McCloud's series explaining the ways of graphic storytelling is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to teach, create, or discuss comics and graphic novels. Understanding Comics is more about theory of visual art; Making Comics is a primer on technique. Regardless, I found the vocabulary / terminology useful if you want to teach visual analysis. I also really appreciated the sections on manga, which goes into the genre's history and web of influences. ( )

I read this book as a way of understanding the form of the comic, not necessarily as a how-to guide for making any. I have no intention of learning how to draw, so I don't know if I got quite as much out of this book as others might. However it's an interesting "textbook" that uses style and formatting just as much as substance to make its point.

My favorite thing about the book by far is it's personal narrative style. This was used for instruction in a college course, so it was a nice break from the basic textbook. The narrator is openly giving his personal opinion, while explaining the history and context behind it. There's plenty of facts given in the book, but lots of the underlying conclusions are admittedly subjective. One part, early on in the book, literally has a fictional crowd calling out and criticizing his definitions. It's a rhetorical device meant to explain the different components of comics and why he eventually comes to the definition he does, but it's also a view on his perspective. Scott McCloud does not view himself as an infallible expert, but as somebody with information to share. At one point shortly after that, he not only accepts criticism but says that the reader is encouraged to disagree with him.

It makes the education aspect feel more genuine. It's not missing any pieces of information, because it's not trying to be the end-all-be-all of this subject. It's a singular voice the entire time, walking you through the history and process of comics.

Beyond that, it's alright. It makes interesting points and teaches me things I didn't know about the common tropes of this wide reaching genre. However, it it's a transcendent work and like I said, as a student and not an artist there were parts I wasn't as drawn in by. ( )

It's no Understanding Comics, for sure. And it's aimed more at the aspiring comics creator than the casual reader. But! McCloud's always got a crisp take on the art that's fun to read and easy to absorb and does shed extra light on how comics work. A good, fast read. ( )

Building upon his theories within Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud gives a look into the art of making comics in this tome.

He breaks it apart by reviewing storytelling, panels, use of words and dialogue, character designs, facial expression, and much more.

This book is a must-have for anyone wanting to make comics. Reading his earlier books is helpful but not required. ( )

Art-focused, but learned a lot either way. ( )