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How Comics Work
In Eisner Award–nominated How Comics Work , Dave Gibbons offers a class in creating comic books. Learn scriptwriting, page layouts, lettering, and more from the incredible artist behind Watchmen !
This “How It's Done” series reveals insider hints, tips, and tricks from one of the world’s greatest comic creators, all in his own words. The artist behind juggernauts like Watchmen and The Green Lantern , Dave Gibbons is here to teach you scriptwriting , page layouts , lettering , cover designs , and more, with scans of original artwork and rarely seen workings to illustrate his personal creative processes.
How Comics Work covers both Gibbons' hand-drawn and digital design techniques in depth. An early adopter of computer design in comic creation, all his lettering is digital, and he even has his own “hand-lettered” font. This is your chance to gain insight to Gibbons' digital work, from his computer coloring and 3-D modelling with Angus McKie on Give Me Liberty , to his work on The Originals using digital grey tones. You’ll learn how he layers text for editing , creates effects such as flares and neon glows , and prepares artwork for print and online .
How Comics Work is everything you need to know to get started creating great comic books.
This “How It's Done” series reveals insider hints, tips, and tricks from one of the world’s greatest comic creators, all in his own words. The artist behind juggernauts like Watchmen and The Green Lantern , Dave Gibbons is here to teach you scriptwriting , page layouts , lettering , cover designs , and more, with scans of original artwork and rarely seen workings to illustrate his personal creative processes.
How Comics Work covers both Gibbons' hand-drawn and digital design techniques in depth. An early adopter of computer design in comic creation, all his lettering is digital, and he even has his own “hand-lettered” font. This is your chance to gain insight to Gibbons' digital work, from his computer coloring and 3-D modelling with Angus McKie on Give Me Liberty , to his work on The Originals using digital grey tones. You’ll learn how he layers text for editing , creates effects such as flares and neon glows , and prepares artwork for print and online .
How Comics Work is everything you need to know to get started creating great comic books.
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2017
5 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Dave Gibbons
655 books257 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Dave Gibbons is an English comic book artist, writer and sometime letterer. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, which include the miniseries Watchmen and the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything". He also was an artist for the UK anthology 2000 AD, for which he contributed a large body of work from its first issue in 1977.
Gibbons broke into British comics by working on horror and action titles for both DC Thomson and IPC. When the science-fiction anthology title 2000 AD was set up in the mid-1970s, Gibbons contributed artwork to the first issue, Prog 01 (February 1977), and went on to draw the first 24 installments of Harlem Heroes, one of the founding (and pre-Judge Dredd) strips. Mid-way through the comic's first year he began illustrating Dan Dare, a cherished project for Gibbons who had been a fan of the original series. Also working on early feature Ro-Busters, Gibbons became one of the most prolific of 2000 AD's earliest creators, contributing artwork to 108 of the first 131 Progs/issues. He returned to the pages of "the Galaxy's Greatest Comic" in the early 1980s to create Rogue Trooper with writer Gerry Finley-Day and produce an acclaimed early run on that feature, before handing it over to a succession of other artists. He also illustrated a handful of Tharg's Future Shocks shorts, primarily with author Alan Moore. Gibbons departed from 2000 AD briefly in the late 1970s/early 1980s to became the lead artist on Doctor Who Weekly/Monthly, for which magazine he drew the main comic strip from issue #1 until #69, missing only four issues during that time.
He is best known in the US for collaborating with Alan Moore on the 12-issue limited series Watchmen, now one of the best-selling graphic novels of all time, and the only one to feature on Time's "Top 100 Novels" list. From the start of the 1990s, Gibbons began to focus as much on writing and inking as on drawing, contributing to a number of different titles and issues from a variety of companies. Particular highlights included, in 1990, Gibbons writing the three-issue World's Finest miniseries for artist Steve Rude and DC, while drawing Give Me Liberty for writer Frank Miller and Dark Horse Comics. He penned the first Batman Vs. Predator crossover for artists Andy and Adam Kubert (Dec 1991 - Feb 1992), and inked Rick Veitch and Stephen R. Bissette for half of Alan Moore's 1963 Image Comics series.
Works other than comics include providing the background art for the 1994 computer game Beneath a Steel Sky and the cover to K, the 1996 debut album by psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker. In 2007, he served as a consultant on the film Watchmen, which was adapted from the book, and released in March 2009. 2009's Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Director's Cut for the Nintendo DS and Wii platforms featured hand drawn art by Dave Gibbons.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Dave Gibbons is an English comic book artist, writer and sometime letterer. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, which include the miniseries Watchmen and the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything". He also was an artist for the UK anthology 2000 AD, for which he contributed a large body of work from its first issue in 1977.
Gibbons broke into British comics by working on horror and action titles for both DC Thomson and IPC. When the science-fiction anthology title 2000 AD was set up in the mid-1970s, Gibbons contributed artwork to the first issue, Prog 01 (February 1977), and went on to draw the first 24 installments of Harlem Heroes, one of the founding (and pre-Judge Dredd) strips. Mid-way through the comic's first year he began illustrating Dan Dare, a cherished project for Gibbons who had been a fan of the original series. Also working on early feature Ro-Busters, Gibbons became one of the most prolific of 2000 AD's earliest creators, contributing artwork to 108 of the first 131 Progs/issues. He returned to the pages of "the Galaxy's Greatest Comic" in the early 1980s to create Rogue Trooper with writer Gerry Finley-Day and produce an acclaimed early run on that feature, before handing it over to a succession of other artists. He also illustrated a handful of Tharg's Future Shocks shorts, primarily with author Alan Moore. Gibbons departed from 2000 AD briefly in the late 1970s/early 1980s to became the lead artist on Doctor Who Weekly/Monthly, for which magazine he drew the main comic strip from issue #1 until #69, missing only four issues during that time.
He is best known in the US for collaborating with Alan Moore on the 12-issue limited series Watchmen, now one of the best-selling graphic novels of all time, and the only one to feature on Time's "Top 100 Novels" list. From the start of the 1990s, Gibbons began to focus as much on writing and inking as on drawing, contributing to a number of different titles and issues from a variety of companies. Particular highlights included, in 1990, Gibbons writing the three-issue World's Finest miniseries for artist Steve Rude and DC, while drawing Give Me Liberty for writer Frank Miller and Dark Horse Comics. He penned the first Batman Vs. Predator crossover for artists Andy and Adam Kubert (Dec 1991 - Feb 1992), and inked Rick Veitch and Stephen R. Bissette for half of Alan Moore's 1963 Image Comics series.
Works other than comics include providing the background art for the 1994 computer game Beneath a Steel Sky and the cover to K, the 1996 debut album by psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker. In 2007, he served as a consultant on the film Watchmen, which was adapted from the book, and released in March 2009. 2009's Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Director's Cut for the Nintendo DS and Wii platforms featured hand drawn art by Dave Gibbons.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 7, 2017
I had an idea for a comic so picked this book as I've never attempted such a thing before. It's full of advice and support, lots of examples on how to get going and highly recommended.
November 10, 2017
arc given to me by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
”Every journey starts with a single step and every comic starts with a single idea.”
This is such an informative and educational book on comic writing and publishing processes so if you ever want to write a comic then I advise you read this book.
Equipped with instructions and advice on how to plot, build your world, how to pace your comic and even instructs down to colouring and designing.
Am not planning to write a comic anytime soon cause unfortunately, I don't have the knack for it and am a terrible artist too but I highly recommend this book to people hoping to write their own comic.
”Every journey starts with a single step and every comic starts with a single idea.”
This is such an informative and educational book on comic writing and publishing processes so if you ever want to write a comic then I advise you read this book.
Equipped with instructions and advice on how to plot, build your world, how to pace your comic and even instructs down to colouring and designing.
Am not planning to write a comic anytime soon cause unfortunately, I don't have the knack for it and am a terrible artist too but I highly recommend this book to people hoping to write their own comic.
October 30, 2017
I love to create.
And I love books that make me want to create.
I was worried this might be a re-tread of other books, like Understanding Comics. But this book stands by itself.
It’s a study of the creative process in comics from the point of view of one comic creator. but it has enough info to be of interest to any comic fan or would-be creator.
Of course, the writing portion interested me the most, but it was good to get an overview of the whole process. A lot of things were completely new to me, though I’ve been reading comics all my life. From character structure, lighting, designing pages and panels, color theory, and all the different types of lettering - there’s a lot more that goes into this than I realize - even though I’ve thought about it a lot.
Plus a few pages of exercises at the back can make you put some of this into practice if you’re looking to be a comics creator.
The cool thing about this, I think, is that it can make a comic reader’s experience that much richer. And give us an appreciation for the work put into a comic. I think I’ll probably buy this book - a good add to any comic artist’s - and fan’s - shelf.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for a copy in return for an honest review.
And I love books that make me want to create.
I was worried this might be a re-tread of other books, like Understanding Comics. But this book stands by itself.
It’s a study of the creative process in comics from the point of view of one comic creator. but it has enough info to be of interest to any comic fan or would-be creator.
Of course, the writing portion interested me the most, but it was good to get an overview of the whole process. A lot of things were completely new to me, though I’ve been reading comics all my life. From character structure, lighting, designing pages and panels, color theory, and all the different types of lettering - there’s a lot more that goes into this than I realize - even though I’ve thought about it a lot.
Plus a few pages of exercises at the back can make you put some of this into practice if you’re looking to be a comics creator.
The cool thing about this, I think, is that it can make a comic reader’s experience that much richer. And give us an appreciation for the work put into a comic. I think I’ll probably buy this book - a good add to any comic artist’s - and fan’s - shelf.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for a copy in return for an honest review.
November 14, 2017
A very high level explanation of the medium by master Dave Gibbons.
This book was written by having Gibbons talk about each process of the comics baking process, and an assistant writer putting it down on the page. It reads strange, and while Gibbons gets into some interesting stuff, it is never explored with the depth you hope for.
The process on his outlining and scripting style was very interesting. And the visual material in the book is very well put together. But man what an ugly cover!
There are so few books on making comics, that this is definitely worth your time.
This book was written by having Gibbons talk about each process of the comics baking process, and an assistant writer putting it down on the page. It reads strange, and while Gibbons gets into some interesting stuff, it is never explored with the depth you hope for.
The process on his outlining and scripting style was very interesting. And the visual material in the book is very well put together. But man what an ugly cover!
There are so few books on making comics, that this is definitely worth your time.
September 18, 2017
This was an interesting read and what I enjoyed most is the way a multitude of examples were used, complete with illustrations and diagrams for each topic, How Comics Work is an entertaining read for pleasure, but I could also see it as a useful text for a course on comics and graphic novels. A book that would likely appeal to many readers of the comic book/graphic novel medium.
August 3, 2017
This is a bloody marvellous book, if I say so myself! ;-)
April 18, 2022
I borrowed this book from the library, intending to just flip through and read bits here and there. However, I started at the beginning and found it so interesting, I read it all. Not only that, but I bought my own copy so I could go back and underline bits.
Dave Gibbons has more than 40 years experience as a comic book and graphic novel artist. As a Brit, he's worked on some UK classics like Dan Dare and Dr Who, but he's also worked for DC Comics, drawing characters such as Superman, Batman and Green Lantern, as well as other comics and graphic novels. In short, he knows a lot about comics.
The book looks at all the facets of comic book creation, including scriptwriting, visual groundwork, sequential storytelling, lettering, colouring and design. There are lots of examples of artwork to illustrate each point, mainly by Dave, but also by some other featured artists. The co-author Tim Pilcher, provides most of the commentary and picture captions, using Dave's words and practices.
The only very slight criticism I have is that I wish there were more exercises at the end. He gives some great suggestions, but it's only four pages of the whole book. It might have been useful to have some exercises at the end of each chapter. Though of course there's nothing to stop you from taking the info from each chapter and doing your own exercises.
If you're interested in creating your own comic books or graphic novels, this book should be essential reading. However, you'll still find much to enjoy if you are a fan of comics, art or graphic design. Highly recommended.
Dave Gibbons has more than 40 years experience as a comic book and graphic novel artist. As a Brit, he's worked on some UK classics like Dan Dare and Dr Who, but he's also worked for DC Comics, drawing characters such as Superman, Batman and Green Lantern, as well as other comics and graphic novels. In short, he knows a lot about comics.
The book looks at all the facets of comic book creation, including scriptwriting, visual groundwork, sequential storytelling, lettering, colouring and design. There are lots of examples of artwork to illustrate each point, mainly by Dave, but also by some other featured artists. The co-author Tim Pilcher, provides most of the commentary and picture captions, using Dave's words and practices.
The only very slight criticism I have is that I wish there were more exercises at the end. He gives some great suggestions, but it's only four pages of the whole book. It might have been useful to have some exercises at the end of each chapter. Though of course there's nothing to stop you from taking the info from each chapter and doing your own exercises.
If you're interested in creating your own comic books or graphic novels, this book should be essential reading. However, you'll still find much to enjoy if you are a fan of comics, art or graphic design. Highly recommended.
August 16, 2020
This book is a work of art in and of itself.
It provides simple yet deep insights into the process of creating, designing, writing, drawing, colouring, lettering and setting of comic books and graphic novels.
Dave Gibbons needs no introduction: he's written and/or illustrated masterpieces like Watchmen, Batman Versus Predator: The Collected Edition (Batman Beyond, Superman/Batman: World's Finest and others.
Each chapter is devoted to a stage in the comic book development process, like Scriptwriting. It starts with "early influences" on Dave's style and method, before going into detail, keeping it interesting at all times, with explanations of how it has changed over time and the computer's impact on the process. It ends with a focus on a specialist in that stage who is particularly admired by Dave.
Reading this has given me a small understanding of why I appreciate some stuff and am not so keen on other.
It provides simple yet deep insights into the process of creating, designing, writing, drawing, colouring, lettering and setting of comic books and graphic novels.
Dave Gibbons needs no introduction: he's written and/or illustrated masterpieces like Watchmen, Batman Versus Predator: The Collected Edition (Batman Beyond, Superman/Batman: World's Finest and others.
Each chapter is devoted to a stage in the comic book development process, like Scriptwriting. It starts with "early influences" on Dave's style and method, before going into detail, keeping it interesting at all times, with explanations of how it has changed over time and the computer's impact on the process. It ends with a focus on a specialist in that stage who is particularly admired by Dave.
Reading this has given me a small understanding of why I appreciate some stuff and am not so keen on other.
January 30, 2023
This is probably the best 'How To ...' do comics book I have seen so far. It is certainly the most intricately involved, which at times left me feeling a tad intimidated. That's not a criticism. It educates but it entertains also. The writing is engaging and there's a lot of great visuals. It's also given me greater respect for the craftsmanship of Dave Gibbons.
September 21, 2017
It's about comics and has lots of lovely Dave Gibbons artwork. How can it fail?
March 5, 2018
Great advice for comics creators, but also a fascinating read for anyone interested in the creative process of a master storyteller.
October 29, 2017
A little too design-based for my tastes, but this highly pictorial guide to Dave Gibbons' thoughts on his craft ranges successfully through everything - from lettering and logos to thinking of spine art, page composition and digital colouring. You name it, he's done it - it's just a shame the writing sections are so brief. Also, the samples in the captioned art (and the captions and art themselves) are a little scattershot, so you might not get a complete picture when you want.
February 12, 2018
I don't know how practical this book is to people who actually write comics--maybe it's just a fun coffee table book to them, I don't know--but I've enjoyed seeing into each layer of the process.
December 12, 2017
How Comics Work is the new instructional tome by Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons. It is among the best of the how-to books, earning space on the shelf next to UNDERSTANDING COMICS and the DC COMICS GUIDES to creating great comics.
There are loads of sketches from his work on GREEN LANTERN, WATCHMEN, MARTHA WASHINGTON, THE ORIGINALS and more.
The design tends to dedicate the double-page spreads to one topic or aspect of the process. Script writing, Logo design, lettering, coloring, character design and visual storytelling are all covered. Dave Gibbons also shows respect to the trail-blazers of the medium as he cites his influences.
Highly recommended.
There are loads of sketches from his work on GREEN LANTERN, WATCHMEN, MARTHA WASHINGTON, THE ORIGINALS and more.
The design tends to dedicate the double-page spreads to one topic or aspect of the process. Script writing, Logo design, lettering, coloring, character design and visual storytelling are all covered. Dave Gibbons also shows respect to the trail-blazers of the medium as he cites his influences.
Highly recommended.
Read
January 13, 2018With comics being my favorite medium I am always after books/material that lets you look under the hood. With that when finding Dave Gibon's book I knowing his work knew I would like it and enjoy reading it. Will deffer from giving a rank as this should be done from professionals or active enthusiasts of the medium.
July 3, 2018
Public library copy.
One of the best books ever about the art of making comics with tips as to how to make them by one of the best artist and storytellers in the industry.
One of the best books ever about the art of making comics with tips as to how to make them by one of the best artist and storytellers in the industry.
July 22, 2018
Outside of Scott McCloud's books, Dave Gibbons and Tim Pilcher have created a textbook for comics creation.
December 11, 2019
A comprehensive guide to the creation of comic books, both writing and the artwork, from one of the best creators in the medium.
March 15, 2020
'How Comics Work' by Dave Gibbons and Tim Pilcher is a practical look at all the aspects it takes to create a comic book.
Chapter headings include scriptwriting, sequential storytelling, lettering, and design. Within these are subjects like page markup, character and costume design, and pacing and movement. Dave Gibbon's years of experience in the industry shines through with lots of examples from his own work on titles like The Watchmen. Each chapter includes an article about an influence on Dave in that area, so there is Wally Wood for art and Frank Miller for storytelling.
I've read a few books on comics art, but not one that lays out everything from the script to the front cover. The writing is good and the included illustrations really show what's involved. I really enjoyed reading this one.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Wellfleet Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Chapter headings include scriptwriting, sequential storytelling, lettering, and design. Within these are subjects like page markup, character and costume design, and pacing and movement. Dave Gibbon's years of experience in the industry shines through with lots of examples from his own work on titles like The Watchmen. Each chapter includes an article about an influence on Dave in that area, so there is Wally Wood for art and Frank Miller for storytelling.
I've read a few books on comics art, but not one that lays out everything from the script to the front cover. The writing is good and the included illustrations really show what's involved. I really enjoyed reading this one.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Wellfleet Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
January 30, 2020
A must-read for any comic creator at any level of experience.
This was a great read. It's very informative, it doles out information in little bite-size chunks, and it's an absolutely gorgeous book. The artwork in it is fantastic.
Dave Gibbons is an absolute master of the form, and every single thing he has to say about how a comic is created is worth reading.
I'm a writer, and I was particularly interested in the stuff about illustrating and design since that's the side I'm not really involved in. Gibbons really gives you a succinct behind-the-scenes look at how every step of the comic-creation process is tackled.
This was a great read. It's very informative, it doles out information in little bite-size chunks, and it's an absolutely gorgeous book. The artwork in it is fantastic.
Dave Gibbons is an absolute master of the form, and every single thing he has to say about how a comic is created is worth reading.
I'm a writer, and I was particularly interested in the stuff about illustrating and design since that's the side I'm not really involved in. Gibbons really gives you a succinct behind-the-scenes look at how every step of the comic-creation process is tackled.
June 5, 2024
Dave Gibbons was a fan artists when I first encountered his artwork in Fantasy Advertiser. It was obvious he was going go professional but who knew the dizzying heights he'd go to. So if you want a masterclass that does not focus on minutiae but does give you a great overview of creating comics who else would you go to?
Gibbons naturally uses examples of his favourites and loads of his own work which makes this all the more interesting. It's an easy read but must have been so much work to produce, finding rough drafts for scripts and ideas plus artwork
I'm not certain of Tim Pilcher's role and notice he is left off the credits here
Gibbons naturally uses examples of his favourites and loads of his own work which makes this all the more interesting. It's an easy read but must have been so much work to produce, finding rough drafts for scripts and ideas plus artwork
I'm not certain of Tim Pilcher's role and notice he is left off the credits here
April 1, 2022
101 - 2022
May 8, 2023
A must for Dave Gibbons fans!
Great insight into the world of comic writing, layout and design.
Great insight into the world of comic writing, layout and design.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews