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mandalor3960's review against another edition
2.0
As the title suggests, this book is a really great companion toward a viewer who knows little on analyzing and understanding comics. It's like an English manual for understanding literature, but instead created for understanding comics. Some of the chapters (7 and 9) felt very opinionated and didn't seem to fit in with the entire mood of dissecting comics, rather McCloud's opinion on the goals of an artist or the manner in which an artist creates artwork.
Rating Update 4/6/19- 4 stars to 3 stars. I'm not convinced this deserves 4 stars. Yes, there are some revolutionary ideas that McCloud presents, but I read everything like a sloth. Not all the concepts stick with me either.
Rating Update 4/9/19- 3 stars to 2 stars. Like the previous rating update, I remember there being revolutionary ideas but most of it was a slog to get through. I really can only remember two concepts that I loved but the rest were blah blah blah "here's a picture of how time moves through pictures".
Update 14 June 2019
With the adoption of my new rating system, a two star rating is befitting. I cannot recall the contents of this book. The original review and subsequent rating updates are true; the book is a bore to read but there are some neat ideas. Because I cannot recall the contents of this book, and fear that a three star rating would be based off of my idealized version of this book, I have left the rating at two stars.
January 30, 2020
Update
I cannot remember the contents of this book, though I do recall enjoying the pyramid that charted several comics styles. My educated guess for my original reception of this book was that I found the book to be an alright read and a decent guide for comics (two stars). This is supported by this statement in the original review: "It's like an English manual for understanding literature, but instead created for understanding comics. Some of the chapters (7 and 9) felt very opinionated and didn't seem to fit in with the entire mood of dissecting comics, rather McCloud's opinion on the goals of an artist or the manner in which an artist creates artwork". Notice how I praise the book as being an English manual, then critique it for diverting from this stance in two chapters. I believe I was comfortable with the book being a decent manual.
Rating Update 4/6/19- 4 stars to 3 stars. I'm not convinced this deserves 4 stars. Yes, there are some revolutionary ideas that McCloud presents, but I read everything like a sloth. Not all the concepts stick with me either.
Rating Update 4/9/19- 3 stars to 2 stars. Like the previous rating update, I remember there being revolutionary ideas but most of it was a slog to get through. I really can only remember two concepts that I loved but the rest were blah blah blah "here's a picture of how time moves through pictures".
Update 14 June 2019
With the adoption of my new rating system, a two star rating is befitting. I cannot recall the contents of this book. The original review and subsequent rating updates are true; the book is a bore to read but there are some neat ideas. Because I cannot recall the contents of this book, and fear that a three star rating would be based off of my idealized version of this book, I have left the rating at two stars.
January 30, 2020
Update
I cannot remember the contents of this book, though I do recall enjoying the pyramid that charted several comics styles. My educated guess for my original reception of this book was that I found the book to be an alright read and a decent guide for comics (two stars). This is supported by this statement in the original review: "It's like an English manual for understanding literature, but instead created for understanding comics. Some of the chapters (7 and 9) felt very opinionated and didn't seem to fit in with the entire mood of dissecting comics, rather McCloud's opinion on the goals of an artist or the manner in which an artist creates artwork". Notice how I praise the book as being an English manual, then critique it for diverting from this stance in two chapters. I believe I was comfortable with the book being a decent manual.
nomada's review against another edition
5.0
I recently got back into the world of Graphic Novels, they help me relax and put my anxiety at bay for awhile. This lead me to Comic books, which led me to wanting to understand comics a little bit better. Everyone I asked recommended this book as a good introduction to the comic book medium. And I was not disappointed. It did an amazing job of describing the impact of Comics and how the readers view it.
mandoreviews's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
8.25/10
A really fun exploration of the medium of comics, how they function, and what implications they have on broader art.
#MandoReviews
A really fun exploration of the medium of comics, how they function, and what implications they have on broader art.
#MandoReviews
machinanastusia's review against another edition
3.0
It was an assigned text for class but the professor chose it off the price it rang at. It was great for the basics and to learn how to maybe try your own hand at creating a strip.
borrowedandbacklist's review against another edition
4.0
This was fascinating, both the history and explanation of how comics work.