Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

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Overview

Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, this innovative comic book provides a detailed look at the history, meaning, and art of comics and cartooning.

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More About This Book

Overview

Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, this innovative comic book provides a detailed look at the history, meaning, and art of comics and cartooning.

Editorial Reviews

James Gurney
McCloud is the McLuhan of comics.
Will Eisner
A landmark dissection and intellectual consideration of comics as a valid medium.
More Reviews (1) Fewer Reviews
Publishers Weekly
This is a rare and exciting work that ingeniously uses comics to examine the medium itself. McCloud (who wrote a comic-book series called Zot! ) conducts a genial, well-researched and funny tour of virtually every historical and perceptual aspect of comics, which he calls ``sequential art,'' that is, art that consists of sequences of words and pictures. Beginning in the 11th century with the Bayeux tapestry, he examines pre-Columbian picture languages and the printing press, presenting a quick survey of the historical development of early sequential pictures into the specialized visual language of comics. But it's McCloud's accessible and quite amusing discussion of realism, abstraction and visual perception that forms the heart of this survey. He dissects the vocabulary of the medium, cheerfully analyzing the psychological power of comics and their central role in our ultra-visual culture. McCloud attempts to place comics within the tradition of serious western art. His black-and-white drawings are a delight, ranging from simplified cartoons to parodies of classic comics and fine art, all the while manifesting every theory and comics trend discussed. (July)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780060976255
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 5/28/1994
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 224
  • Sales rank: 46,222
  • Product dimensions: 6.75 (w) x 10.25 (h) x 0.51 (d)

Meet the Author

Scott McCloud has been writing, drawing, and examining comics since 1984. Winner of the Eisner and Harvey awards, his works have been translated into more than sixteen languages. Frank Miller (Sin City, 300) called him "just about the smartest guy in comics." He lives with his family in southern California. His online comics and inventions can be found at scottmccloud.com.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 16 )

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Sort by: Showing all of 16 Customer Reviews

  • Posted November 27, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    9780060953508 9780060780944

    Not just a brilliant book on comics

    McCloud has written a perfect primer on the nature of art itself. How does art work? What is art? How do artists make artistic choices? What are the limits of art? How do you tell a story? McCloud's book is a fascinating primer. It would make a good textbook for an Art 101 class.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 20, 2007

    True to the Title

    Scott McCloud is thorough in his research, elevating comics from their misconceived 'rubbish' to their rightful respect of 'juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence.' It broadens the minds, while discouraging empty unoriginal creations. The book included: how our ancestors enjoyed comics, how it grew to be what it was 'termed', why there is such a strong bond between the reader and the abstract story on whatever medium, what happens in between the panels and how time is viewed, techniques used to fully live in the moment, how one goes about creating comics, and how they fit. It wasn't enough just to talk about comics. Scott McCloud let us enjoy them through the entire book as references, examples and in whatever sentence throughout the book. I highly recommend it. Not for comic addicts but for people with limited attention span, and those who need to break out of the typical book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 30, 2004

    An educated voice of reason!

    Mr. McCloud's ability to frame the history of both visual and written communication, and the potential for them to be used in tandem to create rewarding aesthetic and synesthetic experiences not found in any other art form, is nothing short of a brilliant accomplishment. This dissertation is disguised as a 'comic book', but don't be fooled! I wish this title had been required reading when I was in 'art skool'. IMHO, it would be especially insightful reading for those currently practicing, or aspiring to a career in art history and/or art criticism. From a creative's perspective, this work will bring hope and validation to those thousands of artists marginalized by the elitist ( and the general public's) thinking that 'comix' are the lowest form of art. With clarity, depth, and brevity this book should be on the shelf of anyone interested in the arts, as long as their ego is in check! :)

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 4, 2003

    An excellent discussion of visual storytelling.

    This isn't your normal book. In fact, it's really a comic book. Which makes sense when you consider that it's a book trying to explain the art of comics. So you know, I read a lot of comics. After peaking volume-wise a couple year ago I have been reading fewer of them, but that doesn't mean that I still don't read a good number of them. I'm an adult, though, and I sometimes have a hard time explaining to people why I read comics. Do I like the art? Yes. Do I like the stories? Yes. (If I didn't, I wouldn't read them; I don't just collect the things) But it's the combination of the two that so captivates me, and it is this combination that Mr. McCloud gets into here. This book covers a lot of ground, discussing differences in styles among creators, the difference between iconic drawings and realistic drawings, the history of comics (in a very broad sense) dating back to ancient Aztec and Egyptian drawings, and so on. There were a number of things covered in the book that I had already figured out on my own, but there was at least as much, if not more, that were new revelations. I especially liked the comparisons between American, European, and Japanese comic traditions, and the things that affected each different (superior color printing in Europe, the lack of individual focus in Japanese comics, etc.). If you like comics, this book will help you gain a better understanding of the arts involved. If you think comics are 'just for kids,' this book will help you see that there is much more out there than you are aware of. That doesn't mean that the comics you come across aren't aimed at kids, but that isn't the only possible use of the medium.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 21, 2000

    THE Book to read on VISUAL ARTS (not just comics)

    This book covers so much intellectual ground, and does it so clearly, so eloquently, and so entertainingly that I truly believe it should be a must-read for anyone entering the 'Visual Arts' field, either as a patron or as a creator. 'Understanding Comics' doesn't JUST discuss comics.. in elucidating the hows, whys, and wherefores of the 'comic book art form', it covers cubism, ancient cave drawings, and many of the authors personal experiences with the visual arts in general. It somehow manages to tie all these elements into a coherent WHOLE explaining exactly WHY comic books are one of the BEST methods of storytelling available to the individual artist, and what advantages and disadvantages comics have relative to it's two closest art forms, painting and literature. BUY MULTIPLE COPIES. Read one, give the others away to friends and family. I HAVE. :-)

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 4, 2000

    Best resource

    If you read comics, you should read this. If you create comics, you MUST read this. No exceptions!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 21, 2000

    A wonderful history of comics.

    The book is one of the best i have ever read. I never knew history could be so interesting.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 24, 2000

    A thesis in graphic novel form

    An excellent book both for the veteran in comics, for those just starting and even for people who don't have an interest (but have friends who do). What better way to describe comics, the art, the history, the culture etc than to display it in that very media. Visually acute and theoretically intriguing.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 26, 2009

    A must read for anyone with an interest in art appreciation.

    My friend had been trying to get me to read this book for about two years. I finally did and its become my favorite recommendation for those who want to learn about art appreciation in general. Thorough, entertaining, and surprising in its ability to grant new perspective to a field that many presume they already understand.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 20, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted December 29, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted August 6, 2010

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    Posted April 20, 2009

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    Posted January 2, 2009

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    Posted May 4, 2009

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    Posted February 20, 2011

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