How to Create Action, Fantasy and Adventure Comics

Rating:
Summary: It has EVERYTHING!
Review: Being the author and illustrator, I am slightly partial to this book. At the age of 13, when I began my training as a cartoonist, there were very few books that gave quality instruction on comic creation. I was very fortunate to be trained by Frank Giacoia in my early years and Joe Giella later. This book is exactly what I wanted when I was studying comic art. I compiled all the necessary elements of comic book and comic strip creation with comments, interviews, advice and exercises. I truly hope all readers gain from this book. Just remember, PRACTICE is the only way to improve.

Rating:
Summary: Author Review
Review: Being the author and illustrator, I am slightly partial to this book. At the age of 13, when I began my training as a cartoonist, there were very few books that gave quality instruction on comic creation. I was very fortunate to be trained by Frank Giacoia in my early years and Joe Giella later. This book is exactly what I wanted when I was studying comic art. I compiled all the necessary elements of comic book and comic strip creation with comments, interviews, advice and exercises. I truly hope all readers gain from this book. Just remember, PRACTICE is the only way to improve.

Rating:
Summary: Tricks of the trade from prominent adventure cartoonists!
Review: Comic artist Tom Alvarez is here to teach beginning and intermediate artists the ropes. Step-by-step, aspiring cartoonists will learn about every aspect of working in the adventure style of comics. Features detailed instruction on every aspect of the art, offers inside information on the business end, and provides focused exercises in each chapter to help readers develop their drawing skills. Also includes tips from Sy Barry (The Phantom), Joe Giella (Mary Worth), Frank Springer (Hedley Kase) and other leading cartoonists

Rating:
Summary: A book you should own as an aspiring comic book artist
Review: I didn't buy this book here because I was lucky to find it here in the Philippines. I found this book almost complete in its goal to teach its readers to become comic book artists. The book could have been 100% complete if it had a few pages on muscle structure (male and female), more pointers on drawing hands, foreshortening the human body and coloring. Despite these, I still rate it 5 stars.

One particular chapter that I believe stood out was the chapter on Clothing and Drapery. Learn the principles Tom outlined here and you will be able to draw clothing and drapery from memory.

It's not the only book you should buy if you want to draw comics but it definitely is a must-own book. I also bought Stan Lee and John Buscema's "How to Draw Comics - The Marvel Way" from the same bookstore. I haven't finished reading it yet because I'm already practicing breakdowns (posing your character using basic shapes prior to filling them in with muscles and covering them with clothes or costumes) as Tom suggested we do for at least a week or better months or a year (what a perfectionist, ey?).

Rating:
Summary: A book you should own as an aspiring comic book artist
Review: I didn't buy this book here because I was lucky to find it here in the Philippines. I found this book almost complete in its goal to teach its readers to become comic book artists. The book could have been 100% complete if it had a few pages on muscle structure (male and female), more pointers on drawing hands, foreshortening the human body and coloring. Despite these, I still rate it 5 stars.

One particular chapter that I believe stood out was the chapter on Clothing and Drapery. Learn the principles Tom outlined here and you will be able to draw clothing and drapery from memory.

It's not the only book you should buy if you want to draw comics but it definitely is a must-own book. I also bought Stan Lee and John Buscema's "How to Draw Comics - The Marvel Way" from the same bookstore. I haven't finished reading it yet because I'm already practicing breakdowns (posing your character using basic shapes prior to filling them in with muscles and covering them with clothes or costumes) as Tom suggested we do for at least a week or better months or a year (what a perfectionist, ey?).

Rating:
Summary: It has EVERYTHING!
Review: I've read this book many times and it has the most info I've seen in a book on how to create comics, by far. It even goes so far to include instructions on drawing clothing! Tom Alvarez gives a two page lesson on the compostion of a comic page, explains different techniques of the inking job, and even gives dimensions of a typical comic book pencilling page with instructions to size it down! There are also many tips he throws in at the end of every chapter to help you get going in every aspect. Like watching some dramatic movies and studying angles to re-drawing an existing comic book. Extremely detailed! No regrets! A must-have for artists!

Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK ROCKED!
Review: This book showed me everything I needed to know about drawing fantasy and adventure comics. I enjoyed the books informative value and its comments by other artists. I now know how to draw cartoon characters with skill and prescision. Thank you, Amazon!