5 comments about How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way.

1. How to draw comics the Marvel Way is a good book but it's very old information. I think that Marvel comics and the comic book industry has changed since this book was published in 1978 and 1984. Don't get me wrong! I like this How to draw comics the Marvel Way! book written by Stan Lee with artwork by John Buseama, but the books information is too old. I think comic book artists today use better materials besides paint brushes and india ink. You buy Markers with india ink in them at an artsupply store. there are other things in this book that do not appy to comic books in 2008 as well. If your a begining artist, I will recommend this book but It's not for advance artist. B+



2. Some of you folks writing reviews are, like me, graphic designers. And, yes, I too have owned this wonderful book. I even laughed at the publication date at the top of the page because mine is from 1978!
   
   Lee and Buscema are two of the foundation blocks of Marvel Comics and I wouldn't expect anything less from this wonderful work. If you are a beginning or almost intermediate comic book artist, I can't think of a better place to start than this book. I still refer to it, sometimes, for reference tips.
   
   I won't bore you with a diatribe of what can be learned here... just buy the book. I think you'll be surprised that, in 30 years, you'll still own your dog-eared, yellowed, frayed-out copy. I've still got mine.
   
   Oh, and when you're done with it, do yourself a favor and take a look at some Burne Hogarth books.
   
   Enjoy!



3. I am a professional artist, fine art not comics, and bought this for my son who wants to be an artist working for marvel one day. Don't get me wrong I am oldschool, I grew up on heavy metal, epic (marvel's answer), ec, 2000 A.D. (rogue trooper, and the man himself, Judge Dredd), the watchmen, etc, etc... so once it showed up in the mail, I read it myself and came to the conclusion that it is a perfect book for my son.
   
   What better source to get an idea of what marvel wants than from stan the man himself? And John Buscema, a veteran of Marvel really added to this book. He has always been one of my favorite artists (especially liked his savage sword work when I was a kid.)
   
   This is the place to begin for anyone who wants to break into the comics industry or maybe submit a portfolio to Marvel. I believe (could be wrong) they are still one of the few houses which still accept inquiries and portfolios whereas DC asks people to go to conventions to network.....kinda hard when you are a starving artist or living abroad.



4. An entertaining look at how the comic work was approached at Marvel way back when. I can't draw, and have no real desire too, so basically got this out of interest.
   
   As far as that goes, it was a reasonable read. For actual artistic types it is probably a bit more useful.



5. The reason why I bought this book is because I want to learn how to draw comic for hobbie, and Stan Lee really explain everything so nice and easy that any person will learn, the draws by Joe Buscema are just perfect. The book introduces you to many vocabulary of the industry of comics, is a very complete book. If you work in the comic industry, this book is a perfect beginnig and if you are a comic fan like me, then you must have this masterpiece.

5 comments about 1,000 Type Treatments: From Script to Serif, Letterforms Used to Perfection.

1. Good type books are hard to find for some reason, but this book is the best one i've found. My brother had purchased this book a while back and I always used it for reference because it has such good typography studies and experimentations. I finally went and bought and and can't get enough of it. The whole book it put together so well, not only the samples but also the layout of the pages and just is awesome! A definite in my design book collections.



2. Excellent book. It has a very wide selection of type treatments that apply across a variety of media. The book is inspirational and informative.



3. having started a collection for graphic, web, collateral, etc design, i must admit that many of my books are from rockport. they seem to have a pretty good grasp at the current trends and designs. this book will help inspire and spawn creative ideas for type treatments. great book.



4. It is one of the useful books for any designer. It has all you need ways to give your vision a right spin!



5. This is a great book! If you ever get into ruts where you need inspiration or want to see how others have handled type, this is a book for you. This is a GREAT tool, it will inspire you to see and do things with type that you sometimes never think of or may be afraid of trying. I highly reccomend this book. It's a book that will help you brainstorm and look at type as more of a design element, more than just words on a page.

3 comments about Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art.

1. This is a charming book to be enjoyed by all;young children, who will enjoy having this read to them, to aspiring artists, to older fans. Early work of these illustrators and pictures of some of them as children along with their stories give a picture of their development.This may also offer an introduction to new books and illustrators. Great for teachers and librarians when presenting a story.



2. This a wonderful book for inspiring budding young artists. Wonderfully illustrated with examples from all the artists (including fold-outs). A great way to learn about their lives and work.



3. I purchased this book for my 18 year old daughter, who is off to college next year to major in art. Her ambition is to be an illustrator, so I thought it would be inspirational for her. She loves that it features the illustrators of many of her favorite books from when she was small. A great book for anyone who enjoys illustration and picture books.

5 comments about The Rejection Collection: Cartoons You Never Saw, and Never Will See, in The New Yorker.

1. I love NY'er cartoons. These aren't rejects--these were too outre, too funny, too rude, smart, outrageous, on point... Just be careful to read these on or near well-upholstered surfaces. You'll hurt yourself laughing so much collapsed on a hard wood floor.



2. While the cartoons in this book are still New Yorker style, I found most of them not funny or to the point but besides the point - if there was any.
   It became very obvious to me why these got rejected, and I strongly recommend to purchase one of the collections of cartoons that were not rejected.



3. Truly funny and very creative.. and I loved the "questionnaires" filled out by each cartoonist. Looking forward to all future R.C's.



4. Definitely funny! And while admittedly edgier than The New Yorker (language, bodily functions, gore), it's not offensive.
   
   Even better than the cartoons are the accompanying photos of featured cartoonists and their clever responses to a (probably intentionally lame) questionnaire.



5. Absolutely the most sidesplitting publication I've ever read.
   After the first page, you know why you'll never find these cartoons in a New Yorker magazine. Not necessarily scatalogical or obscene, let's just say they're not PC and wouldn't be welcome in polite society. For example, there's a "baby" death, a black robed figure carrying a scythe. Overhead is a sign that says Pediatrics. One nurse turns to another a says, "I know, but he's so cute". And that's a mild one.
   
   The book has a couple pages for each cartoonist to answer questions about their work and give some insights into their humor and how they work. Then a few of their cartoons.
   
   The Rejection Collection was so good, I went on line and purchase the second volume, Cream of the Crap.
   
   If there was a way, I'd give this one six stars.

1 comments about Type Addicted (The New Trend of a to Z Typo-Graphics).

1. From the cover and through all the book you'll find many surprises. Lot's of wonderful and talented people. Inspiration.. should be the title of this book.

5 comments about 1,000 Graphic Elements: Details for Distinctive Designs.

1. 1,000 Graphic Elements: Details for Distinctive Designs
   In my mind's eye I see this series being originated by a marketing expert that decided to focus and feature their own industry. These books offer frequency in category, classic designs, and creativity that lends to brand building. This series is a collection promotion experts should have as part of their consistently used library. Enjoy...



2. the title and description are misleading. This book should be called "1000 examples of ultra-high budget junk"
   
   These aren't graphic elements, they are complete projects. furthermore, the "elements" themselves are over-dependent on materials, embossing, die-cuts, metalic inks and other expensive processes that it is of little value to real-world designers. It gave me no fresh ideas or inspiration whatsoever, and is going in the recycle bin 15 minutes after arrival.
   
   I've seen better looking and more compelling work with rubber stamps. Buy this book if you want to see how over-priced production is used by spoiled designers and clients with money they have no problem wasting.
   
   The book tries to divide itself into sections such as binding, graphic devices, and typology, but there is no consistency applied, and each example could qualify for another category, because of the abundance of junk incorporated.
   
   If you want to create pieces that cost a ton of money, hurt the eye and poorly communicate, this is the book for you. I've seen more compelling graphic work from an 8-year old with glue and glitter.



3. It is a great book to reference and I look forward to purchasing the rest of the series.



4. You probably already know that this book is really just eye-candy. No helpful tips on how to design or anything like that. This book is something to look at for inspiration, and for that it is fantastic. Wilson Harvey (author) knows how to pick good design, and there is more good design packed into this volume than probably any other "inspiration book" I've looked at. Unfortunately, none of the other 1000 ______ books seem to have the same quality and variety of work. Wilson Harvey also did 1000 Type Treatments, so I'm sure that book is great without even having looked at it.



5. This is a great book for art directors and graphic designers to get some inspiration. The book definitely revolves around a modern/contemporary type look. Most clients would find design like this a little too "cutting edge" for their taste. However, this is a great reference for ideas and production techniques.

5 comments about Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books.

1. This is a great book and really explains how to layout a picture book. Since my college education never taught me how to do this, this is a wonderful book to have.



2. This is the book you have been looking for. I've purchased a number of other books about children's publishing, but this one has more wisdom and more real technique than any of them.
   
   The title might make you think this book is about illustrating children's books. Yes, an illustrator can get a graduate degree from the material here. But the title doesn't really do the book justice, because Shulevitz covers both writing and illustration. He covers both topics together, showing how the text and the pictures move a story forward to a satisfactory conclusion. Quoting from the book (p.29):
   
   "When the actor-stage relationship is clear, when the picture code is consistent, when the progression is appropriate to the action, the picture sequence will 'speak' to the reader. The more clearly the picture sequence speaks, the more enjoyment the reader will be able to get from it. And giving a feeling of satisfaction is essential in children's books."
   
   This book has literally hundreds of example illustrations and text excerpts. Most are pencil and ink sketches, but don't be fooled: the author created most of them specifically to illustrate this book. They do a great job.
   
   I'm done gushing. If you are interested in this topic, buy the book. You won't be disappointed.



3. As a 'gallery' artist moving more into illustration, I needed a text that really told me how to illustrate- what makes books different to gallery works, the psychology of composition, how to plan a book and incorporate words and pictures etc and this book has really done that for me. I found the section on composition and picture space particularly helpful.
   
   This is the book for you if you want a book that tells you how and why. The author hasn't held back information but explains everything with lots of drawn examples. I bought another book on illustration at the same time - Exploring Illustration by Michael Fleishman- which like so many modern textbooks goes on about theory instead of telling you real technical information. It has served to show me just how good Writing With Pictures is and how generous the author is in giving information.
   
   I can't recommend it highly enough.
   
   I have read criticism that it doesn't have enough computer-related information but that isn't something all illustrators need. This deals with the real skills of the craft and to me, with so many programs out there you are better getting guides on every program you want to use to really master them than have the broad, undetailed cross-section inevitable in books about this size.



4. Uri Shulevitz's book Writing With Pictures is a treasure trove of valuable information concerning writing/illustrating children's books. For those with no interest whatsoever in illustration, the book explains how illustrations enhance and fulfill the promise of the text. For those only interested in illustration, the book describes how to correctly construct illustrations so that they illuminate, rather than repeat, the prose.
   
   The book is divided in four parts. Part one defines/contrasts picture books and story books; two, describes how to plan the book; three, explains the construction and purpose of illustrations; and four, provides instruction on how to prepare illustrations for reproduction for publishing.
   
   Although the book could be used for college courses in both art and literature, it is easily readable, enjoyable and informative. For individuals serious about writing and/or illustrating books for children, this book is a must-have resource. It's a keeper!



5. This book is a pleasure to read, and very inspiring to get drawing! His detailed instructions are as helpful as sitting in a drawing class.

No comments about Sculpture Today.

3 comments about Relational Aesthetics.

1. I became interested in this book after viewing Ben Lewis's BBC Four documentary on Relational Art, of which this book was the axis. It was a fascinating look at a dynamic and provocative development in the relationship between people and their environment; some approaches being more overtly political than others.
   
   Anybody familiar with Fredric Jameson's theory of postmodernism's cultural logic will see an economic imperative in this conception of art. It also meets at a juncture with the Situationist desire for the supercession of art. Which then lends itself to Baudrillard's theory of the disappearance of art.
   
   All very stimulating areas of discourse at the social/economic/cultural interstice.
   
   Anyone at all interested in the peculiar and fascinating forms developing in our time of metaphoric and symbolic fluxian will wholeheartedly appreciate these critical insights.



2. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in performative and relational art. The translation is a little dodgy at times but the book is well worth it's price for provocative ideas, critical insight, and inspiration.



3. I am just beginning my venture into critical discussion of the Arts and reading Relational Aesthetics sparked my interest in art's effect of linkageing and relating. The author explores and gives names of many artists working in the 90's that used human interaction as their medium.
   
   The bad parts about this book are the many misspellings and the major stylistic shifts in the writing and translation.

No comments about Ed Fox: Glamour from the Ground Up.