaaand it’s gone.

[@stanlee5465]

My LCS STILL hasn't started pre-orders for issue #2 OR ANY of the issue #1 cover variants! At least I got my pre-order in for the first issue, and good to hear it's 'triple-sized' since I was wondering why it was priced at nearly $10

[@throwbackblackcat]

Gonna have to sit tight for that Ten Years of Love and Rockets video. Got to finally sit down and watch this video half a day after it dropped and as far as the internet and the Kayfabe Effect is concerned, that book is *EXTINCT* in the wild

[@usedbymyusername]

Totally extinct.

[@Equited]

In regards to composition, I think y'all would love How To Draw Manga Volume 7 Amazing Effects. It's all about how to make images more exciting and it's explained in the style of a manga following a younger brother looking to his big bro for advice.

[@adamgreene9878]

Great episode. I love "How to" books whether they are about comics, writing, or filmmaking. I've been able to find most of the Famous Artist Cartoon Course online as a pdf, but I can't get lessons 19-24. Anyone have a good source?

[@JeffWalshPhotography]

Yo Kayfabers, can one of y'all help me out, who is that character on the table thats under Deathblow, bottom right, holding a gun and sword. I know I've seen this comic, can't figure out wher, or even which publisher.

[@scorpiosteele1230]

I taped VHS tabs under my ellipse templates. I still use them to this day.

[@robertevanoski9599]

Kyle Baker is amazing. Easily my favorite cartoonist. You Are Here, Cowboy Wally, and Why I Hate Saturn are masterpieces.

[@RobinAWhite]

Great advice at the end there!

[@RobinAWhite]

The famous artist course is out of print but can be downloaded for free here: randomnerds.com/learn-to-draw-cartoons-with-the-now-public-domain-famous-artist-cartoon-course-textbook/

[@kbkintrasolar06]

Most of the books mentioned in the comments already are very good for general knowledge. I'd like to add some more specialised subjects. The first is an 80s book about fashion illustration by A.L. Arnold called "Mode Grafik" with texts in both German and English. It features in-depth lessons on how to draw pleats and folds and how to indicate different textures of cloth and other materials. Second is "How to draw Noir Comics" by Shawn Martinbrough. Ideal for those who already have an understanding of the comic-making basics and want to expand their vocabulary. And third, two books on writing comics: Warren Ellis' "Do Anything. Thoughts on Comics and Things" and Alan Moore's "Writing for Comics". Finally, go watch the KZbin channel SMAC! THE SILENT MANGA AUDITION COMMUNITY: kzbin.info/door/EnqdJTx9rYBAO0s6Croabw SMAC is a Japanese manga contest for international artists, headed by Tetsuo Hara (of "Fist of the North Star" fame). They have a playlist of over 70 short lessons about nearly all aspects of comic making (from a manga angle, of course). I've made lots of notes while watching these and reread them weekly.

[@cookiemadison8529]

Thanks for sharing these.

[@jamesgarrett7089]

Great episode guys!

[@Michael-ns1ey]

'Understanding Pictures' is an outstanding book. It's sad that it's so hard to get.

[@AaronLosty]

That hitchcock Interview is no longer on archives dot org just fyi gang.

[@junkdraw]

Busted, I paid heavily into the Blitz pyramid scheme

[@christiancomicstrip3913]

Great episode

[@kenking3587]

PLEASE more Kyle Baker!

[@markmanhetherington1]

Great books I'm sure but they're mostly out of print.

[@marklo222]

Pgh holy trinity!😁412!!

[@adamr9644]

Newish viewer... who's the third of the Pitt Trinity?

[@ANIME121ADDICT]

tom scioli!

[@gmosphere]

Tom scioli?

[@michaelgarza6735]

"Frisket"...?

[@rafatopolski7628]

Really sad that these books are so hard to get.

[@channelz2929]

I know. But I'm not giving up. And I'm still trying to figure out where to buy the John Byrne X-men Elsewhen bootleg.

[@seraji4754]

You guys should look at some JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure on the channel