11/14/07 - Recommended Graphic Novel Made Into Animated Movie

Persepolis, a Graphic Novel, by Marjane Satrapi is on the posted list of CCG recommended reading. Sony Pictures released an animated movie adaptation of this book in Europe earlier this year. Satrapi, who has lived in France for a number of years, was heavily involved in the production of this film so it should remain true to it's source. It has won some awards and is scheduled for release here in the US around Christmas.

I am a big fan of the printed version of this work - I feel it really highlights the power of comics to break down cultural and political borders. I learned a lot from reading this - namely that people, even in countries that have governments unfriendly to the US government, have a lot more in common with me and my life than popular belief would suggest.

07/01/07 - Suggested Reading

Suggested Reading:

OK- Here's the beginning of what I hope will be a community effort to point interested readers in the right direction for some quality books. I am only posting books I own or have read or partially read. (So post your recommendations and or add them if you are a part of the team blog.) Updated: 3/27/15

Examples of the Medium
Graphic Novels

• Art Spiegelman - Maus I, II
• Craig Thompson - Blankets, Habibi
• Marjane Satrapi - Persepolis I, II (required reading at one or more US military colleges)
• Alison Bechdel - Fun Home
• David b - Epileptic
• Alfred Bester (w) & Howard Chaykin (a) - The Stars My Destination (amazon) [Novel Adaptation]
• Archie Goodwin (w) & Walter Simonson (a) - Alien [Movie Adaptation]

Comic Trade Paperbacks

• Bryan Talbot - A Tale of One Bad Rat - Dark Horse
• Tom Veitch and Bryan Talbot - The Nazz - DC Comics - (great insight as to how cults form)
• Various - Batman Black and White - DC Comics (SCAD sequential art faculty reference this work often!)

Educational
General Comics and Cartooning

• Matt Madden & Jessica Abel - Mastering Comics: Drawing Words & Writing Pictures
• Matt Madden & Jessica Abel - Drawing Words & Writing Pictures
• Scott McCloud - Understanding Comics
• Scott McCloud - Making Comics
• Will Eisner - Comics & Sequential Art (have not finished this one - hard read for me)
• Will Eisner - Graphic Storytelling (have not finished this one - hard read for me)
• Steve Lieber & Nat Gertler - The Complete Idiots Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel 
• Mike Manley & Danny Fingeroth - How to Create Comics From Script to Print - Twomorrows
• Jack Hamm - Cartooning the Head and Figure - Perigree

Writing Comics

• Denny O'Neil - DC Guide to Writing Comics - Watson Guptill
• Danny Fingeroth (Editor) - Write Now! (Magazine) - TwoMorrows Publishing

Drawing Comics

• Klaus Janson - DC Guide to Pencilling Comics - Watson Guptill
• Klaus Janson - DC Guide to Inking Comics - Watson Guptill
• Various - DC Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics - Watson Guptill
• David Chelsea - Perspective for Comics - Watson Guptill
• Mike Manley (Editor) - Draw! (Magazine) - TwoMorrows Publishing
• Bob McCleod (Editor) - Rough Stuff (Magazine) - TwoMorrows Publishing
• John Buscema and Stan Lee - Drawing Comics the Marvel Way
• Bob Hickey (Publisher) - Sketch (Magazine) - Blue Line Productions

Drawing General

• Jack Hamm - Drawing the Head and Figure - Perigree
• Jack Hamm - How to Draw Animals - Perigree
• Jack Hamm - Drawing Scenery: Landscapes and Seascapes - Perigree
• Gary Fagin - Facial Expressions: A Visual Guide for Artists - Watson Gutptill (have not finished reading)
• Andrew Loomis - Figure Drawing For All It's Worth - Out of print (PDF versions are available on the web or from CCG folks)
• Ron Tiner - Figure Drawing Without a Model - David and Charles Publishers

04/17/07 - Book Reviews: Anyone Interested?

This idea has been simmering with me for a while. I must confess the premise came after seeing some of the cool things that our local Adobe Users Group (www.d-mag.org) was doing. See their site for an example of what these book reviews might be like. My first thought is to get our members to review and rate some of the prominent "how-to" or educational books written about comics/cartooning/illustration.

I've been itching to comment on Wizard's How to Draw series - by the way, there will be another new one coming out in May. We could also review extraordinary comics, graphic novels and animated features/DVDs. I'm not sure about these reviews as I don't want to veer off into fandom - there are plenty of blogs and websites for that kind of coverage now! However, perhaps having a list of recommended readings posted here on our site would help grow the audience for these media?

Leave a comment or send me an email if you are interested in participating or have suggestions.