As a kid growing up and collecting comics, I was fascinated by the process of just how a whole comic book came together before it landed on the store shelves and racks: the writing, the art, the publishing and printing. Where did it all come from? How did it all come together? And where did it all go?
In the early 80's, information regarding publication methods was scant at best. There weren't many books available, and you couldn't just Google "how do I make a comic book?" and have thousands of "how to" articles and videos pop up at your fingertips.
I've also always been a history buff, and once again, back in the day there weren't any books that delved into the rich history and talented characters that jump-started the comic book industry to make it the entertainment juggernaut it is today.
Now, of course, there are many such books available to those interested in the history of the industry and the practices that go into the development of a monthly comic title. Here are 10 of my personal favorites:
"Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America" by Bradford Wright
This is a scholarly tome (it was Wright's John Hopkins University Master's thesis) that really digs deep and leaves almost no stones unturned in terms of the meager beginnings of the comic industry and how the rise of comics was as influential as rock 'n' roll and jazz on 20th century pop culture. My only issue with this book is that it's a bit dry in places, and does read like a history text book...which, essentially, it is.
"Writers on Comics Scriptwriting, Vol.1" Edited by Mark Salisbury
"Writers on Comics Scriptwriting" is an invaluable resource for those who want to write comics rather than draw them. It's essentially a collection of interviews with some of the giants of the industry: Neil Gaiman, Kurt Busiek, Garth Ennis and Frank Miller, just to name a few. If you want to get into writing comics (or just script writing in general), I cannot recommend this book highly enough; it is packed with great information and insights into the craft.
"Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko" by Blake Bell
Those who know the comics industry know that Steve Ditko is a legendary talent, as well as a legendary enigma, and he prefers it that way. While Stan Lee gets a co-credit (and most of the glory) for creating "Spider-Man" and "Dr. Strange," it was Ditko's deft touches and character enhancing artwork that really made those characters what they are to this very day. Bell's work here is part biography and part art book, as a good many of Ditko's spectacular works are reprinted and retouched here in this tome in their entire splendor. So, you may not come away understanding Ditko any better after finishing this book, but you will appreciate the man's commitment to superlative craftsmanship nonetheless.
"Marvel Comics: The Untold Story" by Sean Howe
As the title suggests, this is the history of Marvel Comics...warts and all. It comes across as gossipy and sensational at times, but man, is this a fun, well-researched read that is nigh impossible to put down. Highly recommended for the late 60's Stan Lee/ Jack Kirby ego battles alone.
"Batmanga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan" by Jiro Kuwata and Chip Kidd
Did you have any idea that Batman had a long-running comic/manga series in Japan during the late 60's? Neither did I until I happened up on this super cool book in Barnes & Noble by accident about a year and a half ago. The comics were never collected in Japan and never translated into English. Now, in this gorgeously produced book, hundreds of pages of Batman-manga comics more than four decades old are translated for the first time, appearing alongside stunning photographs of the world's most comprehensive collection of vintage, Japanese Batman toys. If you consider yourself a fan of the Caped Crusader on any level, this book is a must-have.
"The Official Marvel Comics Try Out Book" by Jim Shooter and John Romita Jr.
From Wikipedia: "'The Official Marvel Comics Try-Out Book' is an oversized book originally published by Marvel Comics in 1983. Conceived by then-Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, the book was in the form of a contest encouraging up-and-coming comics creators to try their hand at getting a job with the company. The winner would be awarded a professional assignment with Marvel.
The book described the respective jobs and accompanying tools of a writer, penciller, inker, letterer, and colorist, and then provided pages ready for the hopeful cartoonist to work on. An unfinished Spider-Man story (titled "Personals") was the springboard for the try-out portion, which among other features contained blank, pre-ruled pages for pencilers, pre-penciled 'non-photo blue' pages (by artist John Romita, Jr.) to be inked and lettered, and completed black-and-white pages to be colored. The entire book was printed on two-ply 11" x 17" paper, replicating the size that a typical comic book was drawn on."
When I purchased this with my hard-earned paper route money ($13 at the time...quite a princely sum!), it was something of a personal triumph for me because not only could I write, draw, color, letter and ink my very own "Spider-Man" comic, but I finally got a "peek under the hood" as to how much hard work went into making a comic book. It was fun and educational! I spent hours and hours with this book, practicing all of the various sections over and over again. I never submitted anything, mostly because I was only 13 at the time, but man did I have a blast working on it.
"How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" by Stan Lee and John Buscema
One of the first and still one of the best, Stan Lee's "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" has been the primary resource for any and all who want to master the art of illustrating comic books and graphic novels.
Lee and Buscema collaborated on this comics compendium: an encyclopedia of information for creating your own superhero comic strips. Using artwork from Marvel comics as primary examples, Buscema graphically illustrates the hitherto mysterious methods of comic art, and Lee's always pithy prose gives able assistance and advice to the aspiring comics professional. The book was adapted into an instructional video series in the mid-80's as well, and that can be seen here in all of its You Tube-y glory.
"Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art" (1994), "Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art Form" (2000) and "Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels" (2006) by Scott McCloud
This trilogy of books by Scott McCloud really and truly sets the standard for the scholarly analysis of comics as a form and as true works of art. McCloud runs the gamut from ancient hieroglyphics and cave paintings to today's high-tech digital coloring and pre-press techniques. The Eisner and Harvey Award-winning "Understanding Comics" is the best of the trilogy, and some portions of all three books can get a bit preachy and esoteric but, as a whole, these books are indispensable to those who really want to know and/or teach all there is to know about creating and absorbing every facet of what makes a comic a comic.
