Comic & Fantasy Artist's Photo Reference: Colossal Collection of Action Poses

by Buddy Scalera, Amanda Connor (Illustrator), Billy Tucci (Illustrator)

Created specifically for comic book and fantasy artists, the Colossal Collection of Action Poses features page after page of energetic, high quality, artfully composed reference photos. This isn?t your average visual aid full of boring, lifeless models in the same staid poses. In this book, you get WHAM! (Karate chop to the head!) WHOOSH! (Leaping out of danger!) ARGH! (I?ve been shot!). Running, flying, kicking, wielding weapons, it?s all here, along with a great selection of casual activities (talking on the phone, getting dressed, drinking) for carrying your storyline forward.
The "Colossal Collection of Action Poses" is a book that features a best-of style group of anatomy poses from Scalera's first three photo books, which Comic Artist's Photo People & Poses (2006), Comic Artist's Photo Women & Girls (2008), and Comic Artist's Photo Men & Boys (2008). 

The pose file book boasts an all-new cover by fan favorite artist Amanda Conner (Power Girl, Black Cat, Vampirella) and Paul Mounts (Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Ultimates). If you are looking for photo reference for artists, this is the original and best resource for figure drawing and cartooning. 

Scalera also includes never-before-seen photographs that were shot for the original books, but were not included due to space. And, the book features brand new art lessons from Michael Avon Oeming (Powers) and Thom Zahler (Love & Capes). Also included are classic educational lessons from Mitchell Breitweiser (Captain America), Sean Chen (Wolverine), Paul Chadwick (Concrete), David Hahn (Spider-Man), Matt Haley (Wonder Woman), Jamal Igle (Superman), Josh Howard (Dead@17), JG Jones (Wanted), Rafael Kayanan (Conan), Mike Lilly (Batman), Greg Land (X-Men), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Fernando Ruiz (Archie), William Tucci (Shi), and Mark Smylie (Archaia).

Genres: Art, Reference, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2011

About the author

Hey, it's me.

http://www.buddyscalera.com
http://www.comicbookschool.com

Reviews

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful for graphic novelization.

[Scott]

The Colossal Collection of Action Poses is just the latest in a series of reference volumes that are great resources for anyone trying to create their own action-based comic book. In this volumes and each of both Comic Artists Photo Reference: People and Poses and Comic Artists Photo Reference: Women and Girls, Scalera has taken over 1000 photographs of both male and female models standing in a variety of action poses -- holding various weapons, making kicks, swinging a cape, dressing, crouching, walking, applying make-up, etc. Additionally, there are sections for both sexes, with the models holding a variety of facial expressions -- anger, fright, sadness, happyness, pain, confusion, etc. For artists wanting a base to build an action sequence on, these images could prove invaluable. The photographer uses a number of different models with a variety of body types, thus providing a wide variety of source material for the artist. The only drawback I found in the The Colossal Collection of Action Poses was that the models were all young and fit -- no older folks or overweight body types. Otherwise, an excellent resource for artistic types. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the other volumes in Scalera's series.] Originally reviewed for my local library's website: http://www.lincolnlibraries.org/depts...

[Josh Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poses are okay, some much more useful than others. A good variance in models. Useful if you're looking for pose practice but I wouldn't start here if you're just learning to draw.