Superheroes and Beyond: How to Draw the Leading and Supporting Characters of Today's Comics [Paperback]

Christopher Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2009

Superheroes remain the most popular genre of characters in comics and comics-inspired movies. Superheroes & Beyond by Chris Hart shows aspiring artists how to create a huge array of original comic book heroes and villains. The characters found within these pages are broken down into step-by-step constructions that help the student of comics visualize the basic forms and individual features of comic book superheroes.
 
The subjects covered include: drawing faces, drawing the head from all angles, expressions, light and shadow and its effect on the face, heroes, villains and supporting characters, hands and fee,; foreshortening poses, the dynamics of drawing action; sexy gals; talking in speech balloons, placement of speech balloons and captions, storytelling, use of light and dark in silhouettes, superhero environments, and drawing the splash page.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Hart is the world's bestselling author of drawing and cartooning books. His books have set the standard for art instruction with more than 2.5 million copies in print in eighteen languages. Renowned for up-to-the-minute content and easy-to-follow steps, all of Hart's books have become staples for a new generation of aspiring artists and professionals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; Original edition (November 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823033058
• ISBN-13: 978-0823033058
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #533,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thanks for taking a look at my books, and this "Author Bio." I'm a competent tennis player, who also enjoys playing computer chess while I'm watching TV at night (Hey, it prevents me from channel-surfing). I'm keenly interested in M-theory, although i have become skeptical of it of late, despite Brian's Green's full-body gushing... I love being with my family, and even my extremely evil dog, a Welsh Springer Spaniel named "Rusty." Oh, yes, he truly is that evil.

As for my work, I'm the author of many How-To-Draw books, published by Watson-Guptill,the art imprint of Random House. Thanks to a lot of the wonderful readers (and you know who you are!), I have sold over 3 million copies domestically, which have been translated into 20 languages worldwide.

I'm fortunate to also have had 26 of the Best-Selling art books in the country, according to Bookscan.(Bookscan is the publishing industry's rating system for books, which is owned by same company that does the Neislen TV ratings.)

I also have my own drawing show on the Comcast Network, called, "How To Draw Action Heroes With Chris Hart." It's on Comcast's "Activity TV." I hope you like my books, and find them a valuable adjunct to your own imagination.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goes far beyond your typical 'how to draw comics' approach, May 18, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Superheroes and Beyond: How to Draw the Leading and Supporting Characters of Today's Comics (Paperback)

Superheroes and Beyond: How to Draw the Leading & Support Characters of Today's Comics comes from a best-selling author of drawing and cartoon books and provides step-by-step instructions on how to develop characters as well as draw them. From the use of light and dark and foreshortening poses to superhero dynamics and action, this goes far beyond your typical 'how to draw comics' approach.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great useful book for all, November 20, 2009

By 

G-Art (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Superheroes and Beyond: How to Draw the Leading and Supporting Characters of Today's Comics (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book. Both my kids are enjoying it tremendously even though they are both at very different levels of drawings (16 & 9). It has a vast variety of examples from simple to complex. Chapter are organized according to themes, both black and white as well as color. An overview of the superhero body give us a intimate understanding of the shape we are trying to create. The examples begin with the basic form lines to the full figure and down to the specific details to create the perfect superhero. The book also includes a chapter on lighting in order to enhance the image as well as a chapter on essential comic book elements for the more advanced cartoonist.
A great useful book for all

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it now!, November 12, 2009

By 

Larry "Larry" (Fairfield, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Superheroes and Beyond: How to Draw the Leading and Supporting Characters of Today's Comics (Paperback)

I had to pick this up as soon as it came out! Who doesn't love a superhero or at least dream of being one? I've had a few of those dreams but in the future they will be more realistic because after reading this book, it is etched in my psyche. There is a great instruction on drawing face and body as well as a great section on lighting- very enlightening if I can use a pun. Also the book kept me laughing. Funny and entertaining and of course instructional.