[...] first in the process). I’m probably going to cover ground many others have trod before; the Comics Worth Reading blog calls the second half “outdated and silly to today’s readers” even as he endorses the first half. [...]

[...] today as the author of Understanding Comics, a non-fiction exploration of the format; its followup, Reinventing Comics, which examines technology; and a how-to book, Making Comics. But he originally started with this [...]

[...] was originally the theory that digital comics had no limit, credited to Scott McCloud’s book, Reinventing Comics. As noted in comments on the Gaiman comic, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey’s Tarquin Engine (previous) [...]

[...] followed this book with Reinventing Comics and Making Comics. [...]

At the time, I thought he dodged the question when he replied “well, both”

As time wears on, though, I have to concede that Scott knows something we don’t. If we’re talking theory and not application (and ‘digital comics’ changes week to week for gods’ sakes) then all 3 books are must-reads — and more and more the redheaded-step-child Reinventing Comics looks to be best of the lot

…well, not yet. I’d still pick Making Comics if asked today. Winter went with Reinventing Comics, tho, so maybe she knows something we don’t

I did a post a few months back on my site about Scott McCloud where I challenged everyone in comics, from readers to creators to publishers to journalists to retailers, to each take 3 of McClouds “revolutions” to champion.

This could be as simple as the way you describe the books you read to friends or as complex as a publisher completely rethinking their marketing strategies.

I think, in order to survive, the industry needs to change, and it’s not going to happen until we all stop complaining about where we are at and start taking some solid steps towards making real-life, practical changes.

I see more and more of these changes take place every day… it’s a very exciting time for those who care.

I don’t really think the “comics must be saved” sentiment is as up-to-date as you do. McCloud was writing at a time when people couldn’t really see past the traditional comic-book store, and when that store’s sales had been sinking for years. Manga, OGNs, webcomics, even traditional “floppy” comic books have all seen their fortunes rise since then, and McCloud may not be interested in Hollywood but Hollywood’s attention has benefited the comics form. Things are tough all over, but this is a much better time to be doing comics than 1998-2001 was.

I agree about everything else, though. People got too worked up over a relatively small part of the book to see the work as a whole.