Customer Reviews

Drawing Crime Noir: For Comics and Graphic Novels

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Honestly, that's what it is - a book full of nice examples of comic art, specifically dealing with noir atmosphere.

Same problem affects all books, written by Mr. Hart - they're amazing, if you will look at them as just coffee table books. Unfortunately, they're marketed as books that are supposed to teach you how to draw and it won't happen, judging by the fact that there are very few comments related to drawing process itself.

So 1 star for marketing, 4 (or 5) stars for pictures.

My advice is this - borrow it from the library, but don't spend 20 dollars on it, unless you want a coffee table book.

First, this is NOT a how-to-draw book: this is a how-to-INK book. And a very good one. Second, you get eight different artists (including Hart), each with its own style. That's good. And third, no shades of gray, thank you very much: only pure black over the pure white paper. And that's... grrreat! And includes many pencilled drawings, for you to Xerox and try a good brush on them (for private use only, you understand. Never try to distribute, not even for free, copyrighted material).

I bought a book from Hogart, and another from DC comics, on the subject of inking. These are fine books, but for learning purposes, this one beats them all. And don't think that this book is good only for "crime noir" comics. If you take a look at "The Simpsons" (Bongo Comics) you'll see the same techniques covered here...

The author has finnaly created a sophisticated art book that can stand on its own. Every page is full of stunning information. All illustraions are done in black and white which is really helpfull if your into learning how to ink for your own graphic novel.The best chapter is on creating and understanding shades and shadow so that you can create really stunning art work of your own after you master the basic tactics taught in this book. And trust me you will after learning from these great contributing artists. I also love the chapters on clothing folds,character accessories and behavior patterns of all the characters.. helpfull advice on creating your own dark city scenes full of silhoutte and detail.You even get a little section on how to draw teeth for both male and female!Plus you get lessons dedicated to drawing acurate variations of noses and mouths. There really is NO fluff or repetion in this masterpeace like there is in other Hart's books. Pick this one up if you have basic drawing skills down. I would not recommend this for a complete begginner.. unless they are highly ambitious ofcourse.I praise it because I read them all when I was starting out,practiced non stop everyday and soon i will be breaking into to comic book bussines and you will too with deication. In the mean time add this one to your library. Its like no other

This book is fun to look at, there are plenty of good art and it is well done. Unfortunately the commentary is somewhat banal and uninsightful. As a reader of crime noir lit I don't need simple things pointed out, bub. I need good info to go on. I need facts and dough, plenty of dough. Those things just seemed to be lacking a bit.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting legendary comic book artist Jim Steranko, and spending about 30 minutes with him talking comic art as he showed me several pages from a new project he is working on, very much a crime noir style book. Now, reading Christopher Hart's "Drawing Crime Noir" won't turn you into Jim Steranko, but it does give a lot of wonderful instruction and advice on this ever-growing genre of comics. Gritty, crime dramas like Sin City and even books like Batman are perfect examples of modern day crime noir.

Hart begins the book with advice on drawing male and female faces and getting that tough, chiseled jaw and piercing eyes of the strong male character, and the pouty, shiny lips of the female characters. Next up is the full figure itself and the clothes and getting the wrinkles and folds in clothes to make them match the particular pose of the character.

One of the key elements of noir art is the use of shadow and this is something that Steranko covered in great detail when we spoke. The lighting, shading, angles of view and perspective is something he lays out like a movie director in his work. Hart shows readers the difference in drawing shadows correctly, and drawing them for dramatic effect. You'll be amazed at how much difference this subtle change can make in the art. You'll also see how to correctly draw shadows on different surfaces such as cobblestone streets or when in water.

Chapter three covers "Sinful Women" and it will certainly be perhaps the most popular chapter in the book, Guys love drawing gorgeous, dangerous women. Hart presents several different female archetypes with the usual characteristics. Tough women, "working gals", nightclub singers, etc. Getting those women just right can make or break an artist.

Other chapters cover "Vigilante Justice", "Professionals", and "Crime Bosses and their Minions". But I think perhaps the best chapter is the last one called "Rainswept Streets and Moonless Nights". This is the chapter that will really teach the artist how to set the tone and atmosphere of their work. It shows the artist how to create scenes for the greatest impact on the reader. It shows how to set a mood with light and shadows and with some brilliant examples in pure black and white.

Chris Hart's "Drawing Crime Noir" is another winner in his line comic art instruction books. It might not make you a Steranko, but it will certainly go a long way to improving your artistic ability. 144 pages of very useful information and tips.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

I could say thousands of things about this book... but reading some review done so complete by others before, i don't think it's necesary one more.. but anyway. If you are a comic books creator, fan or whatever THIS is the book.!!!!! if you love the genre... this is it!

I own practically all of Hart's books, and if there's one who stand out of the rest... is this one!

Why? it's accurate, beautifuly done, written by someone who really knows the feeling, the color, the atmosfera, the guys, the babes, the details... it's so cool it hurts!. Fun to read, fun to learn and the way Christopher did it makes you want to grab a pencil and start creating

I am independent webcomic creator and a comic book fan of course... and now... a Christopher Hart fan too!!!!!

You'd have to have your head in the sand to not know that comic crime noir is hitting the mainstream. Now we've got a book that will teach all aspiring artists to get ahead of the curve. With a witty, humorous style, Christopher Hart teaches and amuses, keeping us interested, and most importantly, entertained. The author, touching upon all the cliches in crime noir, made me smile and very often chuckle outright. But what are comics without a laugh? If you buy the book, you won't know, because you'll be laughing all the way through. This is also a great instructional book, like all of Christopher Hart's books. Very highly recommended.

The drawings are good. Once you start out with a face, it expects you to know the ins and outs of it. I wish it would have been more guided. Overall,not a bad book. You'll like it. You'll learn to make the shadows your main part of the page.

Excellent book that teach how to draw comic-strips
and stories for Film-Noir style images. It succeeds
in defining the Film-Noir basics, and has beautiful
illustrations and is an entertaining book too. It
has a tough attitude, like its subject. So cool!
This is a great buy! I strongly recommend it, and I
oughta know, because I am a cartoonist and I am fit
to judge it. Don't let this instruction book escape
you, you will regret not getting it. It belongs on
every book shelf about cartooning in serious mood.
I got it and am happy I did, it was the best buy ever!
----- Luisa Felix, FelixHoboken@aol.com

This book is written in a very entertaining matter. Normally I mostly go through art books reading sporadically but this book I actually read from cover to cover. Fortunately the images are no disappointment either. Best of all though is that the tips are actually helpful and honest. I certainly recommend this book for anyone getting in to the noir style.