Drawing Words and Writing Pictures:
Making Comics: Manga, Graphic
Novels, and Beyond by Matt Madden
Wanna' Make Comics? Start Here...
Learn to create your own comics with Drawing Words and Writing Pictures,
a richly illustrated collection of 15 in-depth lessons that cover everything
from crafting your story to lettering and laying out panels. Take a
Look Inside Drawing Words and Writing Pictures
Three Panels That Move Beyond the Grid This page from
Mike Mignolas Hellboy is a beautiful example of creating rhythm and
mood. Read more... In Blankets, Craig Thompson tells his story through
dramatic and unexpected page layouts. Read more... In David B.s
Epileptic, the shape and orientation of the panel reinforce the storytelling.
Read more...
Personal Review: Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making
Comics: Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond by Matt Madden
I brought an advance copy of this book into a college illustration class I
teach. The class was quite impressed. In fact, two students went onto
Amazon online and bought it instantly. Usually I discourage shopping
during class, but Drawing Words and Writing Pictures is an answered
prayer for the aspiring comics artist.

This is an ideal text for a 15-week class in comics. It also has guidance for
starting an informal collective class. It includes suggestions for the
stereotypical solitary artist, who the authors are gracious enough to refer to
as ronin. There is a wealth of info on the narrative process, page design,
lettering, pens, and even Photoshop scanning advice.
The authors' individual web pages present a lot this DIY info, so search out
their sites, see if their philosophies appeal to you. The book contains
multiple perspectives from two remarkable artists. Matt Madden is into
"formalist" styles, working within Houdini-like constraints. Jessica Abel's La
Perdida is one of the great masterpieces of the long-form graphic novel.
From George Herriman to Robert Crumb, Charles Burns, to Kaz and John
Porcillino, the book is crammed with a diversity of styles. Wide-ranging and
inclusive, no matter what one's preferred comics style, from manga to
superhero to alternative, you will find something to like here.
Instructors will find the bibliography alone is worth the price of admission, I
teach a seven-week college comics course each fall. My plan is to email
the students over the summer, tell them to get this book and get started on
the exercises. The ronins will get a head start and their classmates will
lose face.
Scott McCloud's Making Comics is also a valuable college course text for
serious students, who have some background in reading comics and
thinking critically about the artform. Drawing Words and Writing Pictures,
however, has practical exercises for students at any level. Highly
recommended.
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