Understanding Comics - Book Review
1,237 views · Published 3 December 2017 · 10:09 · Indexed 25 October 2026
Channel: Micah Buzan ANIMATION · 2017 · People & Blogs
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. ► Buy on Amazon (affiliate link): https://goo.gl/PiQgkK Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics" is a comic book about comic books. McCloud stars as himself in the book while he shares his knowledge of comics panel by panel. He expands on Will Eisner's definition of graphic novels as Sequential Art in a way that is both articulate and funny. I laughed a lot reading this book. It's both entertaining and educational. This isn't just a book about understanding comics as a medium, but how it fits into history, philosophy, and culture. "Understanding Comics" also requires an understanding of psychology. Comics are created by humans, for humans. McCloud shows all the subtle tricks expert comic makers use to convince people to care about the scribbles on the page. He also breaks down the anatomy of a comic book, from the layout of a page to the transition of panels. He outlines six distinct panel transitions, in order of frequency, with examples for how each is used to the fullest: 1. Movement-to-movement 2. Action-to-Action 3. Subject-to-subject 4. Scene-to-scene 5. Aspect-to-aspect 6. Non-sequitur Comics are not simply a haphazard combination of words and pictures. They must be combined thoughtfully and with purpose (some comics are wordless). The nuanced relationship between words and image within comics can accomplish things neither could do on their own. Many people don't understand comics. This book will deepen one's appreciate for comics as an art form. Even the harshest critic will be challenged to think differently about comics after reading this. ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicahBuzanMUSIC ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahbuzan/ ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/MIcahBuzan ► Tumblr: http://micahbuzan.tumblr.com/ ► Music: https://micahbuzan.bandcamp.com/ ► Website: http://www.micahbuzan.com/
