guest post by Aaron Muszalski
Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art is a richly insightful exploration of the medium of comics told, appropriately enough, in comic-book form. Originally published in 1993, it quickly came to be regarded as a classic, not only for helping to elevate sequential art to the same level as other, more “legitimate” art forms, but for its engaging, exuberant style. Understanding Comics is an absolute delight to read, full of humor and the author’s obviously deep affection for the unique magic that only comics can achieve.
But what makes Understanding Comics truly great is its scope. For in order to properly redefine how comics were viewed relative to other forms of art, McCloud first needed to define art itself. All art, from the origin of humankind through the era of mechanical reproduction and beyond. That he succeeded at such an ambitious task is not half as surprising as the fact that the result is so supremely accessible. Understanding Comics is no less than a comprehensive primer on human perception, creativity, storytelling, representation, abstraction, empathy and a million points in between.
This breadth earned McCloud accolades from a diverse range of fans, including Apple Macintosh co-creator Andy Hertzfeld, who provocatively called Understanding Comics “one of the most insightful books about designing graphic user interfaces ever written.” Stewart Brand, Co-Founder of The Long Now Foundation, described Understanding Comics as “a seminal work at the level of Edward Tufte’s Envisioning Information.” And Alan Moore, the famed writer behind such modern comic classics as Watchmen, declared Understanding Comics to be “quite simply the best analysis of the medium that I have ever encountered.”
Propelled by this cross-disciplinary seal of approval, Understanding Comics became essential reading for anyone working in graphic communication during the 90’s, from user interface designers to CD-ROM developers and, eventually, many of the early pioneers of the World Wide Web. Born of a love for comics, McCloud’s far-reaching insights inspired a generation of information architects, and helped to shape the form of the Internet.
McCloud enthusiastically embraced the Internet himself, and was one of the earliest proponents of both webcomics and micropayments, concepts he explored in the sequel to Understanding Comics, 2000’s Reinventing Comics. Like Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics was also told entirely in comic form. In it, McCloud described “12 revolutions” that were necessary for the comics medium to survive. A controversial book, Reinventing Comics was not as successful as its predecessor, and even McCloud himself now describes it as “wordy, dogmatic” and containing “genuine flaws.”
Despite its inconsistencies, Reinventing Comics played an important part in the continued growth of the medium, inspiring many people to explore the potential of digital comics, and online comic publishing. That neither idea seems particularly remarkable to us now – a mere eight years later – is certainly due, at least in part, to the controversial revolutions McCloud advocated in Reinventing Comics. Today, the book remains both fascinating as well as prescient.
In 2006, McCloud came full-circle with the publication of Making Comics. Also told in comic form, Making Comics focuses on the practical application of the comics theory he explored in his previous books. Or, as McCloud says, “It’s the book they all thought I was writing the first time. They would ask me [about Understanding Comics] “Is it a how-to book?” And I would say, “no, not exactly.”
Of course, given the breadth of McCloud’s knowledge, Making Comics was certain to be much more than a mere “how-to book.” In an era when the processes of comic creation have become infinitely diverse, McCloud wisely chose not to focus on any single technique or tool (though he does address the subject). Rather, Making Comics seeks to educate aspiring comic artists in the underlying grammar of the medium, from which all other choices – aesthetic, technical, dramatic, and so forth – derive.
As always, Scott McCloud remains an artist in love with big ideas, accessibly communicated.
images by Scott McCloud
Here Are A Few Related Posts You Might Enjoy:
- TED Talk Featuring Scott McCloud on Understanding Comics
- 24 Hour Comics Book Day San Francisco
- Ecocomics: The Economics of Comic Books
- WonderCon 2008, A Comics & Pop Culture Convention
- Isotope Comics Lounge: Bloomingdale’s DC Comics Event & APE Aftermath
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
One other thing about Scott's books: they make GREAT gifts. Especially Understanding Comics, which I still consider to be required reading for anyone working in communication or the arts. But its appeal reaches far wider than that.
Over the years I've given copies of Understanding Comics to artists, scientists, photographers, web designers, filmmakers, engineers, writers, teachers and schoolchildren, with universally positive results. Everyone seems to find something exciting in it, some new and unexpected insight into art, themselves, or the world.
If you haven't yet read it, I'd suggest you go ahead and purchase two copies: one for yourself, and the second one that you're inevitably going to want to give as a gift.
“Over the years I've given copies of Understanding Comics to artists, scientists, photographers…”
Funny you should say that because I definitely learned things about photography reading his book. :)
Aaron, thanks! I didn't know there was a newer book
I haven't read UC, and your post does make me want to (not that it was ever on my list of books not to bother with). I must quibble, nonetheless, that I suspect a touch of hyperbole in the claim that McCloud was successful in defining art. I can buy that he presented a successful discussion of the meaning of art, or that he presented a definition that held up within the context of his books, but I'd be surprised to learn and I'd hate to think that he put that grand old question t rest.
Don't even get me started on the genius of Scott McCloud… Too late. He's like the Stephen Hawking of visual art. The best part of his books is that the information is applicable to almost any form of sequential art. The way he describes the words on the paper as being no different than the drawings (because they are both just symbols) really blew my mind. I can't find the picture here, but I'd love to get the image of the word balloon with the face inside it (in the panel where Scott's head is replaced with text) tattooed someday.
Thanks for the comment Starchy!
While I'll confess a tendency towards hyperbole (especially when it comes to creators whose work I've been so strongly impressed by) in this case the wording of my claim was intentional: he really does attempt to define What Art Is. While his resulting theory may not put that grand old question to rest – an infinity of semantic hair-splitting makes that a practical impossibility – he does succeed in providing at least one highly original and satisfying answer. (And it's the one that I find myself referring back to most often in my discussions about the hoary chestnut.
Mmmm… hoary chestnuts. Roasting on an open umlaut. Now THAT'S art.
Oh, and for everyone currently at San Diego ComicCon, Scott is in attendance, so it's an excellent opportunity to either pick up copies of his books, or just make his acquaintance. While I've never had the pleasure, I've heard that he's every bit as gregarious and generous as his comic alter-ego would lead you to believe.
I saw him on his 50 states tour last year – one of the highlights, certainly. He's a fantastic guy, who I'd recommend over many bands live.
One of the first college books one receives when pursuing a bachelor of fine arts. Wonderful resource and great post.
When I went to the store to buy this book about 5 years ago the guy recommend a myriad of “how to draw anime” books as being far superior to McClouds “Understanding Comics”. I just thought that was funny.
Thanks a lot! I didn't know about the new book.
Classic. Having spent a fair amount of time in comic book stores (and having known a number of clerks who would have made just such a recommendation), I can picture the scene *perfectly*.
People are funny, aren't we?