Customer Reviews

Writing and Illustrating the Graphic Novel: Everything You Need to Know to Create Great Graphic Works

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After reading several books on the subject, I honestly feel that this is the best when it comes to get a good feel for the industry and the genre. It is not too wordy, as some on the topic, but it is not too skimpy either. I really feel I learned something from this book.

This book in not bad. It has a solid well written structure to it. The chapters are sequentialy based. But; you can dive into ANY chapter at a moments notice and glean LOTS of information.

American readers might get lost with British language & grammar but that is minor.

The ONLY drawback is the section on computer graphics. Its obvious this book was written about 4 years ago so the technology HAS changed.

Can't wait to read his NEW book on making comics digitally!!!

What does it really take to create a good graphic novel? "Writing and Illustrating the Graphic Novel," by comic guru Mike Chinn, seems to have the answer. Using his own expertise and various comic books as examples, Chinn describes how to approach different genres, how to conduct research for your idea, how to put the idea in a script, how to use drawings and panels, and how to get your work published. While there are certain rules to follow (like drawing 5-7 panels on each page), Chinn understands that every writer/artist needs a little leeway. Just don't expect him to hold your hand through the whole thing. At least there's something for Amazon reviewers who get so wound up over what a graphic novel should be.

This book is unrated, but contains no offensive content.

This book is a good beginner's guide for those who have interest in writing or drawing comic books and graphic novels. It presents a complete overall view of the entire process, offers some good tips, and directs the reader to other reliable resources. It doesn't go in-depth on any one topic. It doesn't offer anything groundbreaking that you couldn't find somewhere else. However, it does provide a good starting point for would-be creators, and although I know a lot about graphic novels already, I did learn some new things. I appreciate how the author recommends being creative with genres and their stereotypes, but I had a few laugh-out-loud moments when he would make blanket statements or support stereotypes (i.e. "It is a fact that women in fantasy will always be wearing very little, even in cold climates" [p.88]).

"Writing and Illustrating the Graphic Novel: Everything You Need to Know to Create Great Graphic Works" by Mike Chinn is an excellent work. It provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and processes of the art and is comparable to Will Eisner's "Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative." The difference between the two lies in Eisner's emphasis on the "what" and Chinn's emphasis on the "how." The books shine with equal brilliance, but if I had to choose only one of them for my library, I would probably choose Chinn's because of its more practical approach.

This book is helpful for composing scenes and writing a graphic novel, but has almost no helpful information on coloring, drawing, inking, or anything related to the illustration. The author describes styles and methods of coloring, but really doesn't help you at all if you are trying to illustrate your comic. You'll need a different book if you are troubleshooting your drawings or need help to draw.

However, it's very useful for pacing, dialogue, exposition, and layout.

A complete guide. A ride through the Graphic Novel concept and everything you need to know to meet face to face with every detail, including reading recommendation for every genre.

A must have for any creator or fan, and one of the few written recently specially devoted to the Graphic Novel