Make Comics Like the Pros by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente
ISBN: 978-0-385-34463-0
Paperback, 160 pages
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
Retail: $22.99
About the book from the Blogging for Books website:
A step-by-step guide to all aspects of comic book creation--from conceptualization to early drafts to marketing and promotion--written by two of the industry's most seasoned and successful pros.
About the Authors:
Greg Pak is an award-winning comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing Batman/Superman and Action Comics for DC Comics, Turk Dinosaur Hunter for Dynamite Entertainment, and Eternal Warrior for Valiant Comics. He directed the award-winning feature film Robot Stories, wrote the epic "Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk" comic storylines, and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) fan-favorite Incredible Hercules for Marvel Comics.
Fred Van Lente is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Marvel Zombies, Incredible Hercules (with Pak), Odd Is on Our Side (with Dean R. Koontz), and the American Library Association award-winning Action Philosophers. His original graphic novel Cowboys & Aliens (co-written with Andrew Foley) was the basis for the major motion picture. Van Lente's other comics include The Comic Book History of Comics, Archer & Armstrong, and The Amazing Spider-Man.
Pak and Van Lente are both residents of Brooklyn, NY.
Thoughts of Fox {since I'm really not into comics...}:
Want to learn everything on comic-making? Then this book is a great guide for you! This book covers the jobs of everyone who makes the comic: The storywriter, the penciler, the inker, the colorer, and the letterer. It also covers getting your finishes comic out into the world.
The book is filled with lots of helpful (and some not so helpful) tips and advice. One of the most useful things I found in the book was the script template. It is found in the first chapter, and very helpful! They show how to make it on Microsoft Word. I also use the template with pen and paper. Having a script helped me immensely on making my comics.
One thing I liked about the book was that as they showed you what one person does, they had a comic, one made for the book, being made throughout the book following the explanation.
The book was well-written, and I enjoyed it. Thankfully there was humour throughout. There were a few things I didn't like, such as including a quote with a curse word. Another thing is that they want the reader to join Twitter to promote your comic. Okay, that is just personal preference there.
So, what is the final say on the book?
Great book for information, and to understand how much it takes to make even the simplest comic book. I don't agree with everything they say, but the book has been a great help. Overall I say 4.5/5 stars, and would suggest the book for ages 12 and up.
I received this book free for the purpose this review from Blogging for Books. See Disclosure/Policies.
About the book from the Blogging for Books website:
A step-by-step guide to all aspects of comic book creation--from conceptualization to early drafts to marketing and promotion--written by two of the industry's most seasoned and successful pros.
Discover the Secrets of Your Favorite Comic Book Creators
Do you want to break into the comics industry? There are many creative roles available—writer, penciller, inker, colorist, letterer, editor, and more. Each creator serves a vital function in the production of sequential art at companies such as DC, Marvel, Image, and Valiant. In Make Comics Like the Pros, veteran comics creators Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente team up with a who’s who of the modern comic book scene to lead you step-by-step through the development of a comic. With these two fan-favorite writers as your guides, you’ll learn everything from script formatting to the importance of artistic collaboration to the best strategies for promoting and selling your own sequential art masterpiece. Pak and Van Lente even put their lessons into practice inside the pages of the book—pairing with Eisner Award–winning cartoonist Colleen Coover (Bandette) to produce the swashbuckling, adventure comic Swordmaids, and giving you front row seats to their creative process. Make Comics Like the Prosprovides all the answers you’ve been seeking to take your comic book–making dreams all the way to professional-level reality.About the Authors:
Greg Pak is an award-winning comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing Batman/Superman and Action Comics for DC Comics, Turk Dinosaur Hunter for Dynamite Entertainment, and Eternal Warrior for Valiant Comics. He directed the award-winning feature film Robot Stories, wrote the epic "Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk" comic storylines, and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) fan-favorite Incredible Hercules for Marvel Comics.
Fred Van Lente is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Marvel Zombies, Incredible Hercules (with Pak), Odd Is on Our Side (with Dean R. Koontz), and the American Library Association award-winning Action Philosophers. His original graphic novel Cowboys & Aliens (co-written with Andrew Foley) was the basis for the major motion picture. Van Lente's other comics include The Comic Book History of Comics, Archer & Armstrong, and The Amazing Spider-Man.
Pak and Van Lente are both residents of Brooklyn, NY.
Thoughts of Fox {since I'm really not into comics...}:
Want to learn everything on comic-making? Then this book is a great guide for you! This book covers the jobs of everyone who makes the comic: The storywriter, the penciler, the inker, the colorer, and the letterer. It also covers getting your finishes comic out into the world.
The book is filled with lots of helpful (and some not so helpful) tips and advice. One of the most useful things I found in the book was the script template. It is found in the first chapter, and very helpful! They show how to make it on Microsoft Word. I also use the template with pen and paper. Having a script helped me immensely on making my comics.
One thing I liked about the book was that as they showed you what one person does, they had a comic, one made for the book, being made throughout the book following the explanation.
The book was well-written, and I enjoyed it. Thankfully there was humour throughout. There were a few things I didn't like, such as including a quote with a curse word. Another thing is that they want the reader to join Twitter to promote your comic. Okay, that is just personal preference there.
So, what is the final say on the book?
Great book for information, and to understand how much it takes to make even the simplest comic book. I don't agree with everything they say, but the book has been a great help. Overall I say 4.5/5 stars, and would suggest the book for ages 12 and up.
I received this book free for the purpose this review from Blogging for Books. See Disclosure/Policies.
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