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DC Comics Guides
The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics: Inside the Art of Visual Storytelling
The most exciting and comprehensive book yet in the bestselling DC Comics how-to-draw series.
From the bestselling DC Comics Guide series, this is the essential resource for aspiring comics creators looking to make intriguing, action-packed comics like the experts at DC Comics. Going beyond the typical art and writing lessons, this book shows readers how to take full advantage of comics' sequential visual storytelling possibilities. With examples direct from DC Comics, featuring their best creators and classic superheroes like Batman, Superman, and the rest of the Justice League, it presents key principles and techniques for crafting exciting professional-quality comics. This behind-the-curtain look at the DC Comics creative process is a can't-miss opportunity for aspiring comics creators, whether they want to work for DC Comics or invent their own unique comics creations.
From the bestselling DC Comics Guide series, this is the essential resource for aspiring comics creators looking to make intriguing, action-packed comics like the experts at DC Comics. Going beyond the typical art and writing lessons, this book shows readers how to take full advantage of comics' sequential visual storytelling possibilities. With examples direct from DC Comics, featuring their best creators and classic superheroes like Batman, Superman, and the rest of the Justice League, it presents key principles and techniques for crafting exciting professional-quality comics. This behind-the-curtain look at the DC Comics creative process is a can't-miss opportunity for aspiring comics creators, whether they want to work for DC Comics or invent their own unique comics creations.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
28 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Carl Potts
156 books12 followersCreative Director, Writer, Artist & Editor with experience in visual arts, entertainment, marketing, interactive and education.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 31, 2015
As the author’s assistant at Marvel Comics and later as one of his staff editors when he was editor in chief for the Epic line, my review is unquestionably biased. But that should only make it more helpful to potential readers.
These are the lessons I learned during my first few weeks as Carl Potts’s assistant editor, distilled into one comprehensive volume. In the years since I worked for him, there have been many times I’ve channeled Carl’s inner wisdom when reviewing the work of both new and experienced artists. During those sessions, I’ve occasionally wished for some sort of cheat sheet because Carl had said it so much better. In this volume, that wish has come true.
Rather than discussing technique, Carl Potts analyzes comic theory, a concept which goes woefully unappreciated by many of today’s creators. The book goes beyond the typical how-to manual by showing artists (and writers!) how to take full advantage of the art form’s sequential storytelling possibilities.
As a primer in basic storytelling, The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics is an essential manual for beginners, but many established artists could benefit from it as well. All too often, comic artists try to be experimental in their techniques without first mastering the basics. Once again, Carl says it better:
Storytellers are not the only ones who will find the contents of the book insightful. It should be essential reading for all new editors at any comic book company on their first day of the job.
These are the lessons I learned during my first few weeks as Carl Potts’s assistant editor, distilled into one comprehensive volume. In the years since I worked for him, there have been many times I’ve channeled Carl’s inner wisdom when reviewing the work of both new and experienced artists. During those sessions, I’ve occasionally wished for some sort of cheat sheet because Carl had said it so much better. In this volume, that wish has come true.
Rather than discussing technique, Carl Potts analyzes comic theory, a concept which goes woefully unappreciated by many of today’s creators. The book goes beyond the typical how-to manual by showing artists (and writers!) how to take full advantage of the art form’s sequential storytelling possibilities.
As a primer in basic storytelling, The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics is an essential manual for beginners, but many established artists could benefit from it as well. All too often, comic artists try to be experimental in their techniques without first mastering the basics. Once again, Carl says it better:
Picasso’s abstract work probably would not have been as powerful or compelling if he had not had such a solid grounding in representational art. His knowledge of representational drawing gave him a firm base from which to abstract—he knew what he was abstracting from.
Storytellers are not the only ones who will find the contents of the book insightful. It should be essential reading for all new editors at any comic book company on their first day of the job.
November 25, 2013
Very detailed and informative.
March 22, 2018
Superficial fanboy text.
Stick to your intuition and glean everything you need to know about creating comics from Batman: Year One by Miller and Mazzuchelli and timeless, classic visual techniques introduced by but never supplanted by the Russians like Eisenstein. Fine artists, not fanboys, always wins.
Stick to your intuition and glean everything you need to know about creating comics from Batman: Year One by Miller and Mazzuchelli and timeless, classic visual techniques introduced by but never supplanted by the Russians like Eisenstein. Fine artists, not fanboys, always wins.
June 20, 2016
Although I was disappointed in this book's discussion of comic book theory, such as the types of panels and their use, I am pleased to say that it offers good advice concerning story development and character motivations.
I also found useful the comparison of different art styles from different artists on the same script, giving me insight into the reality that different artists think their way through comic book scripts different. Certainly useful information.
In the books defense regarding my initial criticism, it does recommend Scott McCloud's excellent work "Understanding Comics," which details more ably the subject of panels and comic book theory.
I also found useful the comparison of different art styles from different artists on the same script, giving me insight into the reality that different artists think their way through comic book scripts different. Certainly useful information.
In the books defense regarding my initial criticism, it does recommend Scott McCloud's excellent work "Understanding Comics," which details more ably the subject of panels and comic book theory.
September 28, 2015
Overall this is a pretty good book about storytelling and comic (basically just superhero) art. About 2/3 of the book is information-light, but the end, with examples of multiple artists showing the same sequence, is great. I'd love to see more of that.
August 27, 2016
A good overview, though deeper digging is needed from this intro. the best part of the book was at the end, where four artists independently interpreted a 3-page script and did pencils for it, so you could compare how they approached presenting the same information.
October 19, 2014
This book was a big help. It is incredibly helpful for anyone looking to know more about visual storytelling and its uses with panels, its different incarnations and what they do for your story.
August 7, 2017
Great primer with comprehensive lists of books to get further into depth. More focused on art and layout than writing, but a great jumping off point if you're a beginner.
December 16, 2019
I can see why The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics would be useful to someone trying to understand how DC pros make comics. But it's too compressed for its stated ambition, so the result is mlre than a bit shallow. Overall, I would rather like to experience a more detailed guide.
I'm thinking to still try out the remainder of the collection of DC Comics Guides, focusing on:
+ pencilling (The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics or The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing),
+ inking (The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics),
+ coloring and lettering (yup, The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics), and
+ writing (The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics).
(Surely they'll find other topics to talk about, this art and craft is too rich for a mere 5-6 books.)
I'm thinking to still try out the remainder of the collection of DC Comics Guides, focusing on:
+ pencilling (The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics or The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing),
+ inking (The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics),
+ coloring and lettering (yup, The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics), and
+ writing (The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics).
(Surely they'll find other topics to talk about, this art and craft is too rich for a mere 5-6 books.)
August 22, 2024
Soy fan de los libros sobre como hacer comics y en este se pueden aprender cosas muy valiosas. Quizás el hecho de que este centrado en el genero superheroil puede hacer que gente lo considere poco valido y todos los ejemplos gráficos del libro son de ese genero pero creo que las teorias aquí expuestas son validas no importa el tebeo que se quiera hacer y son producto de las decadas de experiencia del autor como editor y guionista.
October 12, 2025
Pretty good, informative, but not as in-depth as I was hoping it would be. It lists a number of other books on visual storytelling in the first chapter, which are all wonderful; sadly I think this book doesn't add a ton to what these other books have already said. It does have some interesting process pages from DC comics which serve as solid examples of effective comics workflows.
December 6, 2023
Very visually appealing and insightful book on creating comics
June 28, 2015
A great summary of the other editions of DC Comics' how to serieson creating comic books.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews