Scott McCloud

Published in the early nineties, McCloud's discussion of comics takes the form of a comic itself, and both the discussion and the use of the form to enhance that discussion are brilliant. He defines comics, explores the language of comics, and illustrates how comics work, including the ways they suggest and manipulate movement and time. McCloud also explores briefly the history of comics, both as the average American might perceive them (think comic books) and as we might identify them as an show more art form stretching back thousands of years. The discussion of how modern comics have developed differently in the west and in Japan is especially interesting. Anyone who has ever read a comic book or even the funny papers probably has some understanding of how comics work, but this book does an excellent job taking the form apart and pinpointing exactly what is going on narratively, visually, and artistically when we read them. Recommended for anyone, really, but especially to anyone interested in comics, visual art, or narrative. show less

I avoided this graphic novel for a long time, and I'm not exactly sure why. It might have been the (to me) off-putting title (I totally would have chosen 200 Days), or perhaps even the cover image.

But I eventually saw it on sale and decided to pick it up. Then it took me months to get around to reading it.

I started it last night, and was pissed off that my eyes wouldn't stay open long enough for me to complete it in a single sitting. It was absolutely stunning.

The art is deceptive, slightly show more cartoonish, but my God, when run in conjunction with the storyline, it becomes, at times, breathtaking.

And then there's the story. A simple one, fairly easily figured out, no real surprises whatsoever...and yet, it packed punch after punch.

I didn't like this graphic novel, I adored it.

I'm only pissed that it took me as long as it did to actually read it. show less

Summary: Understanding Comics is a comic... about comics. It sets out first to define comics, and then to explore some of their history. From there, it gets into the language of comic books - the power of the symbols they use, how panelling is used in conveying a message, the relationship (or lack thereof) between the words and pictures, how they use a purely visual medium to convey information to all of the senses, and how they use a static medium to convey motion and time. Throughout, show more McCloud treats comics as an art form, and argues for their potential as communication devices that create a detailed interplay between the immaginations of the author and of the reader.

Review: I am not a huge comics aficionado, but I feel like I've got a reasonable grounding in the genre. Enough so that while I didn't recognize every one (or even most) of the examples that McCloud used, I was certainly familiar with many of the concepts. Or, rather, once he presented them, I was able to go "oh, yes, I've seen instances of that before," even though I lack any kind of background in art theory. Where McCloud succeeds is in formalizing the language of comics and placing it into that kind of theoretical framework... and where he *really* succeeds is in making it readily accessible to novice readers. I'll admit that there were a few places that got kind of dense, and a few ideas that probably went over my head. But, for the most part, ideas are presented in a clear and straightforward way, starting with the familiar and building it up to the more abstract, all while making excellent use of the visual nature of his medium, and injecting more than a little humor throughout.

The thing is, now I want to go back and re-read every graphic novel I've ever read to look for the concepts that McCloud talks about. How does the panelling in Sandman create a sense of time? What is it about the art in Fables that I find so appealing? How does the interplay between words and dialogue in Watchmen affect what the panels can show? How much of the action in Buffy is actually on the page, and how much am I filling in? From here on out, not only will I have the vocabulary to describe these things, I suspect I will also be much more aware of them. No more just reading the words and glancing at the pretty pictures for me! And, I suspect, by better understanding how comics authors and artists can use the medium, I will be better able to appreciate when it's done well - that is, I will be better able to appreciate the comics as an art form, which seems to me to be the outcome that Mr. McCloud was aiming for. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Strongly recommended for comic book (or graphic novel, if you'd rather) fans, of course. I don't know how good it would be for someone who's brand-spanking new to the genre - it does assume that the reader is at least passingly familiar with the style. But, on the other hand, while McCloud focuses on comics, a lot of what he has to say is relevant to anyone interested in art, art theory, or art history, so I think even non-comics fans should open their minds - and their definitions - a bit, and take a chance and read it. show less

This book. I’m still reeling a bit.

Life can be messy, unplanned, and awkward. We are born, our souls a birthplace of creativity, wanting to fight and push past a pedestrian existence by becoming or birthing something memorable. Tangible. A legacy of you. Driven by your need to create. Talents have a way emerging in an almost indefatigable force be it the first idea or a Proustian, re-worked conglomerate punctuated in a final creation of blood, sweat, and tears. I feel this way when I show more write. Like the Hemingway quote aptly illustrates,

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

Our main character, David is driven to create. He’s down on his luck with an unfortunate reputation, no prospects, no creativity flowing, no money, no family, and not much going for him…until he gets a visit and bargain from Death. Death will guarantee the ability to create and be happy if for a price. Of course, there is a price.
Sometimes the way to happiness, success, fame, and insistent need to create is a multi-forked road. As humans we are flawed and unpredictable. What would you trade for each? What would not matter to you? We have choices to shape our future. This book simply journeys down a very human path, albeit imperfect, uncomfortable, and heart-wrenching. It’s a story I’ll be thinking of for a while.
Last but not least, the artwork tells a huge part of the story. If the artwork and direction was as on point, I doubt this would be as impactful.

I don’t have a solid rating for this one, yet. I’ll probably change this after thinking about this for a while.

Many thanks to First Second Books for my review copy in exchange for an honest review. show less