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How to Make Awesome Comics
Want to have awesome ideas, every time? Feel like turning your ideas into amazing stories? And ever wish you could make your creations come alive with incredible artwork?
If any of these things sounded cool to you, then How to Make Awesome Comics is the perfect book to help you on your way to comics/cartooning genius. Let Professor Panels and Art Monkey take you through every step you'll need to be on your way!
From the very basics (coming up with your stories and characters, learning how to draw) to more advanced levels (making art and text work together well, what makes a good villain, creating your own books from paper), How to Make Awesome Comics is a comprehensive and can't-put-down guide for every burgeoning artist, all from the mind of accomplished comic book-maker Neill Cameron.
If any of these things sounded cool to you, then How to Make Awesome Comics is the perfect book to help you on your way to comics/cartooning genius. Let Professor Panels and Art Monkey take you through every step you'll need to be on your way!
From the very basics (coming up with your stories and characters, learning how to draw) to more advanced levels (making art and text work together well, what makes a good villain, creating your own books from paper), How to Make Awesome Comics is a comprehensive and can't-put-down guide for every burgeoning artist, all from the mind of accomplished comic book-maker Neill Cameron.
64 pages, Paperback
Published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 10, 2018
Follow the adventures and hijinks of none other than Professor Panels and Art Monkey, comic creator extraordinaires, as they lead readers step by step towards creating their very own awesome comics! Armed with a paint brush and wealth of ideas, Art Monkey crafts the panels that illustrate Professor Panel’s brilliant lessons (but he always makes sure to leave a spot so his fellow artists can add their own ideas for extra awesomeness). Professor Panel, always ready to talk about comics, details every step of the way from creating an idea to making a plot, and, of course, drawing the comics themselves!
Comic fans of all ages will love this book, the adventures and misadventures of our two “teachers” reading as much like a comic itself as they teach the subject. There isn't a dry page in it (and there are 58 of them!!). Author Neil Cameron takes what initially could seem like intimidating concepts and writes them in their simplest and funniest forms while retaining the integrity of the lesson. Starting from the basics, Professor Panel and Art Monkey encourage readers to craft their own ideas, giving tips and tricks to provide a starting point, and with each chapter it builds a little further, adding character development, plot creation, paneling, and the comparison of detailed and non-detailed art!
There is a great balance of instruction, the narrative of Professor Panel and Art Monkey, and places for the readers to draw themselves. This makes readers part of the actual book, because Art Monkey is drawing their practice sheets as they read, and they must complete his work. And if they get stumped, Cameron helpfully supplies pages of awesome ideas at the back of the book for their perusal. This is an awesome book, and one to read if you feel like making, well, awesome comics!
Creative Writing Notes and Nods:
Had I had this book when I was just starting to draw, I would have gone (excuse the pun) bananas! The balance of good narrative and good instruction without losing the passion of either is a surprisingly slippery slope, but Cameron handles it with ease. The explanation of complex thoughts as simple topics is exceptionally well done; Professor Panel does not teach down to the readers, but rather explains things differently, and Art Monkey is always quick to call him out if things get too confusing. There is no lofty writing, no history of hows or whys or whats, just pure fun and creativity and the tools to use both. If there was any one thing that I would have changed, it would the reoccurring use of fart jokes, but they are admittedly humorous for kids (I remember laughing at a few in my time).
Comic fans of all ages will love this book, the adventures and misadventures of our two “teachers” reading as much like a comic itself as they teach the subject. There isn't a dry page in it (and there are 58 of them!!). Author Neil Cameron takes what initially could seem like intimidating concepts and writes them in their simplest and funniest forms while retaining the integrity of the lesson. Starting from the basics, Professor Panel and Art Monkey encourage readers to craft their own ideas, giving tips and tricks to provide a starting point, and with each chapter it builds a little further, adding character development, plot creation, paneling, and the comparison of detailed and non-detailed art!
There is a great balance of instruction, the narrative of Professor Panel and Art Monkey, and places for the readers to draw themselves. This makes readers part of the actual book, because Art Monkey is drawing their practice sheets as they read, and they must complete his work. And if they get stumped, Cameron helpfully supplies pages of awesome ideas at the back of the book for their perusal. This is an awesome book, and one to read if you feel like making, well, awesome comics!
Creative Writing Notes and Nods:
Had I had this book when I was just starting to draw, I would have gone (excuse the pun) bananas! The balance of good narrative and good instruction without losing the passion of either is a surprisingly slippery slope, but Cameron handles it with ease. The explanation of complex thoughts as simple topics is exceptionally well done; Professor Panel does not teach down to the readers, but rather explains things differently, and Art Monkey is always quick to call him out if things get too confusing. There is no lofty writing, no history of hows or whys or whats, just pure fun and creativity and the tools to use both. If there was any one thing that I would have changed, it would the reoccurring use of fart jokes, but they are admittedly humorous for kids (I remember laughing at a few in my time).
March 15, 2018
Cameron, Neill. How to Make Awesome Comics: with Professor Panels and Art Monkey. Scholastic Inc., 2017.
Genre: Nonfiction/How-to
Summary:
Being someone who knows absolutely nothing about comics, this is an awesome read. Neill Cameron does a great job of creating something that kids will not only want to read, but will be encouraged to start creating their own panels and comics as the book is laced with activities for the reader to try. The reader is guided by Professor Panels and Art Monkey through various lessons and readings that start with the basics and slowly progresses all the way through to paneling, but you won't even realize that as you will truly be having fun as you read and the 58 pages will absolutely fly by. This book also covers how writers should come up with and form their own ideas and is chalk full of useful tips and tricks. While this book is targeted for a younger audience, I truly think anyone can read this. I will use myself as an example here. I am 23 years old and a college student, but I have read maybe three comic books in my life, and never considered writing one of my own at all. So even though this may be meant to get young children interested in comics I think this work is truly universal. Essentially this is a workbook for the aspiring comic writer or artist, and is an excellent tool for those who hope to get better.
A Creative Writing Lens:
In terms of creativity, I am not sure if there is a book out there that can top this one. Cameron not only has an engaging read, but also has points where the reader can draw their own comics and work on what they have learned. Being someone who is a visual learner, this is great. You see some step by step instruction and then have the opportunity to try it yourself. Now granted this is a very unique book, your Harry Potter's and Hunger Games' of the world don't afford the reader that opportunity (and really shouldn't), as that is not what those books are meant for. In terms of a workbook that engages and encourages the reader, I don't know if it can be done any better.
Genre: Nonfiction/How-to
Summary:
Being someone who knows absolutely nothing about comics, this is an awesome read. Neill Cameron does a great job of creating something that kids will not only want to read, but will be encouraged to start creating their own panels and comics as the book is laced with activities for the reader to try. The reader is guided by Professor Panels and Art Monkey through various lessons and readings that start with the basics and slowly progresses all the way through to paneling, but you won't even realize that as you will truly be having fun as you read and the 58 pages will absolutely fly by. This book also covers how writers should come up with and form their own ideas and is chalk full of useful tips and tricks. While this book is targeted for a younger audience, I truly think anyone can read this. I will use myself as an example here. I am 23 years old and a college student, but I have read maybe three comic books in my life, and never considered writing one of my own at all. So even though this may be meant to get young children interested in comics I think this work is truly universal. Essentially this is a workbook for the aspiring comic writer or artist, and is an excellent tool for those who hope to get better.
A Creative Writing Lens:
In terms of creativity, I am not sure if there is a book out there that can top this one. Cameron not only has an engaging read, but also has points where the reader can draw their own comics and work on what they have learned. Being someone who is a visual learner, this is great. You see some step by step instruction and then have the opportunity to try it yourself. Now granted this is a very unique book, your Harry Potter's and Hunger Games' of the world don't afford the reader that opportunity (and really shouldn't), as that is not what those books are meant for. In terms of a workbook that engages and encourages the reader, I don't know if it can be done any better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2018
An inspired way to learn about comic-making, by reading a comic about creating comics! The character Professor Panels (with a speech bubble for a head) takes readers through steps and strategies for making their own stories using a casual and humorous tone. Perfect for readers with any ability, the book encourages all kids to create comics, emphasizing the importance of story and character over quality of art. Throughout the instructions, empty spaces are left for readers to make their own attempts at what the text is instructing. Though children in grades 4-6 who are motivated to make comics will enjoy delving into this guide, teachers and librarians can certainly use this to plan lessons or library events that will appeal to a wide audience.
January 15, 2018
A workbook-type treatment of how to write and draw your own comics, this full-color paperback book is chock-a-block with ideas and suggestions for kids to write/draw their own stories. Diversity is demonstrated throughout – boys and girls, children with different shades of skin, nerds and cool kids. Humor is abundant in the writing and includes toilet humor and pratfalls, with the author modeling and encouraging all along the way. Lots of white space and empty boxes are spread throughout, with the author leaving prompts for readers to draw in this consumable book.
A fun purchase for a parent to give their child, this is an optional purchase for libraries serving grades 3-6.
A fun purchase for a parent to give their child, this is an optional purchase for libraries serving grades 3-6.
September 29, 2017
Brilliant book. I bought this book for my eight? seven? nine year old? son. and he loved it. What's really great about it is you can download and print out a lot of the pages, so when you're trying out all the cool ideas you don't ruin your copy.
I'd recommend this book for ANYONE looking to learn how to make awesome comics, not just children, grown ups too.
I'd recommend this book for ANYONE looking to learn how to make awesome comics, not just children, grown ups too.
September 24, 2019
Humorous how-to guide for kids, led by Professor Panels and Art Monkey. A few of the jokes and references might be a bit too British for an American audience, and the instructions never get beyond the basics. Still, for an intro, this distilled a lot of skills about art, writing, and comics storytelling into a very few pages, and still included space to make it your own.
July 3, 2017
My son loved reading this book with me. Review coming soon!
February 18, 2018
Fun how-to book for your budding graphic novelists.
November 11, 2014
The Phoenix presents another great little collection, this time on the theme of creating your own comics, packed with plenty of tips, tricks and ideas. Aimed squarely at kids (but there’s no reason keen adults won’t reap the rewards of reading too) this is a clever, involving and often humorous guide that covers everything from posture to character design and from story writing to physical production.
Your guides for this process are Professor Panels and Art Monkey, two characters to demonstrate the practicalities and possibilities of the art form. In my experience, kids usually just need a nudge to get creative, and Neill Cameron provides this page after page with inventive ideas and practical tasks. The tasks, for example, lay the ground work and ask the children to complete the exercise, so the more cautious are guided as much as they need to be while the bolder children can crack straight on - and don’t worry if you don’t want to damage your precious book as there are downloadable versions available from the Phoenix website.
A nice touch is Professor Panels’ formula for coming up with new characters. In a nutshell, you think of something awesome (say, a pirate) and then think of something else that is awesome (a T.rex) and merge them together to get something that is Totally Super Awesome: Captain T.rex, Scourge of Seven Seas This theme of blending is returned to often, and it’s a great way to encourage kids to think a little differently.
Anyone of school age who loves drawing or just enjoys reading comics is going to find plenty of interest inside this book. An inspiring and informative read.
Your guides for this process are Professor Panels and Art Monkey, two characters to demonstrate the practicalities and possibilities of the art form. In my experience, kids usually just need a nudge to get creative, and Neill Cameron provides this page after page with inventive ideas and practical tasks. The tasks, for example, lay the ground work and ask the children to complete the exercise, so the more cautious are guided as much as they need to be while the bolder children can crack straight on - and don’t worry if you don’t want to damage your precious book as there are downloadable versions available from the Phoenix website.
A nice touch is Professor Panels’ formula for coming up with new characters. In a nutshell, you think of something awesome (say, a pirate) and then think of something else that is awesome (a T.rex) and merge them together to get something that is Totally Super Awesome: Captain T.rex, Scourge of Seven Seas This theme of blending is returned to often, and it’s a great way to encourage kids to think a little differently.
Anyone of school age who loves drawing or just enjoys reading comics is going to find plenty of interest inside this book. An inspiring and informative read.
September 12, 2014
How to have ideas, tell a story, be funny, original and creative. All kids should read this. Then all kids should make their own comics and sell them.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews