Published by: Fruchtzwerg (Karma: 7915.45) on 19 July 2008 | Views: 3818
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Comic books are an art form,
every bit as complex, valuable, emotionally moving and inspirational as
literature, sculpture and film. That’s what Scott McCloud believes and
convincingly supports this position in his book, Understanding Comics. ”The
world of comics is a huge and varied one,” the author states, and a sampling of
currently published titles available in stores and libraries throughout the
world stands as proof.
Understanding Comics addresses such seemingly disparate topics as how comics
manage to portray motion, human emotion, all five senses and the passage of
time through the use of static images, as well as how the evolution of comics
can be traced back as far as the ancient Egyptians and Mayans. This work is a
thoughtful and provocative look into the theories behind comics, and the
mechanisms that make them work. It is highly recommended for anyone interested
in learning more about comics as a viable art form, newcomers to the format,
and long-time fans looking to persuade their friends and families that comics
do have merit. As the author succinctly states, ”together ... words and pictures
can work miracles.”
Contents
Introduction
1 Setting the record straight
2 The vocabulary of comics
3 Blood in the gutter
4 Time frames
5 Living in line
6 Show and tell
7 The six steps
8 A word about colour
9 Putting it all together
Selected Bibliography
About the Author
Scott McCloud has been writing, drawing, and examining comics since 1984.
Winner of the Eisner and Harvey awards, his works have been translated into
more than sixteen languages. Frank Miller (Sin City, 300) called him "just
about the smartest guy in comics."
