I haven’t seen an art book quite like Manga Art: Inspiration and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator before. I’ve enjoyed Mark Crilley’s work for a long while, both his fiction comics (dating from Akiko) and his how-to-make-comics volumes. This is the book that comes closest to giving a good idea of what he really likes and wants to do. It’s simply a book of illustrations, all relating to manga in some way. In his introduction, Crilley praises the “atmosphere of […]

Reviewed by KC Carlson DC Comics Variant Covers: The Complete Visual History is the latest offering from Insight Editions, who specialize in 11″x14″ oversize hardcovers covering the best of comics. Some of their previous selections include Marvel’s Black Panther: The Illustrated History of a King: The Complete Comics Chronology, The Art of Harley Quinn, Marvel’s Black Widow: Creating the Avenging Super-Spy: The Complete Comics History, Marvel Vehicles: Owner’s Workshop Manual (in case you want to build a Helicarrier in your […]

Out in May is a new addition to the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series of books by Dana Simpson. Today I’ll Be a Unicorn is a board book aimed at preschoolers. It’s short, 12 pages, as typical of the format, and each two-page spread is one image of Phoebe and Marigold (the unicorn). There’s not a lot of art, but the concept is immediately understandable. Phoebe wants to be a unicorn, until she finds out what they eat. It’s cute […]

Since old people are the only ones who still buy magazines, it makes sense to make more magazines for old people. Have you heard of ReMIND magazine? It combines “a nostalgia magazine and a puzzle magazine all in one! Each issue has dozens of brain-teasing puzzles, trivia quizzes, classic comics, and features from the 1950s-1980s.” They’ve already cover-featured “Wonder Women” and “Classic Superheroes”. It’s put out by the same people behind TV Guide, which still exists. I was thinking about […]

Drawing Cute with Katie Cook: 200+ Lessons for Drawing Super Adorable Stuff is almost exactly what it says. (One could quibble with “lessons”, since most of the pages are just four process steps, from the first blob to the finished sketch.) This is a book that educates through encouraging mimicry, a time-tested approach. I can’t think of anything else out there like it, and I’d easily give it to an aspiring artist. The chapters cover animals, food, sports and games, […]

I had no idea, when I posted preview pages from The Art of Harley Quinn, just how huge this book was! It’s almost the size of a TV tray! All the better to show off the art pieces within in glossy color. It’s not just pretty pictures, though. There’s a foreword by Paul Dini, character co-creator, with some thoughts on how Harley Quinn lends herself to different approaches. There’s a brief history, with quotes and memories from key players, of […]

Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! is a young adult novel spun off from the popular comic series. It’s written by Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer, Supergirl: Being Super) with cover and occasional illustrations by Brooke A. Allen, co-creator of the Lumberjanes. It’s aimed at ages 10-14 years old, and older readers may find the writing a little strained, as early on, the book attempts to work in as much background and trivia about the characters and concept as possible. I thought it […]

The Many Lives of Catwoman: The Felonious History of a Feline Fatale is a comprehensive, readable history of this unique character. From the first chapter, where author Tim Hanley disassembles the myth of Bob Kane’s creation of the character (she was actually developed by Bill Finger, like much of Batman’s early mythology), it’s clear that he won’t be pulling his punches. (He previously wrote Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World’s Most Famous Heroine and Investigating Lois Lane: […]