This is an important book that everyone should read. I would give it twenty stars if I could.

I've long been interested in both art and comic books (I have collected them for over 50 years). While the library shelves are full of wonderful books that explain what traditional artists are trying to do and why they succeed, I've often found the books to be pretty boring. In recent years, such books have gotten bogged down into abstruse language that is much less appealing than the art which is the subject.

But in those years, I've never seen anything that was very helpful in discussing the rules of comic art, except some books about pop art when that was popular that examined how the pop art was different from comic art. Naturally, I was blown away when I found that Understanding Comics is a far more comprehensive, thoughtful, and accessible book about interaction with art than I have ever read. Although the subject is ostensibly comic strips and comic books, it's clear to me that that Mr. McCloud has a deep and powerful understanding of all art. Some of his conceptual displays of where different forms of art fall in different dimensions of choice (degree of realism, abstraction, and message) are unbelievably powerful.

I hope that some art historian will stumble on this book and recast the history of art to explain and relate different styles to one another using this book's methods. There would be a lot more art lovers if that were the case.

Ultimately, the book's main benefit is to help the reader appreciate that comic art can be a higher and more effective form of art than either pure images or written words by requiring a mastery of more elements . . . elements that are more powerful in grabbing attention and conveying meaning.

Yet the book stays in humble form, a comic book. The powerful ideas sneak up on you as Mr. McCloud deconstructs the elements of comic art expression into chapters on defining what kind of art comics are ("sequential art" for short); explaining where various comics fall on the spectrum of reality, story, and abstraction; the way we fill in the spaces around the lines and between panels with our minds, allowing us to participate in creating the story and the experience; how time is expressed in various ways; the role of lines in creating our understanding and responses; how words and images can interact; a conceptual look at creating comic art; the effect of color; and a synthesis of the book in historical and conceptual terms.

If you want to enjoy both traditional art and comic art more, read this book. It's the Rosetta stone for non-artists in appreciating the images, stories, and messages that artists want to share with us through these media. You'll never be the same . . . and the change will be good for you!

Bravo, Mr. McCloud!

This is the type of book that looks at a genre and sees it's roots clearly in the basic structure of art and human perception. This is not a book about costumes and secret identities, but about how comics use the basic human archetypes and symbolic language to speak to us in metaphor. THIS BOOK WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO APPRECIATE ART, NOT JUST COMICS. Every art student should have this in their library.

Understanding Comics is a very, very deep dive into the history, meaning and creative processes involved in creating comics. The author, Scott McCloud, has clearly studied his topic. You will not walk away from reading this book without a deeper appreciation for the medium.

Yet, I found I lost interest pretty quickly in what the book was teaching. There are four reasons for this. First, I was thrown by the fact that the book, itself, is a comic. I can count on, well, one finger how many comics I've read that attempt to convey scholarly information. While Mr. McCloud's illustrations are very well drawn, the medium itself caused me to expect a lighter approach to the subject matter. Second, the author occasionally goes beyond teaching to preaching. Third, many of the book's concepts are confusingly conveyed. For example, Mr. McCloud uses a pyramid to show the range of different comic authors' styles. Unfortunately, this explanatory vehicle is hard to follow to start with, let alone when it's abbreviated and repeated quite often in subsequent pages. Fourth, Mr. McCloud goes on too long with some of his arguments. I often felt the urge to skim or skip past particularly long discourses where little new information was being added to earlier information provided.

If you're looking for a deep, scholarly analysis of comics, this book is for you. If you're looking for an easy to read, interesting new perspective on comics, you will probably not enjoy this book.

good stuff, though i felt 'making comics' was better all around. easier read, and more pertinent information... though this is a nice companion book.

This book is an excellent, entertaining, and easy read for anyone interested in art, not just comics. It analyzes the visual society of comics and other art in nearly every aspect imaginable in a splendidly playful fashion, that will surprise even the skeptics. No wonder it features in French comic recommendation lists and catalogues.

If you browsed to this page and you don't have this book, you should probably buy it. In my (and others') experience, the book will subsequently travel through your circle of friends because its appeal is universal, making it hard to put down.

I read this and it made me a better cartoonist McCloud really makes you THINK about art and the philosophy of cartooning. And of course, his illustrations serve to really make this an enjoyable book to learn from. You owe it to yourself to check out this work.

I happened across this book in the library, and was _that_ close to putting it back on the shelf. I was looking for art books to teach sketch drawing. I went back to the shelf for a second look, then couldn't put it down.

The comic book method of combining words and pictures to convey a message was amazingly effective in this book. It's a book about how to understand comic books, and it is itself a comic book. What opened my eyes was just how powerful a medium it is.

The medium hasn't even remotely been explored completely. It's wide open. This book is itself an amazing poster child for the art itself. McCloud's artwork is beautiful, and absolutely effective in every line. His range of capabilities is astounding. It's a pleasure experiencing this book. When my kids get older, I want them to read it and I hope they'll get excited about drawing.

Anyway if you're interested in creating comic books of your own, or are interested in learning about comic books themselves, this book is a must read. It is certainly McCloud's best work. The drawings are clearly drawn by hand with pen and paper. McCloud's later work is clearly done on computer, and something precious is lost in the translation. I'm sure the computer saves a great deal of time, but the end result is...just not the same. This book spoke to me in a very profound way. Get a copy for yourself.

I am learning how to write screenplays and I've heard over and again that film is a visual medium. Well, what really does that mean beyond the superficial?

As a kid, I used to read comic books religiously. I stopped reading them when I "grew up". Now that I am attempting to understand how to tell a good story and how to do so in a way that people immediately grasp what's going on, it surprised me somewhat that some of the authors I've read and whose opinions I respect recommended McCloud's `Understanding Comics'.

Reading it now, I can understand why. McCloud's coverage of how to tell a story in a comic book and the philosophy of design is right up a screenwriter's alley. This is literally visual storytelling. McCloud understands and shows the psychology of readers and, by extension, viewers. Then, he shows how to use that knowledge to craft an information-rich story visually.

Not only that, but anyone who wants to tell a story graphically, anyone who wants to present using Keynote or PowerPoint, anyone who communicates in fact, should invest in thoroughly understanding McCloud. I'm frankly surprised that the art of my youth is now resurgent in my life, but I'm happy. I was always content reading comics and now I'm content knowing that the philosophy of designing comic books lends itself quite well to writing a screenplay.

EDIT: Just as I was about to post the review, I spotted a term in the tags section that completely defines this books: information architecture. Yes, that's it. We're building stories and by so doing, transferring information. McCloud is the architect of the building process.

Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is an engaging analysis of comics that delights while it intrigues. Written in comics format itself, the book analyzes comics throughout history, discussing their evolution and the conventions and methods that make them work, and it explores the possibilities of what they can do. First published in 1993, this book has justifiably received much praise and become one of the primary books read by people who want to know about comics.

Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it provides a solid defense of the worth of comics, showing the traditions comics came from, how most readers tend to confuse the medium (words & pictures) with the content (brainless superheroes, impossible musculature, etc.). McCloud packs a lot of information into each chapter, and if you take the time to think about what he's saying, you'll find yourself thinking hard about things you might never have considered, from the ingredients that combine to form complex emotions on a person's face, to the ways we are indoctrinated into consuming art and literature, to the effect created by putting a frame around something.

This book should be compulsory teaching in schools. Very easy to read and a great education in not just comics, but also in art and story telling. Highly recommended for everyone, even for the so called comic book experts. I have been reading comics for over 20 years, and this taught me things I took for granted.

I highly recommend this to anyone who has even the slightest interest in comic books. Whether you're new to comics or a longtime comic book fan, you will probably learn something new and interesting about the medium. In particular, this book has really changed the way I look at manga and has given me a new appreciation for Japanese comics.

The other two books in this "trilogy" are good too, but I consider this one the real "must read" of the three.

Not being a writer, artist, editor, or whatever, I just read them, I didn't care about the technical details, so this was quite informative, and amusing, with the style. If you are not a would be comic creator, or artist of some sort, this may be too technical, dry and textbook like, but it is clever to have a comic be a textbook about comics.

Having read comics before, the book seemed almost as if it were talking down to me. However, the section of the book that dealt with the structure of comics and their elements (i.e. Splash pages, the gutter, etc.) was a welcome education. It's a pretty quick read and if you're completely new to the comic/graphic novel genre, it's a good one to read. But if you're a seasoned comic veteran, opt for one of Mccloud's other books instead.

I'm kindof rediscovering comic books after years of not reading them, and I was curious to know a little more about the medium when I picked up this book, and I really liked it. Not only is it full of information about how comics are written and drawn, but it also IS a comic book, making it fun to read. The author's personality really contributes a lot to the narrative, and I think anyone interested in comics and graphic novels ought to read this book.

I hear for first time of this book in a great art workshop with Barron Storey in my country. Ecuador. Barron recomended this book to us. He was right,it is a fabolous book.For me is the real introduction for the lovely art of making comings, I will recomend this book always!

Escuché de este libro por primera vez en un gran taller de arte que hice con el ilustrador Barron Storey en mi país,Ecuador.Barron fue profesor de Scott macloud y recomendó enfáticamente este libro a todos los que que queríamos aprender un poco más del arte de hacer comics y tenía razón para mi es un libro fabuloso,es la verdadera introducción para conocer más de este arte.recomiendo mucho este libro a los hispanohablantes: A pesar de que el libro está en Inglés es en realidad muy fácil de entender y además es muy entretenido.

Eso es lo que es este libro. A lo largo de sus 9 capitulos, se toman en cuenta partes sumamente importantes en la estructura de un comic, llendo mas alla de la calidad y el estilo del dibujo. Como dice el autor, este libro es su opinion y espera a partir de el, se debata el contenido y no solo se de por hecho. Sin duda un excelente libro al nivel de "El comic y el arte secuencial" de Will Eisner, con la diferencia mas relevante, de estar formado como un comic, no un libro de teoria con ejemplos de comic.

I purchased this item, along with McCloud's other book Making Comics, to teach a course on comics in English to art students at Cheongju University in South Korea. Both of these books really lend themselves to teaching, each one is divided into chapters which discuss specific comic concepts and elements. Two excellent chapters:

The first chapter in Understanding Comics is great because it discusses the history of comics, and some great activities can be done having students think about and search for comics in the real world and instances of comics in history. This chapter really validates the fact that comics are interesting and useful, rather than just being treated as a 'fake' art or a 'not really real' subject.

Chapter three is excellent because it breaks down transitions not only in American comics, but European and Asian comics as well, and explains his thoughts as to why these differences exist. This allows students to compare the differences and broaden their understanding of how different cultures think differently. This chapter also discusses how comics are subtractive, and lends itself to an excellent lesson whereupon students can draw comics with many pictures, then keep subtracting and combining pictures until they have the miminum number of pictures that tells the gist of their story.

In other chapters: Chapter two discusses word choice and flow in comics, four discusses time, chapter five discusses displaying emotion by using different types of lines (and similarities and differences between comics from different cultures), chapter six discusses how words and ideas complement each other in comics, and chapter seven discusses six steps to making comics.

In my opinion, each book is worth its weight in gold alone for a comic class, but they have a synergistic effect when used in tandem with each other. Concepts from one book flow into the other book, and vice-versa, giving the students in-depth knowledge of both how to make comics and how to understand comics from other authors better. All of the concepts from the chapters can be seen easily in comics online or from newspapers, and so each week I first do the lecture, then use a few examples on the overhead that I have found from other comics, then give the students homework pertaining to the concepts discussed.

Through use of the two books, the students' work is really improving, and it is fun to see them working specifically with each comic element. Each of the concepts discussed in the chapters is a great starting point to get the students' creative juices flowing. I would recommend this book to any teacher or lecturer interested teaching comics at almost any level and to any audience.

i was "forced" to buy this book for an art history class.
never would i have picked it out on my own. it's not so much
that i hate comics, but i definitely do not read them as much
as i used to. even then it was all :"betty & veronica" & "katy
keene" more so for the fashions then the actual comic. after reading
this book, i realize how complex & interesting comics really are. this
book is more of a guide to visual literacy than anything else. it makes
you aware of things that you have always taken for granted & explains
to you WHY... excellent book, i recommend it to EVERYONE!

Scott McCloud's first task in this book is explaining
how comics work: what are the mechanics of art and the
functions of the human brain that make this form of story
telling so popular?
As often happens somebody explains something that you thought
needs no explanation, the explaining opens up a whole new
world. One part of the beauty of this book is that it makes
comics a lot more fun to read. Another is that it tells us
(or reminds us) that a medium-novels, poems, comics, plays,
or whatever have structure. The structures may not be
obvious, but they're there and they're learnable.

So after you put this book down and start enjoying your
new insights into -let's say- the funny pages, you auto-
matically find yourself wondering. How do novels work? What
about video games? Daytime soaps? Campy horror films?

Now logically, any explication of any medium could do this
job of brain-opening for you. But McCloud's brilliance is in
using a very sexy medium to explain the very same medium. In
this case the artist and the commentator are one. (chances
are that you'll never read an epic poem that explains the
way epic poems work).
It also happens that McCloud is a master as both artist and
commentator and the time you spend reading this book will
be very pleasant indeed.

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
the forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN
9781601640005

Scott McCloud's first task in this book is explaining
how comics work: what are the mechanics of art and the
functions of the human brain that make this form of story
telling so popular?
As often happens somebody explains something that you thought
needs no explanation, the explaining opens up a whole new
world. One part of the beauty of this book is that it makes
comics a lot more fun to read. Another is that it tells us
(or reminds us) that a medium-novels, poems, comics, plays,
or whatever have structure. The structures may not be
obvious, but they're there and they're learnable.

So after you put this book down and start enjoying your
new insights into -let's say- the funny pages, you auto-
matically find yourself wondering. How do novels work? What
about video games? Daytime soaps? Campy horror films?

Now logically, any explication of any medium could do this
job of brain-opening for you. But McCloud's brilliance is in
using a very sexy medium to explain the very same medium. In
this case the artist and the commentator are one. (chances
are that you'll never read an epic poem that explains the
way epic poems work).
It also happens that McCloud is a master as both artist and
commentator and the time you spend reading this book will
be very pleasant indeed.

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
the forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN
9781601640005

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I took a chance and bought it. This book goes beyond the average reader's understanding of comics, but presents as both clear and interesting.

Frankly, "Understanding Comics" doesn't read like a textbook, but more like a graphic novel. By the end of the 2nd chapter, you'll be oblivious to the fact that you're actually learning something.

I have no frame of reference when I write this review as in my view no work I ever came across comes close to this book. It's a research paper of sorts. And it's honest. The author is putting his money where his mouth is by presenting a seemingly exhaustive research work in this form.

I would like to add that such a work is beyond starring system of any kind. My five stars apart, the author, I think, is bound to earn a lot of respect for his honesty with which he has worked out this research and its presentation.

I have no frame of reference when I write this review as in my view no work I ever came across comes close to this book. It's a research paper of sorts. And it's honest. The author is putting his money where his mouth is by presenting a seemingly exhaustive research work in this form.

I would like to add that such a work is beyond starring system of any kind. My five stars apart, the author, I think, is bound to earn a lot of respect for his honesty with which he has worked out this research and its presentation.

i'm not quite sure why this book is so loved. artists and writers do work, they don't need a primer on comics (especially this one). fans don't need this because its better to spend your money on great comics works rather than this. some historical tidbits or stuff about the mechanics of comics are slightly interesting, but overall i was very disappointed with this work.

McCloud looks at comics as an art form and gives some insights into how the artists expect to be seen. I liked the book very much and passed it on to my son, Rick, who is an amateur artist. He enjoyed it too.

I'm wondering why I'm getting this feedback form ~four months after my purchase. Regardless, if I recall correctly, I received this book a little later than I expected but the book was in excellent condition.

I know little to nothing about comic books or graphic novels. However, I chose to use comics and graphic novels to teach Romeo & Juliet. Thus, I had to take a crash course. This book was AWESOME! It was a quick, easy read that was packed with information. I learned more than I needed too, but enough to feel comfortable with teaching the basics. This book is a must for any teacher or even anyone interested in the art of Comics.

Want 3 of the best-ever books on the general topic of comics? Here they are! (each generally sold separately)

1.*Understanding Comics- A *landmark* & bestselling examination of the medium. A comicbook on comics! It gives us a dictionary-style definition of what comics is and then proceeds to detail the meaning in its applications. Relates the medium of comics to art & art history, and then breaks down the invisible principles that make sense of it all: the relationships between words, pictures, icons, styles, genres, perception, abstraction, and the overall vocabulary of comics. One of my favorite concepts detailed here is the triangle diagram he uses to describe all visual arts. It's 3 vertices are REALITY, LANGUAGE, and THE PICTURE PLANE. He shows that any artist's work in any visual medium can be described as being part of this highly conceptual, visual triangle. This triangle chart alone is worth the price of the book(!), and makes comics as a medium more accessible to students of art in general. He then examines the intricacies of comics construction, and the way reader participation makes the comics experience unique. Various elements here include: panel transitions, time, principles in linework, word-picture balance, the general creative process, and even a brief section on color. Even eastern & western differences within comics is given several mentions, giving an interesting, international scope to this international bestseller! 5 Stars!

2.*Reinventing Comics- Maybe his best *looking* book (in my opinion), it's basically split into 2 sections: The 12 Revolutions in comics; and then basic Internet/Computer/Web Comics. It's the least popular & practical in the Trilogy, yet I still really like it! 4-1/2 Stars.

3.*Making Comics- It's like Understanding Comics refined, as well as a "hands-on" introduction to the medium. It competes with that 1st title for most popular in the Trilogy, and it's highly recommended to anyone who wants to make comics! I like it! 5 Stars.

In conclusion: While I try not to use the "genius" label *too* liberally, with Understanding Comics it really seems to fit(!).

Scott Mcloud is a thorough writer. He builds his arguments to a point. I was thrilled to have a serious book about comics, that utilises the medium.
This book is intelligent and insightful. If you're a comic lover or artist (not just comics, but all forms of art), you'll have a lot to learn from this book.

The book I read was Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. Understanding Comics is about how comics are created and the criteria of the stories they tell. In the book, Scott McCloud explains the iconic nature of comics art, transitions, how comics manipulate time, and the emotions visible.Also the 6 steps comic creators take in creating a comic book.

My favorite part in Understanding Comics was chapter 7, The Six Steps. This chapter describes idea/purpose, form, idoim, structure, craft, and surface. These are the six steps in creating a good comic book. I found this to be the most interesting part of the book.

Even though I don't like to read books, I really liked this book because it was written in a comic book form, with panels and word bubbles on every page. Since I like to draw, this book inspired me to draw more cartoons because it tells how the actions of characters are made real. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes comic books and that style of writing. For someone who likes stories with a plot, this book would probally not be one of their favorites, since this is more of an informational book.

This book is about so much more than comics. It's packed with insight about the psychology of perception, the evolution of pictoral and verbal communications, and all kinds of goodies.

The one that got me was the concept of filling in what happens "in the gutter." That's the space between frames where the imagination works. This is a powerful way to understand some of what takes place in group sequential communication too. It applies to the sense or nonsense people make of forum discussions sometimes, for example. That non-existant content in the "gutter" between posts can grab people by the emotions.

In addition, it is beautifully drawn and includes lots of visual vocabulary you didn't know you needed. Wonderful gift for anyone interested in communication, design or illustration, let alone in comics!

Mr. McCloud's ability to frame the history of both visual and written communication, and the potential for them to be used in tandem to create rewarding aesthetic and synesthetic experiences not found in any other art form, is nothing short of a brilliant accomplishment. This dissertation is disguised as a 'comic book', but don't be fooled! I wish this title had been required reading when I was in 'art skool'. IMHO, it would be especially insightful reading for those currently practicing, or aspiring to a career in art history and/or art criticism. From a creative's perspective, this work will bring hope and validation to those thousands of artists marginalized by the elitist ( and the general public's) thinking that 'comix' are the lowest form of art. With clarity, depth, and brevity this book should be on the shelf of anyone interested in the arts, as long as their ego is in check!

Author of
THE TRUTH
ABOUT CAFFEINE

If you think this is just about comics, think again! It's a book which defines and illustrates what we call "art". The presentation is so simple, yet so profoundly deep, you'll find yourself referring back to this densely packed little book for many years to come. I always keep a copy at work to pass on to colleagues. It's absolutely genius.

jeff gregory

Understanding Comics is simple and deep. Profound and sometimes silly. It's such a no-brainer idea, why not USE the medium of comics to best describe the tools, power and impact of comics.

This book can give any artist (novelists, screenwriters, actors, painters) new and exciting perspectives on their craft.

Mc Cloud writes and draws in such a logical, straightforward style that remains funny and entertaining. His research and organization show this to be a heavy book disguised as fluff. (not to say that all comics are shallow, but they usually do not give the first impression of "War and Peace"). I was visiting my daughter at school and saw this softcover laying on the coffee table. I thought it might be a counter- culture "People" magazine. I was sucked in to the light approach and funny quirks in animation. Soon I realized this was a serious topic and also impossible to put down. I had to have a copy of my own. (turns out it was being used as a textbook in an English/Writing class on campus). Scott is a genious if could reach me. I am a photographer and Scott opened my eyes to new visual logics.
Steve Maulin

If you are an artist involved in cinema/animation/storyboarding/Illustration or any type of creative or communication science, YOU WANT THIS BOOK. This book packs more horsepower under the hood that you might guess by looking at the front cover. It seems more like a phd thesis about the origin, meaning, and evolution of iconography, visual communication; analyzing hundreds of graphic styles, their origins and meanings, and how cultural factors affect creativity and perception.

This book is from the perspective of a serious critic. For the real inside stuff on technique, both narrative and artistic as employed in comics, check out the still-available instructional works of Will Eisner, who pioneered both the breakout from the tradiitional box and the long form graphic story with his weekly eight-page "Spirit" Sunday comics of the 40s and 50s, who expanded the form before anyone else, and who exposes his hard-won practical knowledge for would-be artists and storytellers in several books on the subject.

How better to discuss comics than through the use of comics? And who better to discuss this art form than artist/writer, Scott McCloud who is the creator of Zot!
It is obvious that Mr. McCloud spent a considerable amount of time thinking about the evolution and the mechanics of comics (check out the statistics in Chapter 3, "Blood in the Gutter"). In his discussion of the development of comics, Mr. McCloud takes us through a timeline beginning with ancient civilizations and ending in the modern age. In this exploration, he also stops at Japan where a different way of creating comics developed in isolation from western influences. A broad overview of comics is given to help the reader understand and appreciate the importance of comics and its place in history.

The mechanics of comics are analyzed --from cartoon bubbles, to frames, to what's going on between the frames and to composition. From reading this book, there's a definite sense that there's more to comics than mere picture-making and words. Other factors and talents are needed such as pacing, which can be found in the realm of movie making,, and composition and line quality, both of which are tools of the sensitive artist.

Pacing and frames are devices employed in film/animation. But exclusive to comics is how it is portrayed in a 2-dimensional fashion. Time is visual and moves forward within a defined space. With film, there are frames take up the same space, rendering the film animate. Time and mood are defined within a two dimensional space through the artistic use of layouts. Psychological factors such as closure is also discussed in the context of the use of gutters.

Color and lines can be found in the general world of art and have been explored, researched and discussed in depth by many fine artists. Both are expressive, conveying mood and feeling. For those who scoff at the comic artist because they believe that (s)he is not capable of great art because they draw "simple pictures", Mr. McCloud talks about an important, but perhaps little thought of, device called "iconic representation" which plays a role in helping to render a character more universal among other things.

McCloud takes a complicated subject and through the use of an art form which clearly communicates these ideas, drives them home to the reader. With all the work and history that goes behind creating comics, comics is definitely an under appreciated art form.

Told in comic form, this engaging look at the art and media of comics is a fun read.

It looks like it could be for kids, but make no mistake: it is not.

This is a thoughtful, soulful look at the thought behind how comic stories are told ny writers and artists and then understood by readers.

If this were a standard "text"-based book, McCloud could never had made his points so well and so clearly.

If you love comics, you will love them even more after reading this book.

I am not a hard-core comic fan, but this book was incredibly interesting. Scott shows how so much of the action happens in the tiny gap between panels. The psychology of the gap is important to understand for anyone who has to communicate information to others. This is a great book for aspiring comic publishers, but also for speakers, presenters and authors.

I have read several books about comics, and most have been good. This one though is the best. It is scholarly, yet entertaining, and covers everything. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in comics, or art, but I wouldn't limit it to those areas of interest. I can't imagine anyone not appreciating this book.

I have also read the sequel to this book, Reinventing Comics, and would not recommend it as highly. It is just OK, since Scott said all he really had to say in Understanding Comics.

excellent transaction. lightspeed delivery, superb condition. absolutely no problems at all. highly recommend

Who would have thought, writing a comic about comics and the industry. I learned so much from this book. It was a real eye opener and at times a little funny. Great book!

This book has really helped me to understand coomics like never before. I am an artist and I am considering creating and publishing my own comic book, with the help of this book, it will be a whole lot easier to do so. Because, I now understand not just the mechanics of creating a comic book, but I understand the art of comics as well.

Thank you.

Okay, so it's really the only in depth book on the subject. But if there were others it would still be the best. This is not only a great book on the art of comics but visual language in general and I would recommend it to anyone going into the graphic arts.

There's a lot more to comics than first meets the eye, and this book reveals information that even dedicated fans might not know. If you're serious about comics, you need to read what Scott has to say. Excellent book.

W. Melton 's review (titled Guide for Luddites, otherwise unintiated.) expressed what I felt about "Understanding Comics" best, but I thought I would reiterate.
This is a great book if you a) think comics must be meaningless drivel or b) want to argue why comics aren't meaningless drivel, but can't figure it out on your own. I did not find any revelations within. The most interesting passages, to me, were how European, American, and Japanese comics differ, but there was not nearly so much time spent on this as trying to "validate" comics as an art form.
As someone who has long loved comics, I don't particularly care if they're considered intellectual or not. Nor did I glean any insights as to how better enjoy a medium I have for years (except possible Japanese comics, a little bit) As an amateur comic creator, I found nothing to better my craft.
Also, McCloud may examine why the art is so popular, but he pays very little attention to comic book writing, which I imagine is what most people these days take exception to. It's not because of the art that they are truely considered "pulp", after all, but because of the content. In fact, the only time he mentions writing is as an afterthought to his diagram of "iconic vs realistic vs abstract" art styles. I found it strange he didn't examine why "superhero" comics are so ubiqitious. There's plenty of room to go back and reference Great Works like "the Oddesy" and "Bhagavad Gita", etc. Epic heroes are as a part of humanity as communicating with pictures (a "revelation" of McCloud's that seemed readily apparent to me, at least). Etc etc. There was little here that an intellegent fan of comics wouldn't have already figured out, and there's nothing here for a non-intellectual fan of comics (and, unlike other reviewers, I don't fault anyone for not being an intellectual, just as I wouldn't fault anyone for not being a molecular biologist like me)
If you would like an analysis of comics, this is for you. If you just enjoy comics, this probably isn't for you. If you're interested in a "how to" book, you're better off looking elsewhere, unless your trouble is "thinking outside the box". (and if you're a fan of independant comics, not being able to "think outside the box" would be strange indeed)

If you are interested in finding out why graphic novels and comic books are so popular with young people, there is no better introduction to the genre than "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud. Exploring the origins of sequential art beginning with Egyptian hieroglyphics, McCloud contemplates the nature of visual symbolism and the juxtaposition of imagery and language with wit and style. This is a brilliant 224-page comic book, loaded with insight and entertainment. It is also an impressive display of Scott's remarkable versatility as an artist. An excellent tool for anyone interested in young adult literature, and a pleasure to read for it's own sake.

Scott McCloud is a world renowned artist. In the comic
space, he's synonymous with the greatest heights that comix
can achieve as an art form.


His reputation is not in vain. *Understanding Comics*
is simultaneously an ode to the best of artistic design as
well as a thesis on self expression through comix.

Summary
--------

This book spans nine chapters and provides easy reading within
one sitting. From the outset, Scott awes the reader with
his in depth understanding and passionate love of comics.
Throughout the book, he convincingly argues that comics are
indeed an art form that should not be relegated to
children's bedside reading.


Scott explains all the aspects of style used in Comics. He
explains the importance of good design and emphasises self
expression through the merging of multiple forms.


This book has not only changed my life, it has changed my
perception and experience of life. Scott has also managed
to give the world hope. All too often we think of Design,
Art and Good Taste as virtues congenially bestowed upon a
blessed minority.


This book clearly shows that High Art is
an innate gift which has only to be developed and nurtured.
Within us all lies the incredible potential to build
beautiful things no matter what our vocation or walk of life.


High Art and Design
--------------------

Personally, I've always considered comics a high form of
art and a veritable record of modern mythology. I
therefore did not read this book in order to understand what
comics are. I read this book in order to get a different
perspective on that all important facet of human creativity:
*Design*.


Comix, as an art form, is difficult to fathom. The
difficulty lies in the *cartoon* nature of most comics
as well as the typical iconography we've been exposed to.


To an extent, I think much of the popular modern art
suffers the same fate. We are so imbibed with the
superficial that we can no longer perceive the core.


Scott McCloud solves this problem and with one broad stroke
of his brush, he wipes the fog away from the readers eyes.
This book is not about Comix, it is about the evolution of
modern art. It is about what modern art can evolve into.


The 6 Steps to Creative Expression
-----------------------------------

Every Creative expression goes through six stages: Idea/Purpose,
Form, Idiom, Structure, Craft and Surface.


While the intricacies of each of those steps are better
learned by reading the book, there's a valuable insight he
reveals in his discussion.


All too often we have to experience or learn art and design in
reverse order. We first learn or are attracted to the
surface appearance of the Art. Many a time this period of
learning coincides with the point at which our taste is at
an all time low. Note also that few people every progress beyond
this superficial appreciation of Art.


The reason for this is because the expressiveness of Art
doesn't lie in it's appearance *as such*. The
expressiveness of Art lies in the *treatment* of it's
appearance. This treatment then finds unity in something
much deeper than colour, line and shape. The reason High Art
is High Art is because it possesses Qwan, that Quantity
Without a Name.


This Qwan is what Scott seeks to impress upon the reader. He
therefore proceeds to teach these 6 steps in the prescribed
order. The effect of his lessons is an inside-out
understanding of what true creative expression involves.
This perspective is on the opposite side of the pipe we're
so used to staring down. It is as though we thought the
world was flat, then we managed to view the planet from a
spaceship!


Simplicity
----------

Scott also attempts to emphasise the importance of
simplicity in good design. The book's language is direct
and clear. His artistic artifice is also shockingly
simple without be empty. This pattern of simplicity creates such elegance
that it's impossible not to see the lesson::



All high art and good design is simple.



When I think about it more deeply, simplicity in design now
makes perfect sense. How can you truly have understood a
given topic if you can't decompose it into it's simplest
form just as Scott has done?


Conclusion
----------

I seem to have the gift of finding and reading the best books.
*Understanding Comics, The Invisible Art* is one that
surpasses my highest expectations.


This book is mandatory reading for anyone in *any
field* practicing *any vocation*. Humanity's
greatest ills come from the inability to communicate
effectively with others, and most importantly, with
ourselves.


Scott McCloud, an artist who thinks deeply about self expression,
has managed to elucidate and even codify all the knowledge
one needs to get started. If you have the *desire to be
heard*, the willingness to *learn* and the ability
*to see* (which most of us also have to learn), then
you are an individual who can achieve the highest levels of
self expression.


Self expression is Art and as such we can all be great
artists. The rewards are exponentially greater than any
effort we could put in. This is the seductive proposition
that Scott Mccloud's presents to us.

I love this book. Not only does it explain visual storytelling, and how we understand stories and comics, but also illustrates perfectly how you go about implementing the principle, "Show, don't tell", so vital to creating compelling stories. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in telling stories, of any kind.