A light-hearted interactive guide to comics and cartoon-making that uses an activity book format and creatively stimulating prompts to teach the fundamentals of cartooning in a fun and easy-to-follow fashion.
JESS SMART SMILEY makes rad pictures with his bare hands. Selected clients include Disney Pixar, Cartoon Network, Provo City, and Top Shelf Publishing.
“Let's Make Comics will help you master the secrets of a
powerful ancient art—using words and pictures in boxes to tell
stories. What better way to learn comics than through fun exercises
from an enthusiastic bear and turtle? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm
headed back in time to give this book to my childhood self.”—Grant
Snider, creator of The Shape of Ideas and Incidental
Comics
“Let's Make Comics! breaks the wall between reader and
creator, and is just the sort of book I wish I had around when I
was 10. Back then, I knew I wanted to make comics, but struggled
with the language. Sometimes I even wondered if comics was
something I could do. Jess generously shares his
knowledge and talent with young readers here, and when it finds its
way into the right pair of small hands, it will change their
world.”—Aaron Renier, creator of The Unsinkable Walker
Bean
“Packed full of learning potential and guaranteed hours of absorbed
child activity; not only is this crammed full of comic-making
ideas, it also gives an insight into how some picture book artists
work. A thoroughly enjoyable and totally brilliant activity book: I
envisage fights ensuing over my copy!”—Red Reading Hub
“This book claims to be aimed at 7-10 year olds but I think it
would be fun for kids of all ages. There is so much to learn and do
on every page. Forget loads of boring text, your lessons on how to
make your own comic are mostly presented in comic format. There are
other lessons which involve puzzles and learning to draw, but each
is simple and fun. But just because you are having fun doesn’t mean
that you are not learning skills and this book has a ton of them to
learn. All three of my kids have found this book fun and useful.
They are aged, 8, 11 and 13 years and all love drawing. The two
eldest love making comics and already have many creations. This
book has helped them to tone up on their skills, both in writing
and drawing. The lessons are well presented and funny and each page
has something interactive so the learning never stops. Neither does
the fun.”—Raisie Bay
“Smiley uses the likeable cartoon duo of Peanut the Turtle and
Bramble the Bear to humorously relate clear instructions which
break down comics making and storytelling into its various
components of drawing, basic plotting, inking, and lettering. His
reassuring and gentle proceed at your own pace approach encourages
practice and exploration using one’s imagination and observation of
the real world and how to play with different vantage points for
emphasis and visual interest. . . . [Let’s Make Comics'
s] skill building structure and clarity will guide anyone with
curiosity regardless of age through the process. Adults and
children doing these activities together could make for a memorable
bonding experience or possibly rekindle a long ago interest in art
or comics.”—Gay League
“A fun, well-designed and kid-friendly workbook which, if the
instructions are carefully followed, will crank up and start the
engine of comics in the mind and heart of anyone who’s ever wanted
to try their hand at making friends on paper.”—Chris Ware, author
of Building Stories
"Smiley leads readers through a roller-coaster ride of 90
jam-packed activity pages that offers a foundation for any budding
cartoonist."—llustoria Mag
"Let’s Make Comics reminds me of a juvenile version of Scott
McCloud’s Understanding Comics and in a logical world may
someday be considered just as important as stepping stone for the
creators of the future."—Forces of Geek
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