Customer Reviews:
The BEST book on INKING, yet...........2006-12-31
I've read a lot of books on how-to-do comic art, some on writing and publishing, and this book stood out as soon as I began reading it. Last night I finished, and have to recommend this as the best book I ever read on the subject of comic book inking, and there is little need to improve over it as a feast of information. What Janson leaves out can be found in other books, but he carved the meat off the bone where others before were clawing off unappetizing chunks.
Absolutely brilliant tips, tricks and approaches are found in these pages. The reviewer that calls this book 'preachy' merely is set to stumble into the holes awaiting most comic book artists on their way to mediocrity. Janson's primary lesson through every chapter is TO CONVEY INFORMATION TO THE COMIC READER. An inker clarifies and improves on the pencils, tightens them, and makes sure the storytelling in improved from pencils if not maintaining. Inside he covers light and dark, feathering, line weight, textures, and other basics that just aren't touched on in other books with the insight Klaus provides. And to help, he provides lots of lush B&W inked art from a period that probably influenced him - the Adams/Giordano/Wrightson/Kane period of DC comics. He also compared pencils to inks with more current art he inked over from Kane and Miller.
While Janson's own ink style is rough and appears heavy handed, it does everything it has to with grit. Sometimes the art cries out, "USE THE CIRCLE TEMPLATE!!" but over all it demonstrates how he thinks in planning textures, placement of black and white or tone, and use of feathering to describe form. What the neo-Amero-Japo-manga artists need to learn, as does any art student going anywhere, is that art books give you information, and the more information they give you then the more their worth. Super enticing, glossy, sex bent art work should be reserved for the books people buy to enjoy the art and story, not the training manuals telling you info you use to plug into your own work. Janson hit it right on with this book, the rest is left up to you to DO and IMPROVE.
Other books with good inking information - "Marvel Way" by Lee/Buscema has nice beginning info, and quick but pertinent info on weak and strong inking examples. "Rendering in Pen and Ink" by Guptill is a genius book on how to render and draw in ink for illustrators (or comic artists). "How To Draw Manga: Pen & Tone Techniques" by Ryo Touda handles a brilliant look at manga pens and tones. Everything else I fail to mention by name because it really isn't worth buying. You can put together a foundation of inking information with these 4 books that can't be beat at any art school in the nation.
Wordy and preachy, but still helpful........2006-11-22
Klaus Janson has been working in the comic book profession for decades. He is a proficient inker, but not the best author of instructional books. There are some good tips in this book, but you have to slog through his wordy and preachy writing style to find them. I haven't read any other books that are devoted solely to comic book inking so I can't recommend a perfect alternative, but here is one suggestion. Andy Smith devotes nineteen pages to inking in his book Drawing Dynamic Comics, which is excellent. You can get almost as much out of those nineteen pages as you can out of Klaus' whole book. If you pick up a copy of Smith's book and one of the many books about pen and ink that aren't specifically related to comics, you should do quite well.
Not what I expected, but still good........2006-02-21
This book isn't so much a guide to inking as the title would have you think, rather, it's more of a reference.
Normally, this would cause me to give a book like this a 3 rating, but the redeeming qualities caused a change of heart.
The guidance it does give works so well with the pictures in the book, that I would dare say that a person who is interested in inking should definately pick this one up. And when you do, read it, and draw as much in it as possible. Learning comes by doing. The more you ink, the better you'll get. And I feel this book gives the neccessary lessons, to take your inking to the next level.
-Matt
a good read.......2006-01-29
Although Janson's style isn't my favorite, he's an accomplished and skilled artist using a solid set of principles, which he imparts to the reader here. Totally worth a read.
Another useful book.......2005-08-21
This is a useful guide no doubt, as with many other how-to books, however it's not at all the best I've seen.
I'd still recommend getting this book if you are an aspiring artist, because it's always important to stock a library of information within your field(s).
Book Description
America's leading comic book publisher brings its superstar creators and classic characters to the fourth in an authoritative series of books on how to create comics. Acclaimed comic book illustrator Mark Chiarello and award-winning letterer Todd Klein demonstrate dozens of surefire strategies, practical techniques, and professional secrets for dynamic comic book coloring and lettering. They use DC's world-famous characters to demonstrate an array of techniques, covering such topics as the pros and cons of lettering by hand or by computer, creating balloons and fonts, logo designs, working with color, and creating special effects. The animated step-by-step instructions are informative, stimulating, and clear enough for even beginners to follow. In addition, every technique shown in this guide conforms to up-to-date industry standards. The perfect how-to on everything coloring and lettering, this one-stop sourcebook is packed with a wealth of tested techniques, practical advice, and professional secrets for the aspiring comic artist.
Customer Reviews:
industry standard.......2007-08-03
It's a good and informative book, but be aware that the authors assume you already know how to use the equipment needed (including ink, pens, computers, software, etc).
Amazing book for Visual Artists & Filmmakers.......2007-07-31
You sometimes have to read outside of your field to understand central aspects that goes unsaid or unexplained. As a filmmaker, I've looked to other how-to comics and graphic novel books for help, but they didn't bridge any gap between the page and screen. Alas, in the first few pages, all the questions I've had of color theory and applying it are answered with accompanying illustrations. Right away you can see the dramatic effect of a color value in a black and white image. The last book that attempted to cover this that I read was Sight and Vision, and it kind of confused issues by being too academic. This is very direct.
This book focuses on Photoshop and Illustrator, and explains the workflows for each. Again, very direct on the ideas behind WHY you do something, provides the HOW, leaving it to the reader to put in the time to get good through practice. The ilustrator portion will have you doing quick balloons in no time. Even if you don't know Illustrator or can't get through the manual.
So if you're unsure of why you would color correct an image- get this book. If you're unsure of why you should even bother to worry about the colors of sets and costumes- get this book. Again, I've been aware of these issues and theories, but this one book just made me say "Hey! I got it! I understand the jargon finally!" And not only do I get it, I understand WHY an image works, and how to make it work for the emotion desired. For the cover price, that's a low fee for a personal triumph!
Finally, this is a practical book. There are books on doing fantasy art and sci fi art, but this focuses on an extremely important art of coloring and lettering. Read this first!
Color Heroes.......2007-07-06
A very extensive review of all that goes into good quality illustrations and comic books. There is minimal text, and MANY illustrative examples. This book covers everything you need, from tools to terms, in order to design a classic comic panel. I recommend for all cartoonists and illustrators.
A must have for aspiring colorists and lettering.......2007-03-17
This is by far the most informative book I have come across for lettering and coloring comics. it gives you step by step instructions on how to scan your art, prep it in photoshop, color it, letter it and finally the clean up process. heck, it even goes into how to submit it to the publisher. it also gives non step by step info on things such as color theory and the use of photoshop filters. WAY better than any Marvel book i've read so far.
big on theory lacking in instruction.......2007-02-15
I purchased this book thinking I would learn Photoshop techniques for coloring. There weren't any. It verily explained the terminology. If you are interested in the theory of why comic books are colored the way they are, this book is for you. If you want to learn the technical skills for coloring, this book is not for you.
Book Description
Digital Prepress for Comic Books is the ultimate reference used by professionals throughout the industry. With over 200 pages, 300 color illustrations, and detailed instructions, this manual will provide the answers and solutions you will need to successfully print a magazine. Whether you are planning to publish your own comics, or want to provide the best reproducible art possible, this item is a must-have for your professional library.
Customer Reviews:
Rough.......2006-11-04
I was quite disappointed by this book, I was expecting something with more professional level content. It's all very amateur however, the artwork used in the examples is sub-professional at best.
I was hoping that the book would deal with some of the specific Pre-Press issues relating to comics artwork, but the chapter there was frustratingly slight. You would be much better to buy a a more general pre-press book.
The quality of the packaging and printing were also quite poor for a book that cost this much.
Digital walk-through.......2006-07-16
This is a very informative and well presented, step-by-step guide to self-publishing. It covers all the complicated printing process and colouring stuff in a clear manner. Highly reccomended.
A Specialty Use of Photoshop.......2005-09-01
This book is on how to get your comic book ideas from out of your head onto a disk that you can take to a printer and get him to produce the comic book for you. The advent of powerful personal computers has meant that the hand drawn, hand lettered, hand colored prints from the past no longer are what the printer wants. Instead the book now goes to the printer on a disk.
Doing the work on a computer means software, and the author uses Photoshop. Most of the books on Photoshop are on manipulating photographs. Here the emphasis is on producing the art work for comic books. Photoshop obviously can do both, but the techniques and the particular tools used are different. For one thing there is a lot more information here on the printing process, including inks and paper.
While the author uses Photoshop, which is the professional software used throughout the industry most of the techniques could be used with less expensive software packages, or you might try buying an older version of Photoshop through eBay.
"Quark Xpress and Photoshop Four Comic Books".......2005-02-02
This book is more a specialized "how to" manual for specific software than a "definitive guide" for computer owners who want to make comics.
It is assumed by the author that the reader has three programs: Photoshop, Illustrator, and Quark Xpress. No other programs are ever mentioned, if you use anything else, this book was not written for you.
The author provides excellent information about how printing in color works, his hints on getting your colored artwork to look good on paper (as opposed to on your monitor) make "Digital Prepress for Comic Books" a worthwhile investment.
The book is, however, plagued with childish spelling errors--"there" instead of "thier," "use to" instead of "used to" etc. Considering the cost of the book, it could have benefitted from a proofreading.
If you read something read this!!!.......2003-08-12
Ok I'll be brief because my written English is not so good. If want to actually print your comics and you own or have access to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop then this book is very useful to you. The book explains pre-press procedures so that you can understand how to get the juice out of your work. Now, the information is very technical so I wouldn't recomend this book to people that are not really interested in taking comics seriously. There is a fair amount of lettering tips in Illustrator and a huge amount of information about improving your scans and "retouch" your work in digital format. It also contains a chapter on Quark Xpress to achieve a good composition (having worked in comics myself I know this chapter is important).
Bottom line: If you are an independent comic book artist with a small staff and you want to do the pre-press yourself then this book is a must. If you are only interested in the area of color and lettering then "maybe" you should get this book, it will definitely help you, thats for sure. Please also note that this book will not teach you how to pait using Photoshop but it will show you how to balance and work with color FOR PREPRESS.
He could have used another penciller for the examples but thats just my opinion. :)
Amazon.com
There must be dozens of books on how to draw comics, but even the best artists need to tell a good story. Who can teach them? Dennis O'Neil. A comics writer and editor for more than 20 years, O'Neil oversees DC Comics' Batman titles--one of the most successful comics franchises ever. In addition, he's a bestselling novelist, a screenwriter, and a writing teacher. So when it comes to storytelling, O'Neil knows his stuff. In this guide he delivers his knowledge in a succinct, no-nonsense style.
O'Neil explains three-act story structure and examines subplots, characterization, and methods for developing drama and suspense. He then applies these concepts to comics' specific forms: graphic novels, miniseries, maxiseries, and the rare megaseries (such as Batman: No Man's Land, a year-long über-narrative played out across five comics titles). As in good comics, words and images work together in this book. Every idea is illustrated by panels or pages from great moments in DC Comics lore. Especially illuminating are the script excerpts that come paired with the comic book pages they describe.
Strangely, the book ignores the visual side of comics writing. Modern comics scripts specify shots, angles, and blocking in movie-director fashion, but that craft is never addressed. (DC has a good opportunity here for a second volume.) However, what this book sets out to teach--storytelling--it does quite well. Aspiring comics writers won't just learn theory, they'll be empowered, because O'Neil provides a framework for crafting new tales. --J.B. Peck
Customer Reviews:
good, but limited in scope.......2007-08-31
I read this book because I'm interested in making comic books for fun, and while there was a lot of good stuff here and it was easy to read, there was a lot more that I would have liked to see covered. O'Neil limited his instruction to the traditional super-hero style comic book with lots of action and so forth. While I learned some valuable things about writing, especially from the examples of comic scripts shown in the book, a person like me who'se more interrested in graphic-novel style literature is going to have to go elsewhere for further instruction and advice.
good stuff.......2007-06-13
I thought the book was very informative, provided excellent examples, and gave great tips on writing. Many of the writing tips could probably also crossover into other mediums as well. In addition, the book is actually fun to read. If you are thinking about scripting your comic idea, read this book.
Beyond Comics, This is a GREAT book on the principles of writing!.......2006-12-19
Whether you write comic books or novels, there are powerful nuggets on the writing process that if applied, you will experience growth in your craft. The book is well organized, easy to read, and easier to digest. This book is a more than a "must read"... it's a "MUST OWN" for ANY writer.
Best book on writing I've ever read........2006-01-04
I've read about a dozen books on writing and screenwriting, and most have been very helpful, especially J. Michael Straczynski's "The Complete Book of Screenwriting." None of them, however, have just laid it all out like Dennis O'Neil's book. While Straczynski's tome can tell you everything you night ever want to know, O'Neil's book tells what you what you MUST know, and very clearly lays out the basics, without which your story will not work. It's short - and half illustrations at that - but insightful and concise.
It is written specifically for the fast-paced, melodramatic writing style of comics, especially action comics, but it's lessons are useful in any story.
I especially like that it is not about teaching you how to write, but about utilizing tools that will clarify your writing, or help to get you out of a bind.
Thank you Mr. O'Neil.......2004-07-18
here in Palestine ( holly land), we miss the fortune of books and comics, I want our kids to see this fancy world just like I do every time I read BATMAN or Spiderman ...
For that I thank Mr. O'Neil who gave me this chance to know HOW TO WRITE COMICS , for a long time I wanted to write a comic stories , I drawn a Super hero of my own , imagined the story line, BUT did not know how to put it on paper, Now ... its an easy mission ... thanks to Mr. O'Neil
Hoping that writing for kids here in Palestine can make a little hope for Peace in the land of Christ.
Customer Reviews:
Want to know how - comic book guide.......2007-08-27
This is good for beginner and intermediate level artist. It will show you in a very simple way all the how-to's of pencilling. Good price also. It's part of three book set, Penciling, IOnking And Coloring comics - from DC comics
Pencil Neck.......2007-07-06
I was hoping that this book would be a more detailed guide to penciling. Most of the illustrations were inked, though. It also has a LOT of text, which makes it not so easy to sit and read while trying to actually draw. I would recommend the "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" over this book.
GREAT ADVICE FROM A PRO.......2007-03-31
I just received this book and immediately went to chapter fourteen. After reading chapter fourteen first I have to say that it was worth the price of the book.
VERY Little Info on Penciling.......2005-09-30
I can't recommend this book, which falls firmly in the category of works aimed at milking the purses of comics-artist wannabes. It also teeters right on the edge of the stuff that seems driven by an urge to discourage potential competition from entering the field. Plus it doesn't have any valuable info on penciling!!! Mitch Byrd's "Notes to Draw From" is a better resource.
Klaus Janson has worked on some major DC titles and apparently also teaches at the School of Visual Arts. Here he seems to be trying to pad out grudgingly little info on penciling with a sort of "why comics require super skills to draw" pedagogy that consumes more than 110 pages of an essentially 142-page book!
There's some good info in here I suppose, but the technical stuff always needs to be taken with a large block of salt. No one ever became a great artist by studying art. People become great artists by doing what they enjoy! The way to become an artist is by creating art. As you encounter challenges you look for solutions to problems and develop. In that sense this book might be useful. B-S- statements like "Drawing... requires study" etc etc do more harm than good IMHO.
The most important thing for would-be comics artists to remember is that the most successful guys in the field are Matt Groening and Scott Adams. They didn't get to the top through their knowledge of anatomy! Frank Cho is a brilliant draughtsman, but "Liberty Meadows" will never have the kind of circ "Doonesbury" had - back when Garry Trudeau was drawing little better than stick figures!
There are lots of books written from a viewpoint of encouraging young artists to learn while supporting them through their inevitable frustrations. Look for those books before wasting your time with this.
Useful.......2005-08-21
This is a useful guide no doubt, as with many other how-to books, however it's not at all the best I've seen.
I'd still recommend getting this book if you are an aspiring artist, because it's always important to stock a library of information within your field(s).
Book Description
The first edition of
The Animation Book, published in 1979, became the authoritative guide to making animated movies. Now, as we enter the twenty-first century, the explosion in computer technology has created a corresponding boom in animation. Using desktop hardware and software, animators can easily produce high-quality, high-artistry animation and mix the aesthetics of traditional cel animation with dazzling 3-D effects. Kit Laybourne's digital revision to The Animation Book brings you to the cutting edge of animation technology. Richly illustrated with frame-grabs, production stills, and diagrams, this volume shares Kit's infectious enthusiasm for the limitless possibilities of today's hybrid techniques, and it provides beginning animators with all the information they need to jump in and start their own animation projects. More advanced animators will find The Animation Book to be an invaluable resource with detailed descriptions of filmmaking gear, computer hardware and software, art supplies, plus Internet and other resources.
Using an innovative case-study approach, Kit deconstructs how a range of digital projects were carried out at some of today's hottest animation studios, including Wildbrain, Blue Sky, Protozoa, Fantome, Broderbund, Nicktoons, and Klasky Csupo. These step-by-step studies show how desktop animators can follow the same creative process in their own films.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect Reference.......2007-08-02
If there was ever a 'textbook' for learning animation, this is it. I have several books on animation production, from cell to 3D, and this on the pretty much the backbone of them all. I am not a professional animator, though I wish I was. This book provides a plethora of reference films for various styles of animation (it's nice to have a somewhat comprehensive list of styles) and suggestions for production. Though, it does lean more towards the artistry of animation, rather than digital production techniques to turn a quick buck.
I recommend this book as a primer for anyone who is passionate about animation as an art, hobby, or the first step in building an animation production house from scratch.
I Really Need to get the New Edition..........2006-01-06
I just about wore out my copy of the original edition of this book years ago; i never got far into *doing* animation, but it really helped me to *understand* what i was seeing on the screen (as well as serving as a source of recommendations as to Good Things to look out for...)
While this may not be quite the essential text for asiring animators that Will Eisner's "Comics and Sequential Art" (q.v.) is for would-be comics pros, it is a Very Good overview of the field as a whole, from techniques to materials to the creative aspects.
There is, admittedly, not sufficient detail on any one subject to take one to a true professional level, but there is sufficient detail and commentary to let the tyro make a beginning in almost any aspect of animation (within one's financial limitations, anyway -- while costs are rather less now than they were in the day when film was the sole practical medium of choice, some aspects of animation do cost more than others to do) nd work at it enough to get an idea as to whether that's what she wants to do.
And remember -- you might not intend to make animation your life's work; but Mike Jittlov was an accounting major who took an animation course because he needed an elective and it fit his schedule. The film he made for that course won him an Oscar nomination...
Anything can happen, and this book is a good place to check it out if you think animation might be one of the "anythings" you'd like to happen to you.
GREAT INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION TECHNIQUES.......2004-09-16
This is a great book for both students of animation and anyone out there who just wants to know more about that thing called animation. Laybourne is very easy to read and goes step-by-step through various animation processes in such an accessible way that its almost entertaining.
If you have a serious interest or just a passing interest, this is a great book!
Good introduction to Animation.......2003-11-04
I am using this book for background info for an animation unit I teach with my graphics students. It gives you a good overview of many different animation techniques. It answered a lot of my questions. This book is a good start, but you might also want to check out animation by preston blair, and Animation from script to screen by Shamus Culhane. Shamus will make an animator out of you by the end of his book.
Very general, not enough updated info.......2002-11-07
Although it is almost impossible for a book to provide the most up-to-date info, this book tries it's best. I really think that an animation book should be specified (ie 2d, stop-motion, 3d, etc) in order to not "cheat" the reader out of more intense knowledge. However, if a broad introduction is what you seek, then this book will work (but there are less expensive books that will do just the same).
Average customer rating:
- good for fans
- batman guide
- Good for kids
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Batman: The Animated Series Guide
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Batman Animated
ASIN: 0789495805 |
Book Description
Batman: The Animated Series Guide is chockfull of batfacts about the characters and storylines in this Emmy Award winning television show, based on the original DC comic book series. This rebirth of the Batman story brought new characteristics to the Caped Crusader; the beautifully stylized series introduces a darker and more complex superhero to the screen, and there's plenty of detail in this wonderful new world that fans will love to explore on the page.
Kids who like Batman: The Animated Series will love this unique guide to Gotham City and the creative criminals and humanistic heroes who find their way there.
Customer Reviews:
good for fans.......2006-06-10
I love Batman the Animated Series. When I heard of this book, I immeadietly bought it. You'll data on every character from the series and what episodes they first appeared in. Some of the pictures are photo shots from the series. Great for Batman fans.
batman guide.......2006-03-19
my three year old son loves this book he wants to know who all the characters are and he loves to tell them back to you. this book has been wonderful!!
Good for kids.......2004-07-13
I grew up watching this series, and fell in love with Batman because of it. The moment I saw a preview of the pages for Nightwing and Harley Quinn (my favorite characters) I rushed to order this. However, I was a bit disappointed. I'm used to the "Ultimate Guide to ---" Books and was expecting this book to be just as detailed. It is very thin, and not very specific. This book is great for people and kids who know very little about the series and want to get acquainted. For true fans, its not even necessary. Only major characters are covered. I would have been more impressed if a character like Rupert Thorne's accomplice Candace would have gotten a page. I don't see why not, she appeared in multiple episodes. However, in this book, Rupert himself only get a paragraph on the "Other Villians" page. An episode guide would have also been nice. The most you get here is a list of where each major character first appeared. I hope a more detailed book will appear in the future.
Book Description
For more than 70 years, fantasy fans have followed the exploits of Conan through novels, comic books, and movies. This book, the first-ever illustrated guide to Robert E. Howard's most beloved character, is a genuine treasure chest of Conan lore, following Conan through the ages, through his different careers, as he meets friends and foes and travels across the Hyborian continent.
Click through on the images below to see sample pages from Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian:
Includes a foreword by Todd McFarlane. Created in full cooperation with Conan Properties International, LLC. Features character profiles, maps, art from original paperbacks, comic books, video games, and more.
"Conan of Cimmeria remains as vital today as he did when he first emerged from the pages of Weird Tales three quarters of a century ago to trample the jeweled crowns of earth under his sandaled feet. This gorgeous new volume, lavishly and beautifully illustrated, is a testament to his enduring popularity, a treasure for fans of Robert E. Howard, and a splendid introduction to the Hyborian Age for new readers. If you don't know Conan, you don't know fantasy."
--GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, author of #1 New York Times bestseller A Feast for Crows
"Robert E. Howard dreamed Conan the Cimmerian for himself, and set him free to roam the world of his own Hyborian soul; but first in his years at Marvel Comics and now with this encyclopedic culmination, Roy Thomas dreamed him for all of us, and made that world come vividly to life within our own."
--MICHAEL CHABON, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and Wonder Boys
"No one has done more to popularize Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian than Roy Thomas, whose thrilling stories and brilliant editing propelled the world's favorite barbarian to the list of Marvel Comics' best-sellers for more than a decade. And now Roy has brought his knowledge and skills to bear in this ultimate guide, a fan's dream come true."
--STAN LEE, creator of The Amazing Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-08-02
A very nice, bigarse square book, by Roy Thomas of Conan comics fame. It goes chronologically through Conan's adventures in the comics format, and is profusely illustrated throughout as it details his history, as well as the history and geography of the lands of the Hyborian Age.
Fans of Conan comics will dig it, but Conan fans in general should be happy to have a look at this.
Roy Thomas' Ultimate Guide to Conan.......2007-02-19
Roy has put in one place the reasons why Robert Ervin Howard will live forever in the hearts of fans of the Heroic Pulp Fiction.It is an excellent 'Baron's Review'for cribbing for an exam on the Conan Saga (which should be a course in college along with courses in Stephen King's literary world).For both the fan and the novice this is a must have on the shelf with all of Howard's Works.
3 and1/2 stars For Comic book Conan fans... only........2007-01-08
I hate to be the naysayer in the lot because this book is, for the most part, beautiful to look at. However, this is not for the serious reader of Robert Howard's Conan. From an artistic perspective I'm glad to see this book, but there are some considerable exceptions which keep me from endorsing it. There is a lot of representation from comic books, which is fine but there are a considerable amount of images missing, and too many from both old and recently reprinted art that is below the quality a book like this one should require. There is a lot of Cary Nord's artwork from the current Dark Horse series. While I like his work it seems to pad the book out more than it is highlighting the subject. There are reprints of some very nice Barry Windsor Smith art, which is unfortunately culled from the recent Dark Horse reprints featuring horrendous new digital color (some obscures Barry's original linework so badly as to blot it out entirely with garrish results). What is missing are the stellar talents of artists like Michael Kaluta (he did stunning cover art for the comics and the magazine), more Gil Kane, Val Mayerick, more Neal Adams (again, a vivid cover artist for the magazine line), the weird and wonderful pin-ups and illustrations done by Armando Gil and countless others. Instead we get a lot of the current artist and old John Buscema who, while a decent to sometimes great Conan artist he is not represeented well in these pages since his bread and butter pages, proofed from newsprint pages, make up the vast majority of his work. He did better work, particularly when he inked his own pencils.
On the plus side, the recent illustrations from the new Del Rey editions are also presented here. Those artists, Mark Schultz, Gary Gianni and Gregory Manchess are joined by older Conan artists like Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, the late Nestor Redondo, Doug Beekman, Earl Noram and others.
The forward written by Todd ("I can't remember what Conan I read first")McFarlane is not terrible exciting or indicative of his love for the character. It's more like the editors decided to go with a name related to comics as opposed to someone who really sank his teeth into the subject. This brings me to the decent but altogether less than stellar writing by former Conan comic scribe, Roy Thomas. His descriptions of Conan and his world are quite good, unfortunately a lot of the things included in this book are stories straight out of Roy's scripts and not part of Howard's written work. Will this book be updated later with Kurt Busiek's filler strories from Dark Horse as well? Well, no update will be required yet because a Busiek creation named Janissa is in this book.
What can I say? This is not a terrible book. It is a another in a line of missed opportunities.
For people who are Conan fans and only read the comics, well this book was made for you. The rest of us will still be left waiting for the real deal to come along.
I liked it - but I didn't like it........2007-01-07
I so wanted to enjoy this illustrated guide into the world of Conan yet, even after reading it, I still have my reservations. The artwork and imagery alone is a blast! I've always loved the grand mythos of Howards characters as seen or dreamed through the eyes of top-noch artist. But it's the so called chronological events of Conans life-long saga that leaves me with a rather bitter taste in my mouth. Much like the "Star Wars" expanded universe, I find it hard to validate these additional stories of Conans travels. I have nothing against the musing of Conans high adventures by other various story tellers. I've read many Conan books in my time that were not written by howard but I have always seen them as "Separate Works" of fiction.
Anyone could write a story about what happens to Odysseus after he returns home to Ithica to reclaim his throne but no one would ever dare to officialize it as part of the original Homeric myth. You don't see anybody writing additional stories to JRR Tolkiens "Lord of the Rings" trilogy or Stephen Kings "The Dark Tower" sereies either. If Marvel decided to continue the exploits of these characters through the medium of comics, I don't think anyone would complain. Certainly not me. Yet the events of these comics would never be added to any kind of visual companion guide of the original stories. I don't see how Robert E. Howards work should be excluded from this norm. A book of artwork involving Conan is a great idea but three quarters of the chronology that can be read from "Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian" just doesn't hold weight for me. So I'am definitely torn here.
Please get your Howard info elsewhere!.......2006-11-04
I cannot believe that in this age of enlightenment regarding how much Robert E. Howards creations have been diluted over the years by the likes of deCamp, Carter and Thomas to name a few and that we are only now in the last decade been able discover Conan, Kull, and Kane as REH wrote, I get to see a review of this "Ultimate guide"
actually aplauding the literary rape ocf the amazing body of work Howard created.
To give him the praise he does deserve though Thomas could visually adapt REH's original stories of Conan
very well, my favourite being his adaptation of Red Nails illustrated by Barrry Smith, *however* this does not excuse all the pap that was presented as authentic Conan over the years. It is sad that in the centenary year of Howard's birth that the most available "guide" to Howards gives such aplause to non Howard work and that actual Howard scholarship is still limited to low print works by genuine REH fans.
If you want to know abot howards charaters please buy any of Del Rey's Howad TPB like The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane , The Coming of Conan The Cimmerian et al, and Bran Mak Morn The last king.
Green Trilobite
Book Description
Everything you always wanted to know about Warner Bros. cartoons but were afraid to ask, this complete and indispensable reference will delight adults, children, and audiences all over the world.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Own For Any Looney Tunes Fan.......2007-03-17
The most fully illustrated book on every Looney Tunes cartoon to date.Every single Warner Bros. cartoon from 1930 to 1989.
Highly recommended!
For the cartoon conisseurs!.......2004-06-22
Here is an illustated guide to the Warner Bros. cartoons commonly known as LOONEY TUNES AND MERRIE MELODIES. Every cartoon was either a Looney Tune or Merrie Melodie. These include both the short subjects and feature films. One of WB's biggest cartoon stars,Bugs Bunny appeared in tens of cartoons in a 25 year period,1940 to 1964. Bugs' first official appearance was in 1940's A WILD HARE. A few earlier cartoons such as PRESTO CHANGE-O,HARE-UM SCARE-UM and ELMER'S CANDID CAMERA(featuring Elmer Fudd) featured a similar-looking prototype. WB's other big stars include Daffy Duck who debuted in or around 1938. The star's name appeared in some titles of his cartoons such as DAFFY DUCK & EGGHEAD,DAFFY DUCK IN HOLLYWOOD and DAFFY DUCK AND THE DINOSAUR. Same thing with Bugs Bunny(BUGS BUNNY AND THE THREE BEARS,BASEBALL BUGS,BUGS BUNNY RIDES AGAIN and BUGS BUNNY GETS THE BOID). Also Elmer Fudd(ELMER'S CANDID CAMERA,ELMER'S PET RABBIT and GOODNIGHT ELMER). Other big stars are Sylvester,a mean-spirited cat always wanting to kill sweet little canary Tweety. Later stars include Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote,Speedy Gonzales and Foghorn Leghorn(Foghorn first appeared in the 40's). There's also Porky Pig who first appeared in the 1935 Merrie Melodie I HAVEN'T GOT A HAT. Porky starred in many black and white Looney Tunes since that cartoon. This book lists synopses for every cartoon produced by WB. It also gives release dates and production credits with directors. I like the awesome concept of the variously colored rings bordering the beginning and end title cards. Over the years,they changed colors. The sizes changed also as did the studio logo(the original light blue changed to red). Some cartoons made between 1937 and 1940 featured multi-colored rings. WB still produces short subject cartoons occasionally but does more feature films today. This book went to press before the 1996 release of SPACE JAM,a semi-animated film starring basketball great Michael Jordan and featuring WB's cartoon stars. I dedicate the book to the memories of longtime director Chuck Jones,actor-director tex Avery(Jones and Avery later went to MGM),Mel Blanc(voice of Bugs Bunny) and actress Bea Benaderet who later appeared on TV's The Beverly Hillbillies and starred on Petticoat Junction.
Great Resource, but the index could be a little better.......2004-03-06
This book is a great resource to read about these classic Warner Brothers cartoons. It would have been nice if the book had included more groupings by characters in the index. The book is 390 pages long, so it seems that they could have included a few extra pages to list all of the appearances of Elmer Fudd or Yosemite Sam.
Finally! Now I know I've seen all the cartoons of one series.......2003-07-02
I have had a quest to see(and act out)all of the cartoons of Wile E. Coyote and Sylvester. But some episodes appeared on cable networks more than others, and others I saw, but missed the episode name. So I purchased this book to find out which cartoons I've actually seen. It describes the episodes with details such as the ACME products in each episode, the methods the villain uses, and other interesting facts. Buy it if you wish to see all the Warner Bros. cartoons of all or one of the characters!
If you love the Looney Tunes, here is your book.......2002-06-19
It's easy to sit back and watch the re-runs of Warner Brothers cartoons and just let them wash over us, but that would ignore all of the work that went into them. We would not get an appreciation of the sheer number of cartoons produced. Luckily Beck and Friedwald were obsessed enough to pull them all together in one volume. Going on a year by year basis, from Bosko cartoons of 1930 to the last gasps of 1969 (and the reawakening in the 80's) the authors provide a landmark reference showing the premiere date, the credits given in the openings, and a thorough synopsis of the action. But of course any reference like this would be an oddity if it was just a listing. But we are provided with two ways to find information - a title index showing the entry (all purpose for grabbing when watching that cartoon), and an index based upon appearances of 15 of the most popular characters. Want to find out when did Marvin the Martian appear? It's here. (1948 - Haredeveil Hare). Wonder how many cartoons starred Daffy Duck - count 'em up. (a whole lot) Just sitting back and reading synopses shows the breadth of jokes and settings that the artists were able to take advantage of. You can also see the repetition that occured when the writers fell into a rut. Just a great book to have on the shelf to pull down when you want and a great guilty pleasure!
Amazon.com
Unless Peter Parker decides to pen his own autobiography someday, you're not going to find a better guide than this to the life and times of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. From that fateful radioactive bite in the science hall up to Spidey 2099, DK's Ultimate Guide recounts all the career milestones--major and minor--of Stan Lee's web-slinging wall-crawler. Organized and authored by Tom DeFalco, former Marvel editor in chief and the series' bestselling author, this guide pulls together the storyline's many twists and turns (chronologically, by decade) and devotes big spreads to nearly every noteworthy ally, friend, and villain (with one curious omission in the Shocker). Special sections cover episodes like the alien costume, the regrettable clone saga, and the wedding to Mary Jane, while panel after panel of original art (over 600 images in all) flesh out the action (a particular treat with the corny old dialogue and art).
DeFalco makes some small missteps--inevitable in any fan-boy project--and certainly The Ultimate Guide will feel dated as the series evolves, but as a comprehensive guide, it just doesn't get any better. Throw in a foreword by the inimitable Stan Lee, and you've got a book that would make even Peter Parker proud. --Paul Hughes
Book Description
Marvel authority Tom DeFalco unmasks the history of the beloved websling in this updated edition of DK's definitive guide, which includes more than 600 full-color illustrations from the Spider-Man comics, along with original illustrations, detailed character profiles, and descriptions of the latest developments in the Marvel Universe. MARVEL, Spider-Man and the distinctive likeness thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc., and are used with permission. (c) 2006 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved.This book is produced under license from Marvel Characters, Inc. AUTHOR BIO: Tom DeFalco has written about the adventures of Spider-Man and other super heroes for over 20 years. Tom has been a top writer and Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, and has written many titles for Marvel & DK, including Hulk: The Incredible Guide, Fantastic Four: The Ultimate Guide, Avengers: The Ultimate and most recently, The Marvel Encyclopedia.
Customer Reviews:
Great reference book!.......2006-02-25
"Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide" is a must-have book for all the wall-crawler's fan! It has information about lots of characters and a fantastic spidey's time-line! The illustrations are as good as well, and you can even find information on alternative Spider-Man series, like Spider-Girl, and Spidey 2099. Although the book is very nicely done i still missed more detailed profiles, anyway you will sure not regret for buying this one!
Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide.......2005-06-22
Tom De Falco's comprehensive SPIDER-MAN guide is one of my favourite spidey books, covering everything from the comic's origins in the 60s to the recent movies. With some great insight into the characters in the world of comics and good layout, this guide tells you all you need to know about Peter Parker, Mary Jane and assotment of villians (Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Venom et all). DeFalco's extensive research has paid off, making this an essential addition to the already bookshelf-breaking collection of comic book guides. This is a must-have book for any SPIDER-MAN enthusiast.
Review From a Future Critic.......2005-06-10
I never read a Spider-man comic book, but I wanted to know all about Spidey, his allies, and his enemies. This ended my search!
A great resource for any fan of Spidey.......2004-12-16
I have been a rabid Spider-Man fan, reader, and collector for the past 13 years. In that time, I've seen some of the best (1980's to 1993) and worst (Clone Saga) this hero has to offer. IN addition, I have collected every issue ever published. So, I'm very knowledgable about SPider-Man and his world. Still, this book is a delight to read. I didn't learn anything new, but it is well written, spectacularly illustrated with original comic art from some of Spidey's most legendary artists (Ditko, Romita Sr., Romita Jr., Frenz, Andru, Sal Buscema, Gil Kane, McFarlane, Bagley, Larsen). New fans will learn a lot from this book, but no matter how long you've been a fan of Spidey, this book is a treasure trove for you!!
My kids love it!.......2004-07-22
We bought this book for our five year old who loves Spiderman, but our whole family has enjoyed learning more about the villains and other characters in Spidey's world. It is fun to learn the origin of characters we are familiar with and some we had never heard of before. There are lots and lots of illustrations to keep the kids' attention, and the stories and bios are interesting enough for adults as well. The binding has fallen apart on our book- which may have survived better under normal wear and tear- but that is mostly because my son takes it to bed with him since he loves this book so much. Overall, a great book for kids and adults too.
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