Action! Cartooning

Overview

The best book on a hot new subject! This jam-packed how-to by a former Marvel Comics cartoonist offers everything a budding artist needs.

Written and illustrated by a former Marvel Comics’ artist with brilliant hand-done images throughout, this graphic handbook of cartooning is without equal. It's simply larger, better illustrated, and more in depth than any similar title on the market. In elaborate detail, it focuses on superheroes and their atmospheric world filled with speed ...

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Overview

The best book on a hot new subject! This jam-packed how-to by a former Marvel Comics cartoonist offers everything a budding artist needs.

Written and illustrated by a former Marvel Comics’ artist with brilliant hand-done images throughout, this graphic handbook of cartooning is without equal. It's simply larger, better illustrated, and more in depth than any similar title on the market. In elaborate detail, it focuses on superheroes and their atmospheric world filled with speed and movement. Every aspect of creating cartoons is taught: the supplies, developing mood, and the techniques that endow characters with personality. See how to draw a variety of faces (female, heroic, cute, gaunt), and give the appearance of age. From the skeleton to the torso, to the arms, hands, and legs, follow every stroke that goes into producing bodies of all shapes and sizes. Finally, there's instruction on sending those figures into running, jumping, punching, kicking action in a fully realized scene. With advice so thorough, any amateur can become a pro.

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Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature
"96 pages of how-to havoc" shouts a burst on the cover and the how-to is sufficiently detailed to encourage even a non-artist to pick up a pencil. The young people who will have the most fun with this book, though, are those who doodle in the margins of their homework. Caldwell's step-by-step instructions and drawings will improve their skill and give them ideas to nurse their own creativity. Ultimately, that is Caldwell's goal. He wants kids to take his basic instructions and have fun: "If you're bored, your drawings will look boring. Your drawings can be funny or creepy or simple or detailed—just make them your own." He provides substantive information on drawing actual bodies and faces and then exaggerates certain features to show power or emotion or attitude: making an upper lip just a little bit longer makes a face less graceful; using bold, jagged lines helps create an irritable old wizard. Caldwell even shows how to draw knuckles and toes with impact. This is indeed a book of action and it will not spend much time getting dusty on a library shelf. 2004, Sterling, Ages 8 to 16.
—Karen Leggett
Library Journal
This is one of the better books available on action cartooning. Like the genre itself, it's fun, concise, short on detail, and long on visual impact. Unlike others in his field, Caldwell, a former Marvel Comics artist, takes anatomy seriously. His sections on drawing the face, torso, arms, and legs emphasize the creation of character, personality, mood, and emotion. Caldwell's lessons on the exaggerated movements of action characters are thoroughly annotated for the beginner. Recommended for young adult collections; for the comedic side of traditional cartooning, see Christopher Hart's Drawing on the Funny Side of the Brain. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780806987392
  • Publisher: Sterling
  • Publication date: 3/28/2004
  • Pages: 96
  • Sales rank: 478305
  • Age range: 10 - 16 Years
  • Lexile: NC1010L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 8.50 (w) x 11.00 (h) x 0.31 (d)

Meet the Author

Ben Caldwell has created action figures based on characters from The Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, and the X-Men movies. He is currently redesigning the look of the popular Wonder Woman character for DC Comics.
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Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2004

    so much for so little!

    i can't believe how comprehensive this book is for just 9.95! you get tips on how to draw in an 'animation' type fashion and it shows you how to manipulate 4 different facial types to come up with a variety of different features. combines comic art style with cartooning. an awesome buy.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    How To Cartooning Guide

    This is an excellent book on cartooning. Packed with info and picture drawings that give great examples as well as helping with ideas for characters both action and funny. This book is way better than a lot of the more expensive well thought of books. This is a must for anyone interested in cartooning. have fun.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    Interesting book, but there are other selections worth looking for...

    This is basically a fine book for beginners. Anyone who's eager to draw their own cartoons for comics, books, and/or illustrations then they've picked the right book, I guess. It's pretty much got all the basics of drawing your own cartoons down to a fine art, and there is more from the same author (Ben Caldwell) who gave his time and money to make his series of drawing books. However, in my opinion, I think manga cartoons are better. Mangas are more realistic even in sketch books and notepads while the "more" Americanized cartons are somewhat a bore. If there is anyone who still enjoy this kind of cartooning and is eager to get started though, this book is the one. But for those who'd rather do Japanese cartoons...

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  • Posted Tue Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Got a budding artist?

    Our son loves to draw, especially comic book characters. This guide provides excellent examples and enough "how-to" to make it useful for anyone middle-school age and older.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Oct 14 00:00:00 EDT 2006

    Action Cartooning is a Must-Have

    Action! Cartooning is a outstanding book for all ages. He has written step-by-step instructions and his own drawings. Highly Recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Sep 23 00:00:00 EDT 2006

    Calling all artists!

    This book is awsome for all ages. It has step by step instructions and is divided into body parts. Arms, hands, head, face, ect. ect. It's basic a easy to learn from. You must try it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 2004

    Awsome Book!

    this is a very very very kool book...my instructor showed this to us and when we passed it around and opened it..it was like GODS light shining on us within the book it was amazing. The Detail it has is amazing...it shows u ever little detail on how to draw ur own dynamic character! its freakin awsome!!!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2004

    WOW is the first thing I said

    this is a great book! This teaches u so much detail when u draw. It shows you everything about drawing!!! The price is great also!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Apr 08 00:00:00 EDT 2004

    OUTSTANDING!!!!

    Modern, fun, and exciting. The kind of art book you want to draw from, while others sit on the shelf! Eat your 'Hart' out, Gary! This is the best cartooning book out there right now. Period.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Feb 25 00:00:00 EST 2004

    A Must Have!

    Ben Caldwell's drawings are so dynamic that this is someone you really want to learn from!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 EST 2004

    Brilliant!

    Ben Caldwell's drawings are an inspiration!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 EST 2004

    Fabulous Book!!!!!

    It's awesome! I have my copy. I feel that anyone with an interest for drawing should get one.

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Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews

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