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A review by stopnodont
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
4.0
Occasionally brilliant, and definitely the most academic comic I've ever read. It's arguably a textbook on the topic of comics as a whole, but the knowledge is delivered in a much more pleasant and digestible package than a textbook normally offers.
There are some very poignant lessons in psychology, along with some tidbits of art history that helped hone my own understanding of certain art styles more than even college-level humanities coursework did. For example, I can finally articulate the difference between impressionism and expressionism - a matter which has plagued me for decades.
I don't agree with absolutely everything McCloud says. His definition of "comics" is perfect, but his definition of "art" is too idealistic and almost a little short-sighted, which is surprising considering the amount of thought and effort that clearly went into this book. To explain what I mean - under McCloud's definition of art, using the bathroom, blowing your nose, and sleeping would all be a form of art. I think it could be refined at least a little bit.
After a lifetime of turning my nose up at comics and graphic literature, I gave some "grown up" comics a fair shake earlier this year and found myself enamored with the world of graphic literature that I had been scoffing at for so long. I think things might have been different if I had read this book as a younger man and had my eyes opened to how complex and interesting this medium of storytelling actually is.
This book is a big achievement and an important work for the genre. Anyone even remotely interested in comics should read it.
There are some very poignant lessons in psychology, along with some tidbits of art history that helped hone my own understanding of certain art styles more than even college-level humanities coursework did. For example, I can finally articulate the difference between impressionism and expressionism - a matter which has plagued me for decades.
I don't agree with absolutely everything McCloud says. His definition of "comics" is perfect, but his definition of "art" is too idealistic and almost a little short-sighted, which is surprising considering the amount of thought and effort that clearly went into this book. To explain what I mean - under McCloud's definition of art, using the bathroom, blowing your nose, and sleeping would all be a form of art. I think it could be refined at least a little bit.
After a lifetime of turning my nose up at comics and graphic literature, I gave some "grown up" comics a fair shake earlier this year and found myself enamored with the world of graphic literature that I had been scoffing at for so long. I think things might have been different if I had read this book as a younger man and had my eyes opened to how complex and interesting this medium of storytelling actually is.
This book is a big achievement and an important work for the genre. Anyone even remotely interested in comics should read it.