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My experience with Understanding Comics. Its goodBrad Smith

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Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art Paperback – April 27, 1994

by Scott McCloud (Author)

4.8 2,933 ratings

in Comics & Graphic Novel History & Prices

See all formats and editions

Will Eisner Comic Industry AwardsWinner, 1994

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“Reading Understanding Comics blew my teenage mind, and gave me a toolbox full of ideas that I still use today.” —Raina Telgemeier

The bestselling international classic on storytelling and visual communication.

Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is a seminal examination of comics art: its rich history, surprising technical components, and major cultural significance. Explore the secret world between the panels, through the lines, and within the hidden symbols of a powerful but misunderstood art form.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A comic book about comic books. McCloud, in an incredibly accessible style, explains the details of how comics work: how they're composed, read and understood. More than just a book about comics, this gets to the heart of how we deal with visual languages in general. "The potential of comics is limitless and exciting!" writes McCloud. This should be required reading for every school teacher. Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman says, "The most intelligent comics I've seen in a long time."

Review

“McCloud’s masterwork is not just an indispensable treatise on comics, it’s also the best primer around on visual literacy and the mechanics of storytelling. A must-read for anyone interested in narrative of any kind.” — Alison Bechdel

“Cleverly disguised as an easy-to-read comic book, Scott McCloud’s simple-looking tome deconstructs the secret language of comics while casually revealing secrets of time, space, art and the cosmos! The most intelligent comics I’ve seen in a long time. Bravo.” — Art Spiegelman

“Reading Understanding Comics blew my teenage mind, and gave me a toolbox full of ideas that I still use today.” — Raina Telgemeier

“The best analysis of the medium that I have ever encountered.” — Alan Moore

“BRAVO!! ... A landmark dissection and intellectual consideration of comics as a valid medium. ... Anyone interested in this literary form must read it.” — Will Eisner

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (April 27, 1994)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 006097625X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060976255
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 17 years
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in How to Create Comics
- #1 in Comics & Graphic Novel History & Prices
- #2 in Educational & Nonfiction Graphic Novels

Customer Reviews:
4.8 2,933 ratings

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Scott McCloud

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Scott McCloud has been writing, drawing, and examining comics since 1984. Winner of the Eisner and Harvey awards, his works have been translated into more than sixteen languages. Frank Miller (Sin City, 300) called him "just about the smartest guy in comics." He lives with his family in southern California. His online comics and inventions can be found at scottmccloud.com.

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and informative about comics. They describe it as an engaging read with clear explanations. Readers appreciate the visual storytelling style and find the visual content helpful for making graphic art. The book is described as unique and creative.

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Insight Readability Ease of reading Art content Creativity

180 customers mention "Insight"177 positive3 negative

Customers find the book insightful and informative. It covers everything from art to color, helping readers understand comics better. Readers say it's a great summary of the medium and opens their minds to new concepts about comics.

"...The author refers to a broad range of comic artists and publishers— including those outside the classic Western canon." Read more

"...This chapter also discusses how comics are subtractive, and lends itself to an excellent lesson whereupon students can draw comics with many pictures..." Read more

"...n't expecting a book this in-thought, conceptually rich/solid, rigorously studied... it just surprised me...." Read more

"...The advice on flow, pacing, etc is invaluable...." Read more

169 customers mention "Readability"169 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and useful for learning storytelling. They describe it as a great read that goes beyond comics. The book is also fun to have around and reference when needed.

"...In my opinion, each book is worth its weight in gold alone for a comic class, but they have a synergistic effect when used in tandem with each other...." Read more

"...Let me just call it (for the fun of it) "Yea, it's goo...WHOA, TOO GOOD, TOO GOOD." Hehe. Or "Is it good? Mmm...." Read more

"...Fascinating read thus far which goes beyond the boundaries of comics as we understand the term today." Read more

"...Yes, this book is useful, especially for those with a limited understanding of comics. The advice on flow, pacing, etc is invaluable...." Read more

75 customers mention "Ease of reading"64 positive11 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the clear explanations and useful jargon and definitions. The book is well-written and presented in the medium it's addressing, which is a novel idea.

"An easy read, yet gets into the theory of sequential art and comics as far as I’ve ever seen...." Read more

"...known as Comic Books, you will see the Real Power of image, context and time...." Read more

"...a healthy dose of comedy and knowledge, and he easily strings along the reader throughout the comic...." Read more

"...McCloud's conversational tone and breaking the 4th wall make this book a necessity when learning about the history of, vocabulary concerning, and..." Read more

63 customers mention "Art content"63 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's visual storytelling style engaging and helpful for making graphic art. They appreciate the clear explanations and drawings. The book provides a deep analysis of visual culture, graphical narrative, and the harmonious use of illustrations. Overall, it is a great resource for sequence art enthusiasts.

"An easy read, yet gets into the theory of sequential art and comics as far as I’ve ever seen...." Read more

"...first chapter in Understanding Comics is great because it discusses the history of comics, and some great activities can be done having students..." Read more

"...More than just for kids...a true and important art form." Read more

"Through this art known as Comic Books, you will see the Real Power of image, context and time...." Read more

11 customers mention "Creativity"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity and unique storytelling. They find it original and a must-read for filmmakers. The book is set up like a comic book, which customers find cool.

"...Scott McCloud found a unique and informative way to help guide me on this journey. I truly hope find yourself as inspired as I did!" Read more

"...learning about the history of, vocabulary concerning, and other artists' craft choices all focused on comic books/graphic novels." Read more

"...and an amazing essay on determination, hard work, craftsmanship and creativity...." Read more

"...And, presented in the very medium it is addressing, which is both a novel idea, and serves to show the author's grasp of the subject matter...." Read more

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HBG
Surprisingly intellectual
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
An easy read, yet gets into the theory of sequential art and comics as far as I’ve ever seen. The author refers to a broad range of comic artists and publishers— including those outside the classic Western canon.

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ParaNormal
Great for teaching!
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2007
Verified Purchase
I purchased this item, along with McCloud's other book Making Comics, to teach a course on comics in English to art students at Cheongju University in South Korea. Both of these books really lend themselves to teaching, each one is divided into chapters which discuss specific comic concepts and elements. Two excellent chapters:

The first chapter in Understanding Comics is great because it discusses the history of comics, and some great activities can be done having students think about and search for comics in the real world and instances of comics in history. This chapter really validates the fact that comics are interesting and useful, rather than just being treated as a 'fake' art or a 'not really real' subject.

Chapter three is excellent because it breaks down transitions not only in American comics, but European and Asian comics as well, and explains his thoughts as to why these differences exist. This allows students to compare the differences and broaden their understanding of how different cultures think differently. This chapter also discusses how comics are subtractive, and lends itself to an excellent lesson whereupon students can draw comics with many pictures, then keep subtracting and combining pictures until they have the miminum number of pictures that tells the gist of their story.

In other chapters: Chapter two discusses word choice and flow in comics, four discusses time, chapter five discusses displaying emotion by using different types of lines (and similarities and differences between comics from different cultures), chapter six discusses how words and ideas complement each other in comics, and chapter seven discusses six steps to making comics.

In my opinion, each book is worth its weight in gold alone for a comic class, but they have a synergistic effect when used in tandem with each other. Concepts from one book flow into the other book, and vice-versa, giving the students in-depth knowledge of both how to make comics and how to understand comics from other authors better. All of the concepts from the chapters can be seen easily in comics online or from newspapers, and so each week I first do the lecture, then use a few examples on the overhead that I have found from other comics, then give the students homework pertaining to the concepts discussed.

Through use of the two books, the students' work is really improving, and it is fun to see them working specifically with each comic element. Each of the concepts discussed in the chapters is a great starting point to get the students' creative juices flowing. I would recommend this book to any teacher or lecturer interested teaching comics at almost any level and to any audience.

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13 people found this helpful

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OGS
Exactly what you look for... perhaps more?!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2012
Verified Purchase
I really don't want to write a lengthy review about this book (Well...I tried), for there aren't as many things to complain as to clarify.

This book is exactly what it promises. I'm not used to black-&-white comic art, but some pages into the book I forgot that totally; the conceptual diversity and exploitation of visuals for their representation hooked me right away. And, when you reflect on the ideas, their developments and conclusions that Scott McCloud keeps stating, you can easily imagine this as an academic essay or a formal conference: really solid thinking.

There is, perhaps, a situation which didn't much disliked me as surprised me and changed my experience with this book (not for worse, but truly different). Let me just call it (for the fun of it) "Yea, it's goo...WHOA, TOO GOOD, TOO GOOD." Hehe. Or "Is it good? Mmm. It seems goo..WHAM![IN YO FACE] GOOD IDEED!"
It's just the tone. I wasn't expecting a book this in-thought, conceptually rich/solid, rigorously studied... it just surprised me. I found myself laughing at some part in which he synthesizes, wonderfully in one or two comics' pages, concepts from McLuhan thoughts about media and thinking to myself "you... magnificent bastard!" (because it was something I was wishing without looking for it). Can you get the idea now? More than I was looking for, which makes it part of my permanent collection of valuable materials; but nobody warned me! Why did I got the impression that this book was lighter and softer than it actually is? It could be just me... right?
I bought with the intent of reading it quickly, I ended up, at weekends, reading Chapter 2 & beginning of 3 (the most dense ones?) at a pace of two pages each 3 or 4 hours and going back to mentally rephrase and make better connections between concepts. That didn't felt bad, actually; that felt refreshing and a healthy challenge. I got used to that.

So, sorry for making it this long; hope was worth it. Just remember, you, "nameless-ageless-neutral-gender potential" reader... adjust your expectations and prepare for the ride. (From slacking in the beach to motorcycling in Cornell? Heheh)

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2 people found this helpful

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RM
Short Definition Of Comics
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
Still reading the book, but, had to hit the pause button once I reached page 23, the last page of Chapter One.

Not because I quickly grew bored of the book, rather, my mind refused to process the short definition applied to the term "Comics", i.e., Sequential Art, which is presented at this stage of the book.

After wrestling with the short definition for a couple of minutes, I eventually modified it to " Sequential Imagery" that was later validated (in my mind) by Scott McCoud's definition of an "Icon" which reads, "Any image used to represent a person, place, thing, or idea.".

For me, the term "Art" goes beyond images, i.e., sculptures, performances, music, etc.

Therefore, this book made me think more about the topic which is why I'm giving it five stars.

Fascinating read thus far which goes beyond the boundaries of comics as we understand the term today.

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4 people found this helpful

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Oliver
Useful
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
I was required to read this book for multiple comic courses. Yes, this book is useful, especially for those with a limited understanding of comics. The advice on flow, pacing, etc is invaluable. However, because comics are such a complex medium, this book is not the all-or-nothing guide it pretends to be and can even come off as pretentious at times. If you'd like to truly understand comics, observe the comics that you read rather than relying solely on this book.

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2 people found this helpful

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mitchlaw3
Great “book”
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
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What a pleasant surprise that this book was written using a series of cartoons to communicate cartoons. Brilliant!

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One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Lurie C
Great book
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great book with a blind guy wearing ugly White glasses. But I fix it. check the photo

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Lurie C

Great book
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2024
Great book with a blind guy wearing ugly White glasses. But I fix it. check the photo

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Bachan
El mejor libro SOBRE comics.
Reviewed in Mexico on November 19, 2024
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Es la mejor explicación que he leído sobre el lenguaje visual. Explora temas muy complicados explicados de manera extraordinariamente clara. Libro indispensable.

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Halil Kardicali
A very educative book
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on November 21, 2024
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Very mech enjoyed the format and content, you learn a lot about the theory of comics.

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Antonino
grande autore
Reviewed in Italy on October 13, 2024
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ottimo libro

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Arun N
Awesome book
Reviewed in India on August 6, 2023
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This is a master piece for designers who deals with story telling in theat job roles... If designing is your bread and butter then this is a must read..

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