Editorial Review

A comic book about comic books. McCloud, in an incredibly accessible style, explains the details of how comics work: how they're composed, read and understood. More than just a book about comics, this gets to the heart of how we deal with visual languages in general. "The potential of comics is limitless and exciting!" writes McCloud. This should be required reading for every school teacher. Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman says, "The most intelligent comics I've seen in a long time." ... Read more

Reviews (95)

Don't let the title mislead you...
If you think this is just about comics, think again!It's a book which defines and illustrates what we call "art".The presentation is so simple, yet so profoundly deep, you'll find yourself referring back to this densely packed little book for many years to come.I always keep a copy at work to pass on to colleagues.It's absolutely genius.
A Comic about Comics
Understanding Comics is simple and deep.Profound and sometimes silly.It's such a no-brainer idea, why not USE the medium of comics to best describe the tools, power and impact of comics.
STEALTH TEACHING
Mc Cloud writes and draws in such a logical, straightforward style that remains funny and entertaining. His research and organization show this to be a heavy book disguised as fluff. (not to say that all comics are shallow, but they usually do not give the first impression of "War and Peace"). I was visiting my daughter at school and saw this softcover laying on the coffee table. I thought it might be a counter- culture "People" magazine. I was sucked in to the light approach and funny quirks in animation. Soon I realized this was a serious topic and also impossible to put down. I had to have a copy of my own. (turns out it was being used as a textbook in an English/Writing class on campus). Scott is a genious if could reach me. I am a photographer and Scott opened my eyes to new visual logics.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Authorship    4. Comic books, strips, etc.    5. Comics & Cartoons    6. Humor    7. Juvenile literature    8. Periodicals, Publishing of    9. Techniques - Cartooning    10. Comic book & cartoon art    11. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons    12. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Reviews (12)

Most Helpful Book on Graphic Design!
This book is loaded with valuable (clearly stated) information and outstanding illustrations to demonstrate successful creative thinking and targeted solutions.

Very cool addition to my personal library
I read the 3rd edition of this book and found it to be incredibly helpful in explaining the different applications, how to create them and what their purposes are in the vis com field. Without this book, my understanding would not have been as keen. What I especially like is that so many of the designers included in this book are also the ones who win awards in the design competitions- very cool addition to my personal library.

Thorough and engaging
This book is used as a course text in many design classes across the country. I can see why. Not so much a history as it is a survey of the current state of graphic design, it's quite possibly the best treatment I've ever read on the subject in a single volume. The 3rd edition is significantly expanded in content and reformatted versus the 2nd, and the illustrative examples are abundant and well-chosen. Many of the examples are accompanied by remarks from the designers themselves, which helps shed light on the concepts and thought processes behind the work. The text strikes a good balance between commentary and pedagogy, and as a result the book works for both instructional reference and casual reading. The end of each chapter contains related exercises designed to prod your right brain into action. This book will help you discover -- or rediscover -- what's fun and exciting about graphic design. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Careers - General    3. Commercial art    4. Graphic Arts - General    5. Graphic arts    6. Language    7. Language Arts & Disciplines    8. Publishing    9. Art / Graphic Arts    10. Graphic design   

Reviews (1)

Creative, engaging and edgy
This is a fascinating look into an aspect of Japanese culture I never knew existed.Joan Sinclair got incredible access -- access not only to the actual establishments, but access to the inner lives of some of these women and men whom she portrays with honesty and integrity.She has a fresh, exciting lens which comes through not without a revolutionary edge.This is an original.The intro by Farrer is also excellent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Cultural And Social Anthropology    3. Human Sexuality    4. Japan    5. Nightclubs    6. Pictorial works    7. Psychology    8. Sex customs    9. Sex-oriented businesses    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Art / Popular Culture    13. Erotic art    14. Photographs: collections    15. Pop Culture; sex; travel; Japan   

Reviews (22)

History of Graphic Design
The book is in wonderful condition and is filled with very interesting material.

The Man Behind the book
I was one of Philip Meggs students at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Our class was the first to use the first edition of this book as a classroom textbook for his History of Graphic Design class. He was a wonderful storyteller, with a true passion for graphic design. And more than that was the obvious joy he had in sharing that knowledge and whimsical annecdotes in his own style of humor. Philip Meggs was an exceptional man that will truly be missed.

Borrow
Borrow this book from a friend in class and photocopy the pages, thats my advice.Good book, just over priced. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Book design    4. Design & Drafting    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Graphic design (Typography)    7. History    8. History - General    9. Typography    10. Architecture / Design & Drafting    11. Graphic design    12. History of specific subjects   

Reviews (4)

Necessary for Children's Book Authors.
As an unagented children's book author, I was able to compile a list of publishing companies easily from this book. I haven't read through the entire book, but just the 200+ pages of publishers is worth the buy. This book has a lot of information and is well organized. I enjoyed reading about first time authors experiences with their writings and publishing stories. This book is the only one you will need for up-to-date info to start your journey as an author.

For children's writers and illustrators: if you can have only one book on your shelf....
This is a condensed version of the review I posted on my web site, The Purple Crayon. I'm the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, and I have to be familiar with books in the field. CWIM is a very reliable market guide.
very useful
this book was very comprehensive! it gave all the information one would like to have when just starting out. it dosent however go into the details of how to write as a career. overall it will become one of my most valued resources. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Children's literature    3. Directories    4. Illustration Of Books    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Marketing    9. Publishers and publishing    10. Publishing    11. United States    12. English    13. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    14. Publishing industry    15. Reference works    16. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (176)

Required Reading for all text workers
As the subject says, I'd consider this book required reading for everyone trying to express ideas in text. For example: I'm a professional software developer and have yet to get into a situation where I'd have to design a poster or similar thing,and yet, the principles Robin Williams explains in this book also apply in the context of software development as far as the layout of our source code is concerned. Design is everywhere, so you might as well learn the basics of it.

NonDesigners and Designers get fueled
This is an extremely helpful book for anyone of any history in design.Back-to-the-basics design by an author that keeps it simple.Has a huge typography section, as well as some humor (a rare find in these type of books), and a lot of learning without the struggle.Buy it, read it, and add it to your library.
book review
This book was very helpful in my computer graphic class. I learned alot about alignment and proximity. I recommend this book to all beginner graphic students ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. Computers - Desktop Publishing    4. Design - Book    5. Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Electronic Publishing    8. Graphic arts    9. Graphic design (Typography)    10. Handbooks, manuals, etc    11. Layout (Printing)    12. Typography    13. Computer Programming    14. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General   

Reviews (1)

Simplicity complicated
The goal of the book is extremely worthwhile: to promote simplicity.It tries to do so in a small book, about 100 pages in small sized pages.Unfortunately it fails, it does not use it own lessons and presents a complicated description of "Simplicity".In order to simplify, it (ab)uses acronyms that do not elicit the thoughts that are intended. For instance, take SHE (Simplify, Hide, Embody).Using the word SHE is hard to turn your mind to "Simplify, Hide, Embody".Then there is BRAIN (Basics, Repeat, Avoid, Inspire, Never) and SLIP (Sort, Label, Integrate, Prioritize). Simple? To present the ideas, Maeda uses a random collection of recollections, of anecdotes, of circumstantial evidence, organized around ten laws, to illustrate the points it wants to make.As you read,you can find another anecdote from your own life, another experience that can contradict his conclusion.Not all is negative, there are some gems that make the reading worthwhile.For instance, law 10, or "the one": "Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful".Imagine if presentations in meetings, conversations or written reports were to keep this law, how more productive our lives would be. This is my simplified review!
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Design - Product    4. General    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Industrial Design - Product    7. Systems engineering    8. Art / Design / Product    9. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    10. Technical design   

Reviews (1)

A must have!
Just received the book and it is absolutely great!!!From preproduction art to the finished product on screen, This book has everything you want in a "making of" art book. A must have for any animation fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animated Films    2. Animation    3. Cinema/Film: Book    4. Film & Video - General    5. Film & Video - Reference    6. Performing Arts    7. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    8. Films, cinema    9. Performing Arts / Film / Reference   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Catalogs    4. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Private    5. Individual Artist    6. Individual Painters - 20th Century    7. Pinup art    8. Private collections    9. Special Subjects In Art    10. Subjects & Themes - Human Figure    11. United States    12. Art / Popular Culture   

Reviews (3)

A True Masterpiece
This exhaustive tome is all you will ever need to know all about Fairey's work to date. It's in a great format, the printing is superb, and many pieces of work / projects include insightful comments from a wide variety of sources as well as from Fairey himself. Really great reproductions of some epic work, loads of great site photographs, there's even some old camera-ready artwork here too. It's excellent value compared to other 'art' books that I know 'we' have already bought. Every designer / studio really ought to have this.

Buy it Now.
Great book for graphic artists, artists, or anyone interested in the psychology behind advertising. A must read.

This is a really great book - the real deal
Forget most of those other graphic art fools from this generation who have books out now, this guy is the real deal. Although his art has it's obvious roots in classic graphics of prior generations, Fairey takes his work seriously and takes it to another level. He seems to make perfect art when he communicates and presents his ideas and ideals to us. In this book, from his original "Manifesto" to it's last page is perfect evidence of this mans' artistic genius and sensibility. Just a really great book all around, NO WAY WILL YOU BE DISAPPOINTED, it's big, colorful, and put together WONDERFULLY.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Individual Artist    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Individual artists   

Reviews (1)

Delicious!
Once again, Logo Lounge gives the most creative and innovative examples of logos anywhere in an unbelivably organized format. As a graphic designer specializing in logos, I find the Logo Lounge library and website completely indispensible. I enjoyed seeing the judges favorites and definitely have a few of my own. The Portraits and Sketches (profiles of specific designers & agencies, identities and their applications) are always interesting and inspiring but don't overwhelm the book as I like to get straight down to business and dive right into the Collections (zillions of great logo examples). I've been designing and collecting design & logo specific books since the 80's and NEVER have any books inspired me more than these. I don't think you really have to be a designer to enjoy this gallery of artwork, but you may just turn into one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advertising Art    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Catalogs    5. Commercial - Advertising    6. Corporate image    7. Design - Product    8. Designers    9. Directories    10. Graphic Design    11. International - Marketing    12. Logos (Symbols)    13. Online Services - General    14. Art / Commercial / Advertising   

Reviews (2)

Uproarious And Seditious - What I LIKE About The Funny Pages!
This comic isn't to everyone's taste.Let's get that right out of the way.It likes to talk about what the comics usually doesn't - death, sex, cynicism, other comics - and yet it does so in a way that you can't help but love.
Lot of laughs
This had to be great. I mean just the cover made me laugh and with Stephan Pastis's commentary and introduction, it was about the best comic treasury i have ever read. I have forty different comic treasuries and this is the crown of my collection. Thank you Stephan Pastis; you have made me laugh uncontrollably several times! Something that only the sarcasm, exagerration, and satire in Pearles Before Swine can do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. Graphic Satire And Humor    4. Humor    5. Topic - Animals    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (12)

What a great resource!
From its unique plastic-encased cover to the excellent illustrations, this is a priceless resource. It's an entire bookshelf of reference books condensed into one book. I've been in printing for a long time, and I still picked up new information from this book. I'm going to add it to the list of "can't-do-without" resources that I recommend to training clients.

I for one am impressed.
As a freelance graphic and layout designer, I find myself asking why I didn't buy this book sooner (like while I was in college). The book covers many areas in depth that may not have sunk in while in school.
Indispensable!!
This book is a treasure! I've started flagging certain areas I know I'll refer to often (abbreviations of states AND countries), but even being able to quickly find an envelope size instead of tracking down my ancient e-gauge and a #10 envelope was great. If you buy nothing else, be sure to get this book if you are a graphic designer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Graphic Arts - General    4. Graphic design (Typography)    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Packaging    7. Printing    8. Shippers' guides    9. Graphic design   

Reviews (33)

Dress Sence 101
The book is good, and takes a couple of evenings to go through. It has what many "men's" magazines lack in the "how to fit" the right clothes with the right person, and insight into patterns, texture and color. If you haven't read a couple of issues of "men's" magazines and have never dressed formally and intend to do so you better read this or you will stick out of the crowd like a sore thumb. The book is comprehensive but could have included more, such as "adventurous" without looking old-fashioned (the old scarf to hide a sagging throat), for me it lacked clarity in the shoe department especially in the color section (unless black, dark tan and suede are the only choices...). The smart/casual section was good, but a clear miss in the sporty casual department where many of the <40 tend to dress much of their time and forced the need to live in a cold weather climate - lots of layers. Although I did not like the cartoon like drawings, the pictures where interesting to see how different nationalities have used clothes with different "shape's" in the past, although many are old Hollywood stars their shirts did seem to be somewhat oversized.

Don't Leave Home Without It!
This is simply the best book on this subject to date. Mr. Flusser has given men (and the women who are tired of being ashamed of them) an exhaustive and reliable reference to lean on.From the purchase of quality clothing, to its proper wear and maintenance, he gives a thorough yet light-hearted overview of how to present oneself in civilized society.
eh
a good book on men's fashion and explains choosing a suit in great detail as it relates to height, complexion, hair and eye color as well as build. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Beauty & Grooming - General    3. Fashion    4. Fashion & Grooming    5. Men's clothing    6. Personal & Practical Guides    7. Art / Fashion    8. Fashion design    9. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    10. Personal appearance & beauty care   

Reviews (6)

Brilliant
Stephen Wiltshire's pen and ink drawings are fantastic.He captures each subject perfectly and in incredible detail...sometimes having only seen the subject for a few minutes.Incredible drawings made even more incredible by the fact that Stephen is autistic.

Floating Cities
Reading this book was an inspiration.The intricate detail and elegance of each drawing is breath-taking. A savant at work!
This man's pictures have to be seen to be believed. Stephen Wiltshire actually is Autistic,operating on a six year old level for most of his adult life. He has a very rare talent of being able to visually process all that he sees and reproduce these images on paper. I have seen him on a TV show being flown around London ona helicopter and reproducing a image of 4 square miles, including 11 London landmarks and over 600 buildings with perfect perspective and scale in less than three hours.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art    3. Artists with mental disabiliti    4. Artists with mental disabilities    5. Drawing    6. Drawing By Individual Artists    7. Drawing, British    8. England    9. Europe in art    10. General    11. Wiltshire, Stephen   

Reviews (6)

'Thought I'd Died and Gone to Cartoon Heaven
Like many of my peers, as I grew up, my interest in animation gravitated toward the full animation of the Golden Age: Robert McKimson, Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, et al, for a long while disdaining any form of animated minimalism, even the kind represented in this book. By the age of 7 or 8, we had come to associate Top Cat, Deputy Dawg, The Flintstones, The Jetsons and all the minimal animation that had once been among our favorites with shoddy cheapness. (Even as a small child, I remember several of us sitting around talking about cartoons, and laughing to scorn at the way the same background tree kept passing every couple of seconds in Hanna-Barbera chase scenes. We wondered, did they think we weren't catching that?!) 'Limited animation', those dread words, became poision for all us growing young animation fans.
For moderns only!!
Because the style was bastardized by budget-minded network television to grind out cheesy Saturday-morning fare, modern animation has severely negative connotations for a great swath of the general public. Indeed, much of the production work beginning in the 1960s was farmed out to sweatshops in Mexico and Korea where the animation fell into the hands of lowly paid, barely competent novices. (That practice continues to this day, with such eyesores as The Simpsons.) However, in the "complacent" 1950s, when the style was developed, it was highly original and sophisticated and brought into movie theaters and television ads by Disney expatriates and left-leaning malcontents looking for a new edge. This highly anticipated book by Amid Amidi is a visual feast and an incredibly well-researched documentation of "cartoon modern" and comes with the highest recommendation. For companion videos, I also recommend some titles from Something Weird Video, notably Beer Commercials From The Golden Age Of Television, which features some priceless Mister Magoos and other "off beat" ad shorts. Also from SWV, check out their series of Hey Folks!-It's Intermission Time for other great modernistic stuff. But at Amazon's discounted price, put this wonderful book in your hands first.

Every bit as good as expected...plus!
The author, through his blog and elsewhere, has made a passion of the brilliant, colorful, and grandly stylized types of cartooning and animation that came to prominence largely in the 1950's. This book--intelligently written and organized, and magnificently illustrated--strikes me as having been a genuine labor of love. It's just about perfect.
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Subjects:  1. Animated films    2. Animation    3. Art    4. Art Criticism    5. Film & Video - Amateur Production    6. General    7. History & Criticism    8. History - Contemporary (1945- )    9. History and criticism    10. Photography    11. Techniques - Cartooning    12. United States    13. Comic book & cartoon art    14. Comics & Graphic Novels / History & Criticism   

Subjects:  1. Artists, Architects, Photographers    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cartoonists    7. Friends and associates    8. Graphic Satire And Humor    9. Great Britain    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Steadman, Ralph    12. Techniques - Cartooning    13. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Business/Economics    3. Clothing factories    4. Clothing trade    5. Decorating - General    6. Design - General    7. Quality control    8. Quality of products    9. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Art / Design / General    12. Clothing & footware manufacture   

Reviews (60)

What about us boyish rectangular shaped women?
I was so looking forward to this book, but I ended up disappointed. There was good information to be had in spite of my body type not being defined or even mentioned once.I ended up taking tips from body type A and C as those seemed to most address my porpotions. I am tall, thin, with a narrow frame and small-breasted.

Good resource
This is a very good book about developing your own style.A lot of women would benefit from reading it.It's contemporary and relevant, well-written and practical.

From Funky to Fashionista
This truly is a great guide for woman who want pointers on how to improve their look.It takes you back to the basics: consider your shape first, then your measurements and lastly the latest trend.Since I am not into the latest trend (I'm more classic), I desperately needed to know what shape category I fell.I'm an obscure "C."This tidbit of information is crucial for me when I step into the store.It leads me in the right path.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    3. Beauty, Personal    4. Clothing and dress    5. Consumer Health    6. Diet / Health / Fitness    7. Fashion    8. Image consultants    9. Personal & Practical Guides    10. Personal appearance    11. Fashion design    12. Reference / Personal & Practical Guides    13. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - General    4. Design - General    5. Individual Architectural Firms    6. Architecture / General    7. Product design    8. Technical design