Rating: 
Summary: Written by a 12 year old!
Review: 3D comics is a speciality topic, and what a book on such a topic requires is an author with the proper speciality experience. Mr. Mortier demeonstrates quite clearly that he knows very little about the topic (or about writing). I, myself don't know much about 3D comics, should I write a book and try and sell it too? The images and characters in this book are distored, ugly aliens. Why? For one, I'm sure that Mr. Shamms really likes screwed up alien creatures, but this might also have to do with the fact that warped faced creatures are much easier to make, and require far less artistry/exprience/knowledge then anything photorealistic. A child could make Mr. Mortier's 'art'. Dumping your money into the sewer would be much more satisfying than paying for this book, and would essentially be the same thing.
Rating: 
Summary: An "Overview," not a "How-To."
Review: First of all, I have to say that I'm not a fan of Mortier's somewhat bizarre style which I'm familiar with from his previous books covering Poser and Bryce (two excellent applications for creating 3D comics). His "Creating 3D Comix" book is really a broad overview of the process of 3D comic creation, and includes numerous references to various software applications one may find useful beyond Poser, Bryce, a paint program and 3D modeler. If you're totally new to 3D comics this might help give you an idea of what's involved, but for more in-depth instruction you'll still have to refer to the documentation for whatever software you decide to use. The subject matter of the book could have been better served by taking the reader step by step through the process of creating an example 3D comic, from concept, story, characters, all the way up to the finished product. Sadly it doesn't, which may disappoint those buying it for that purpose. In the end I think the subject matter of the book is great, but the broad method in which it's covered leaves something to be desired. Alan Brzozowski (creator of "Liberty: The American Girl" - an online 3D comic)
Rating:
Summary: An "Overview," not a "How-To."
Review: First of all, I have to say that I'm not a fan of Mortier's somewhat bizarre style which I'm familiar with from his previous books covering Poser and Bryce (two excellent applications for creating 3D comics). His "Creating 3D Comix" book is really a broad overview of the process of 3D comic creation, and includes numerous references to various software applications one may find useful beyond Poser, Bryce, a paint program and 3D modeler. If you're totally new to 3D comics this might help give you an idea of what's involved, but for more in-depth instruction you'll still have to refer to the documentation for whatever software you decide to use. The subject matter of the book could have been better served by taking the reader step by step through the process of creating an example 3D comic, from concept, story, characters, all the way up to the finished product. Sadly it doesn't, which may disappoint those buying it for that purpose. In the end I think the subject matter of the book is great, but the broad method in which it's covered leaves something to be desired. Alan Brzozowski (creator of "Liberty: The American Girl" - an online 3D comic)
Rating:
Summary: So much potential........
Review: I bought this book because of the title; it sounded extremely interesting. Unfortuately though, the author doesn't seem to have an expertise on the subject he chose to write a book about. After having read about half of it, I'd realized I'd been ripped off. I could have written this book! Most of it is filler, and it feels like a grade 10 highschool students' essay that required a high word count. I will be extremely cautious next time I decide to purchase a computer book, I didn't realize non-experts were allowed to write computer books....
Rating: 
Summary: I've never done Comix before, but...
Review: I've never been much of a comic book reader, nor had even thought about making them, but when I opened up this book and started reading it, I realized I COULD do it! From the standpoint of a 3D artist looking for something to do with what he has learned over the years. This book quickly helped me organize my skills and gave me a direction to go! I like the fact that the book does not dwell on just a single aspect of the creation of comix, but rather covers them all! It starts out by explaining the concepts in a way that was perfect for me. As I read through the book, it added more and more information that has allowed me to realize that I could make comix myself. (and that is no small task for someone like me!) This book has added another skill I can draw on for doing what I like to do best... Create art on my computer :) If you have ever considered making comix on your own, but do not know where or how to start, this book is perfect! and chances are you already own a few of the programs that are used in this book, but even if you don't, you will be able to adapt what the book teaches you to the tools you have. (and if you don't have any software yet, the book will help you decide which tools will work best for you)...
Rating:
Summary: A Hysterical Attempt at Instructive Writing
Review: R. Shamms Mortier - Creating 3D Comix
This was the first book I bought from this author, and the last. I have read his other books, and they seemed to get progressively worse. This book, while with good intentions, falls flat on it's proverbial face. A long time fan of comics and used to reading instructional books written by competent and qualified writers, I was sorely disappointed with this book.
His models were atrocious, his page formatting and stories were poor, and his technique left much to be desired.
One can tell that this book was poorly researched, and I have doubts that anyone actually opened the book if they rated it over "two stars".
If you have the desire to create digital comics, I would recomment reading these following books:
Creating Comics, The Marvel Way - Stan Lee
Drawing Power - Bart Sears
and anything by Christopher Hart
You can take from these MUCH better written books, and apply them to your computer graphics, and get more out of them. Good luck on all your comic book endevours!
Rating:
Summary: A Hysterical Attempt at Instructive Writing
Review: R. Shamms Mortier - Creating 3D Comix
This was the first book I bought from this author, and the last. I have read his other books, and they seemed to get progressively worse. This book, while with good intentions, falls flat on it's proverbial face. A long time fan of comics and used to reading instructional books written by competent and qualified writers, I was sorely disappointed with this book.
His models were atrocious, his page formatting and stories were poor, and his technique left much to be desired.
One can tell that this book was poorly researched, and I have doubts that anyone actually opened the book if they rated it over "two stars".
If you have the desire to create digital comics, I would recomment reading these following books:
Creating Comics, The Marvel Way - Stan Lee
Drawing Power - Bart Sears
and anything by Christopher Hart
You can take from these MUCH better written books, and apply them to your computer graphics, and get more out of them. Good luck on all your comic book endevours!
Rating:
Summary: A wasted opportunity
Review: Someday, someone will write a complete guide to using computers and 3d software to create comics. This, sadly, isn't the book. Just looking at the examples provided throughout should be a warning sign to anyone actually interested in comics: They have the quality of the work of a 13-year-old with some computer ability. There's no real information on what makes good comics, no discussion of proper pane layout, no information on giving a narrative flow or even making the different elements fit together. Poser models are placed in front of backgrounds without an attempt to link the two, and it shows as models float over scenes instead of fitting in. Mortier should have gotten a comics professional to co-author this book and give it better direction. As it is, it's a guide to creating poses and backgrounds. Poses and backgrounds do not comix make.
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre
Review: The title "Creating 3D Comix" would excite anyone interested in either graphics or 3D animation. Unfortunately, Mr. Mortier's book does not fully deliver on this exciting premise. Why are all the comics in this book so infantile? I was expecting something on the lines of a slick Heavy Metal cartoon. What I got instead was silly children stories. Some of Mr. Mortier artwork could be deemed original, but it is not very practical. Why does he have an obsession with distorted and morphed figures? What use would I get out of a character with large ears and a pointed nose? Some of his images also have a disturbing hallucinogenic look. For example, on page 364 there is a strange three-headed bug man. It is interesting for a few seconds, but what the heck I am going to do with it. With this book, Mr Mortier seems to be playing around like a child with a toy. However, playing with toys is something we all eventually grow out of.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre
Review: The title "Creating 3D Comix" would excite anyone interested in either graphics or 3D animation. Unfortunately, Mr. Mortier's book does not fully deliver on this exciting premise. Why are all the comics in this book so infantile? I was expecting something on the lines of a slick Heavy Metal cartoon. What I got instead was silly children stories. Some of Mr. Mortier artwork could be deemed original, but it is not very practical. Why does he have an obsession with distorted and morphed figures? What use would I get out of a character with large ears and a pointed nose? Some of his images also have a disturbing hallucinogenic look. For example, on page 364 there is a strange three-headed bug man. It is interesting for a few seconds, but what the heck I am going to do with it. With this book, Mr Mortier seems to be playing around like a child with a toy. However, playing with toys is something we all eventually grow out of.
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