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Comics and Sequential Art: Principles and Practices from the Legendary Cartoonist (Will Eisner Instructional Books) Paperback – Illustrated, August 17, 2008

by Will Eisner (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 392 ratings
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"Comics and Sequential Art is a masterwork, the distillation of Will Eisner's genius to a clear and potent elixir."―Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

Will Eisner is one of the twentieth century's great American artists, a man who pioneered the field of comic arts. Here, in his classic Comics and Sequential Art, he refines the art of graphic storytelling into clear, concise principles that every cartoonist, comic artist, writer, and filmmaker meeds to know. Adapted from Eisner's landmark course at New York's School of Visual Arts, Comics and Sequential Art is an essential text filled with invaluable theories and easy-to-use techniques. Eisner reveals here the fundamentals of graphic storytelling. He addresses dialogue, anatomy, framing, and many other important aspects of the art form. Fully updated and revised to reflect current practices and technology, including a section on digital media, this introduction to the art of comics is as valuable a guide as it was when first published.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    August 17, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    8 x 0.5 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0393331261
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0393331264
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Indispensable technique from the mind of the master cartoonist who developed them. --Jeff Smith, creator of Bone"

There isn't a comics artist alive who hasn't benefited from Will Eisner's masterful work and formidable vision. --Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics"

When I decided I wanted to write comics, I bought a copy of Will Eisner's Comics and Sequential Art and studied it. If I were starting out today, with all the books on comics and graphic novels out there, I'd still begin with this book. --Neil Gaiman, creator of Sandman"

About the Author

Born in New York City, Will Eisner (1917–2005) was the author of the legendary comic strip The Spirit, as well as fifteen graphic novels and three influential instructional textbooks. The comic industry’s top awards, the Eisner Awards, are named in his honor.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Illustrated edition (August 17, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393331261
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393331264
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.5 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 392 ratings

About the author

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Will Eisner

Will Eisner

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WILL EISNER was born on March 6, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. By the time of his death on January 3, 2005, Will Eisner was recognized internationally as one of the giants in the field of sequential art, a term he coined.

In a career that spanned nearly eight decades - from the dawn of the comic book to the advent of digital comics - Will Eisner was truly the 'Father of the Graphic Novel' and the 'Orson Welles of Comics.' He broke new ground in the development of visual narrative and the language of comics and was the creator of The Spirit, John Law, Lady Luck, Mr. Mystic, Uncle Sam, Blackhawk, Sheena, and countless others.

During World War II, Will Eisner used the comic format to develop training and equipment maintenance manuals for the US Army. After the war this continued as the Army's "PS Magazine" which is still being produced today. Will Eisner taught Sequential Art at the New York School of Visual Arts for 20 years. The textbooks that he wrote were based on his course and are still bestsellers. In 1978, Will Eisner wrote "A Contract with God," the first modern Graphic Novel. This was followed by almost 20 additional graphic novels over the following 25 years.

The "Oscars" of the Comic Industry are called The Eisner Awards, and named after Will Eisner. The Eisners are presented annually before a packed ballroom at San Diego Comic-Con, America's largest comics convention.

Wizard magazine named Eisner "the most influential comic artist of all time." Michael Chabon's Pulitzer-prize winning novel "Kavalier and Clay" is based in good part on Eisner. In 2002, Eisner received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Federation for Jewish Culture, presented by Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman.

"Like" the Official Will Eisner Facebook Page and visit www.WillEisner.com for more information about Will Eisner.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
392 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Tab
5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to comics
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
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A well written and considered overview of comics.
One person found this helpful
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Ixy Morningstar
5.0 out of 5 stars So Helpful & Inspiring.
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2017
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I found this due to Neil Gaiman's short article reflecting on Will Eisner's death. Gaiman mentioned that when he began considering graphic novels, this was the go-to book he started with, and it is immediately noticeable as to why it was.

The format of the book itself is easy to read - the thing is quite large, though its overall weight is low, so it's still easy to read even with neck and shoulder problems like I have. The information is arranged into sections that build off of one another, so you get a clear understanding to the process of making sequential art, and the updates for online comics were added very thoughtfully, instead of being shoehorned in.

I've been taking my time reading the book, so that I absorb as much as I possibly can from it. I've also been looking at various comics that I own, and at online comics I enjoy, and picking them apart with each chapter, so that I have a very practical grasp of everything Eisner is discussing in the book. Despite it being a book, I almost feel like I'm sitting in a class being taught by Eisner, which is what I believe he was trying to do with the book.

I'm looking forward to getting the rest of the books in the series (there are two more, linked on the product page) once I finish with this one. I plan on reading it twice, and then having it on hand when I start working on my own graphic novel.

It really is a must have for any comic writer/artist!
17 people found this helpful
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Craudiolia
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Detailed! I Learned A Lot!
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2023
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This book is written very well! The author's words I very conversational, making reading it go by quickly. Yet, I still feel like I was able to absorb a lot of it because of how the information was presented. It goes over many different facets about comic books and graphic novels. For anyone trying to learn about the craft, this is the book to read!
2 people found this helpful
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Matthew D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing to complain about
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2023
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The book was in great condition and arrived in a timely manner. Absolutely satisfied.
One person found this helpful
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Josh W.
4.0 out of 5 stars It's a mental exercise that becomes very annoying when you pick up the other books in this ...
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2015
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Some of the page-to-page layouts and transitions are needlessly tough to follow, but after a while you figure it out. It's a mental exercise that becomes very annoying when you pick up the other books in this series that suffer the same issue.
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Norvell Maples
5.0 out of 5 stars Comic Creator must read
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2018
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This is absolutely a must read for anyone Comic Creator who is wanting to get started in the medium. There really is no one who has Mastered the Art like Eisner... Heck... Eisner invented the Art of Sequential Story telling... a very well layed out how to on using the medium to the story tellers advantage... Eisner shows how the Comic page is not just a story board for a movie... and how certain things have to be pretty much a certain way to draw the eye across the page in a clear and comfortable way... the layouts have to fall into the background of the unconscious reader of else the effect is confusion and an interruption of the story line...

a Great Read...
4 people found this helpful
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Parka
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of useful tips, techniques and insight
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2009
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The media could not be loaded.
 The book focuses on the creation of comics and the various techniques one can use. Specifically, it talks about the why the techniques work and the concepts behind. The various lessons touch on timing, framing, composition, expressive anatomy, writing for comics and other application of comics.

Every page of comics included that serve as examples come with captions. They explain the effect to achieve on readers. One example would be to tilt a composition of a moving train to simulate the rocking on the tracks.

How Will Eisner uses his panels and framing is amazing. He can use doorways or windows on a plane as frames, and he can so easily blend his panels together using the environment. Paneling and pacing when done right really just enhances the story. You'll see and understand why it works. It's all explained.

This book will serve as a very good introduction to comic artists. Professionals might learn some new ways of doing things too.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)
21 people found this helpful
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Ruth Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars The author's name.
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
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Top reviews from other countries

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Leonardo Gabriel Medrano Bravo
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy util para comenzar a diseñar las viñetas
Reviewed in Mexico on June 23, 2022
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Tiene pocos capítulos pero cada uno muy útil e informativo en como construir comics y narrativa visual.
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Brenda
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and entertaining
Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2021
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Will Eisner never fails to give his best. I love this book and the other 2 of the same topic. Essential for anyone practicing cartoon drawing and visual story telling.
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Matt Loft
5.0 out of 5 stars Insights from a comics master
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 15, 2023
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Excellent insights into a true comic master's work. Great quality book for art and comic enthusiasts. Enjoying this high-quality book so far.
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Mololo
5.0 out of 5 stars La mejor guía sobre narrativa visual. (En inglés)
Reviewed in Spain on December 9, 2022
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Descatalogado en español hace décadas. El mejor manual sobre narrativa visual.
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E. Man
5.0 out of 5 stars Di Eisner ti puoi fidare
Reviewed in Italy on February 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
La citazione di Neil Gaiman che si legge in copertina è già di per sé un'ottima recensione.
Il libro è in inglese.
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