Required Reading for Aspiring Creators

[HouseStark]

I created this thread to share links to articles, books, or websites that I think aspiring creators MUST read. I wish there was this much content available back in the day when I first dabbled in creating comics. Thank you, Internets. What's your favorite site for aspiring comic book creators?

This one just made my list today.

Comics Survival Kit by Gail Simone on Tumblr: How to become a pro, and how to maintain that position once you have attained it.

[gummahfan]

What an incredible resource. I'm definitely going to make my way through this site when I have time (if I ever have time).

I'm usually working on stuff when I get home, but during work I usually go to podcasts to feed my comic love. I have run into some comic making podcasts, but I find I get much more inspiration hearing from actual comic creators. Fatman on Batman has some great ones and recently I started picking a few Let's Talk Comics! episodes.

[Steven Forbes]

I hate these, because it makes me sound self-serving. I hate sounding self-serving.

Anyway, here goes:

My column, Bolts & Nuts. Very writer-heavy, but it goes into tons of things that most books and sites don't.

My other column, The Proving Grounds. Exclusively for writers, where their work is gone edited every week by two editors (myself and either Samantha LeBas and Steve Colle, who switch out every week). If you want to submit, read a few entries first. It ain't called "the proving grounds" fer nuthin'!

There's also the column my partner writers, Comix Counsel. Chock-full of info in there concerning things like Kickstarter, finances, submitting to companies, and other things not easily found elsewhere.

All of this and more can be found at my site, ComixTribe.

And that ends my commercial.

[B-McKinley]

Jason Brubaker's Unnatural Talent which is a book form version of his ReMIND blog.

Dirk Manning's Write or Wrong which is again the collected in print version of the Write or Wrong columns at Newsarama.

Those both look at creating comics as a whole with a focus on self-publishing.

Also focused on self-publishing is How to Self Publish Comics: Not Just Create Them by Josh Blaylock. I wish there had been more like these when starting out. Back then it was all about drawing or writing, but there is so much more to creating than those two skills.

For Must Read, I'd start with Understanding Comics and Making Comics by Scott McCloud.

For artists specifically Perspective for Comic Book Artists is also required reading.

[Alyssa]

If Steven had waited, he wouldn't have had to self-promote. I highly recommend the info on ComixTribe, particularly if you want to be a writer/creator.

I also like the tutorials on Blambot website. Obviously, the articles are more geared towards lettering, though there is an article on script format.

[Newt]

For artists:

Figure Drawing for All its Worth by Andrew Loomis

Probably the most accessible and practical figure-drawing manual. Constructive Anatomy by George Bridgeman is also good, but a little more difficult to understand.

Rendering in Pen and Ink by Arthur Guptill

The classic ink rendering book, laden with both great advice and great examples from the heyday of black-and-white book and magazine illustration. It is not about comic book inking at all, but I think that's a good thing; "traditional" comic book inking is very restricted, and it pays (for both inkers and pencillers) to be aware of some of the many other techniques out there.

Artistic Anatomy by Paul Richer

A fantastic artists' anatomy guide from the days when such things were taken seriously. There are other good semitechnical anatomy books out there, this is just the one I favor.


Not required reading, but very helpful nonetheless:

Imaginative Realism by James Gurney

Gurney shows you how to use real-life reference, props, maquettes, etc. to create realistic illustrations of things you cannot simply look at and draw, whether ancient civilizations, extinct animals, or fantasy and science fiction scenarios. The author is eminently qualified, and his writing is user-friendly. His Color and Light is also an excellent resource.

Animals Real and Imagined by Terryl Whitlatch

Great book for those interested in designing convincing fantasy creatures.

[joshm]

I've read quite a bit on drawing and most people have already mentioned, so I'll add one more that has helped me greatly.

Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels with Peter David. Amazon has it for 15 and I'm sure the digital copy is less.

I have an earlier copy, as this one above is revised. The first printing was great and I still use it, and I have no doubt so is the one above. It really breaks down the process well and as an artist it's important to know what the writer is trying to do. It goes into a lot about pacing and developing characters. Really a great resource book and easy to find sections when you need it.

[Robert_S]

Originally Posted by joshm

Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels with Peter David. Amazon has it for 15 and I'm sure the digital copy is less.

I did a search on amazon and google. There is no digital copy version, unfortunately.

I did find one that appears to be a course text book. I think it was titled "Studying Comics and Graphic Novels" and listed for over $80.

[joshm]

Not sure where you're looking but if you do a google search you'll find several for 15 or higher.

Here is on at BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listin...-2670236706748

Here is one at amazon for less than 5, but is the first edition: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Comics...writing+comics

More at Amazon from 15 and up: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

[L Jamal]

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud

[B-McKinley]

Originally Posted by Newt

Figure Drawing for All its Worth by Andrew Loomis

I'm so glad that this is no longer followed up with "but it's been out of print for years."

[HouseStark]

I highly recommend ...

Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics: Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond

and it's sequel ...

Mastering Comics: Drawing Words & Writing Pictures Continued

And here's a link to the authors' blog on the same subject.

[Bulletboy-Redux]

Ive always been a fan of Burne Hogarth's books. Dynamic Anatomy, Dynamic Light and Shade, Drawing the Human Head, Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery, Drawing Human Hands, etc.

[Robert_S]

Originally Posted by joshm

Not sure where you're looking but if you do a google search you'll find several for 15 or higher.

Here is on at BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listin...-2670236706748

Here is one at amazon for less than 5, but is the first edition: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Comics...writing+comics

More at Amazon from 15 and up: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

I quite specifically stated "digital copies". Those are paperbacks.

[Comrade Hero]

+1 for ComixTribe's Bolts & Nuts.
+1 for Writing for Comics & Graphic Novels with Peter David.

Superhero Nation. Although it doesn't get updated as frequently these days, Superhero Nation is a good blog that looks at writing the superhero novel, and entertainingly, how superheroics would apply in the real world.
Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative by Will Eisner. Another useful reference.
Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein. Useful reference for developing realistic characters by looking at psychological, physiological and occupational
influences on character development.