Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics: Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond

GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE—An examination of one-page comics and composition at the page level, plus a tutorial in laying out pages, tiers, and panels. 6.1 Elbow roomThe one-pagerA closer look: Two masters of the Sunday page     Segar: The page as story     Herriman: The page as designElements of page design     The grind     More approaches to page design     Reading order     Title design 6.2 Laying out pages, tiers, and panelsLaying out a page     Live area     Inside the live area     Original art size     Page ratio     Gutters     TiersActivity: Lay out your live area Homework: "A month of Sundays" thumbnailsExtra credit: Comic book book report: Sunday page 7. THE STRIP CLUB—A discussion of how multi-panel strips work to tell simple stories, plus an overview of thumbnails. 3.1 A comic a dayCreating a comic stripVariations in rhythm and pacingA closer look: Three strips in action     Bud Fisher's Mud and Jeff     Roy Crane's Wash Tubbs     Tony Millionaire's MaakiesActivity: The wrong planet 3.2 ThumbnailsWriting picturesCreating thumbnails Homework: Strip it downExtra Credit: How to read Nancy 4. BRIDGING THE GAP—An introduction to what goes on between comics panels—in other words, panel transitions. 4.1 Reading between the linesTransitions and closureSeven types of panel transitionsActivity: Comic Jumble Homework: Closure ComicsExtra credit: Five-card Nancy 5. The climax     5. The denouement STRUCTURING STORY—An introduction to the narrative arc, the most fundamental type of story structure. 9.1 The narrative arcUncovering story structure: Jessica's taleThe narrative arc     Why so traditional?     Why conflict?Other narrative structures 9.2 The elements of a narrative arcThe five essential ingredients     1. PENCILING—An investigation of the pitfalls and strategies of penciling comics, plus a brief look at the basics of drawing the human figure. 5.1 Penciling comicsLadies and gentlemen, sharpen your pencils!Penciling pitfallsPenciling strategies     Blue Pencil     Colored pencil     Map it     Photocopying or scanning up thumbs     Drawing outside the box     Preparatory drawings     TracingSidebar: Penciling toolboxSidebar: A master cartoonist's penciling methodActivity: Pencil one panel three different ways 5.2 Figuring out the figure 1: sticking to the basicsUsing "figurettes" Homework: PencilingExtra credit: Practice drawing figurettesExtra credit: Drawing figurettes by tracing photos 6. 1.1 Know 'em when you see 'em Defining "comics"     Will Eisner      Scott McCloud      David Kunzle      What we talk about when we talk about comics Sidebar: What's in a name? 1.2 Comics terminology Frequently used termsSidebar: EmanataSidebar: Can't Draw?  Read this Activity: Drawing time Homework: Drawing in action Extra credit: Directed jam comic 2. 2.1 Word and image The juxtaposition of word and imageThe single-panel comicA closer look: Cartoons and beyondActivity: Gag reflexSidebar: Putting pen to paper Homework: Gag meExtra credit: Sum of its parts 3. "A gold mine of essential information for every aspiring comics artist. EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY—A look at the single-panel comic and how it works. INKING THE DEAL—A look at inking with a nib pen, and making corrections to final artwork. 8.1 Inking with a nib penWhat is inking for?What's a nib pen?Why nib pens?Selecting a nib     Two basic kinds of nibs     Bowl-pointed nibs     The thumbnail test     Nib characteristics     Buying nib setsHandling a nib penDrawing with a nib penTroubleshooting nibsSidebar: Inking toolsSidebar: A word on postureActivity: Ink your own drawings with a nib 8.2 Making correctionsBasic correctionsMajor corrections: Tracing and pasting     Tracing     PastingSidebar: Making your corrections stick Homework: "A month of Sundays" inkingSidebar: More nib examples in this bookExtra credit: Line for line 9. BUILDING BLOCKS—A working definition of comics, with an introduction to the most frequently used comics terms. The spark     3. The escalation     4. LETTERING—A focus on lettering, both as an art form and as a technical skill, plus a lesson on using the photocopier effectively. 7.1 Hand letteringDrawing words     Lettering is not handwritingWhat's with the antique technology?     A case for upper- and lower-case lettering     Lettering styles     Other lettering concernsWelcome to AmesActivity: Make lettering guidelines and practice letteringSidebar: Making word balloonsActivity: A comic with no pictures 7.2 The photocopierThe good, the bad, and the uglySidebar: Ruling a straight line: some tools that will help Homework: "A month of Sundays" penciling and letteringExtra credit: Lettering that speaks for itself 8. Highly recommended." --Scott McCloud

Drawing Words and Writing Pictures is a course on comic creation – for college classes or for independent study – that centers on storytelling and concludes with making a finished comic.  With chapters on lettering, story structure, and panel layout, the fifteen lessons offered – each complete with homework, extra credit activities and supplementary reading suggestions – provide a solid introduction for people interested in making their own comics.  Additional resources, lessons, and after-class help are available on the accompanying website, www.dw-wp.com.  Drawing Words and Writing Pictures was created by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden and based on their classes at the School of Visual Arts.  They are editors of the Best American Comics series and each has created a number of groundbreaking graphic novels, including Madden's 99 Ways to Tell a Story and Abel's La Perdida.

An Eisner Award Nominee Drawing Words and Writing Pictures is a course on comic creation—for the classroom or for independent study—that centers on storytelling and concludes with making a finished comic.  With chapters on lettering, story structure, and panel layout, the fifteen lessons offered—each complete with homework, extra credit activities and supplementary reading suggestions—provide a solid introduction for people interested in making their own comics. 

Additional resources, lessons, and after-class help are available on the accompanying website, www.dw-wp.com.  Table of ContentsPREFACEThe tsunami of comics: coming to a town near youComics education: the time is nowEnter Drawing Words & Writing PicturesA note on the titleAcknowledgments INTRODUCTIONWho is this book for?     Sidebar: Forming a Nomad groupOrganization of the bookSpecial featuresCompanion website for students and instructors 1. The protagonist     2.

Read more... In David B.'s Epileptic, the shape and orientation of the panel reinforce the storytelling. Learn to create your own comics with Drawing Words and Writing Pictures, a richly illustrated collection of 15 in-depth lessons that cover everything from crafting your story to lettering and laying out panels.

Take a Look Inside Drawing Words and Writing Pictures

Three Panels That Move Beyond the Grid This page from Mike Mignola's Hellboy is a beautiful example of creating rhythm and mood. Read more... Read more... In Blankets, Craig Thompson tells his story through dramatic and unexpected page layouts.