How to Draw: The Best of Basic Training, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Editors of Wizard: The Comics Magazine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2005

This giant 256-page book collects the best and most instructional "HOW TO DRAW" lessons from Wizard: The Comics Magazine’s 14-year history.

LEARN SECRETS FROM THE GREATEST ARTISTS IN COMICS!
Jim Lee, Michael Turner, George Pérez, Joe Kubert, Adam Hughes, Greg Land, Frank Cho, Joe Linsner, Greg Horn, Walt Simonson, Doug Mahnke, Darick Robertson, Gary Frank, Sean Chen, Dale Keown, Bart Sears, Pat Lee, Art Adams, Jim Califiore, Phil Jimenez, Matt Haley, Tom Raney, Kevin Maguire and many, many more!

OVER 50 ART LESSONS ON ALL ASPECTS OF COMIC ARTWORK!
Anatomy, Facial Expressions, Body Language, Layout, Perspective, Movement & Motion, Proportions, Shadows, Backgrounds, Storytelling, Coloring, Dynamic Foreshortening, Photo Reference, Sex Appeal, Inking, Sound Effects, Metallic Surfaces, Textures, Energy Effects, Negative Space, Teens/Children, Action Scenes and sooo much more! Plus, get additional resources on the Tools of the Trade, Professional Tips and Mistakes to Avoid, How to Break into the Business and a sample script to practice on by Brian Michael Bendis.

THIS BOOK IS DESIGNED FOR BOTH THE ASPIRING ARTIST AND THE INTERESTED FAN!
The greatest artists, who have been creating your favorite comic books for Marvel, DC and Image Comics, wrote this book. See how they illustrate the techniques used in comic storytelling and be enlightened by hundreds of years of artistic expertise.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wizard Entertainment (March 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0976287404
• ISBN-13: 978-0976287407
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #810,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basic Training 101 stripped down, July 19, 2005

By 

Jim Tessier "part-time superhero and artist" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Draw: The Best of Basic Training, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

As far as being a condensed version of many years of experience from over a dozen artists in the field, I found this book to be a very good first step for those who wish to try their hands at being a comic book artist. I found several lessons in the book, especially the negative space portion of it by J.G. Jones helpful in getting my artistic juices flowing again. I think that for the beginner, this is a good book and an easy read. Well thought out in manner and design, does not substitute for actual time practicing, but it gives you a base to start. 4 stars for this book.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Collected for your pleasure!, April 6, 2005

By 

R. Takacs (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Draw: The Best of Basic Training, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I've been waiting for Wizard to put this out for over ten years, and boy have they delivered!

This book has articles from past Wizard: The Guide to Comics magazines detailing how to draw from some of the best in the business, now and then.

The only downside this book has however is the lack of DC character illustrations, due to their "Protection of Intellectual Properties", but, with this hefty guide, you'll be able to figure out how to draw your favorite Justice Leaguers in no time anyway.

And for any fans that have read these before, you'll notice a few changes from the past articles, so hang on to those back issues.

This book contains lessons from: Jim Lee, Michael Turner, George Pérez, Joe Kubert, Adam Hughes, Greg Land, Frank Cho, Joe Linsner, Greg Horn, Walt Simonson, Doug Mahnke, Darick Robertson, Gary Frank, Sean Chen, Dale Keown, Bart Sears, Pat Lee, Art Adams, Jim Califiore, Phil Jimenez, Matt Haley, Tom Raney, Kevin Maguire and many, many more!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars better than the sequels, March 30, 2007

By 

T. Alexander (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Draw: The Best of Basic Training, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This book was took some of the best articles and advise on drawing,writing, and inking from Wizard magazine and placed them in one neat volume. It was a great idea. It sold very well. Too well! Because the masterminds at Wizard decided to make several sequels to this book. The only problem is that they aren't sequels there the same book! Broken down in various chapters. Oh they have added a new chapter here and there. However, many of the same article and advise are cut and pasted in the follow-up books. Then they go about making this book go out of print. So if you find this book buy it! Don't waste your time buying the other books with repeat info. Or spending more for them when it was originally all in one volume.