understanding comics – scott mccloud – 5 stars

some people at work take smoke breaks. i take book review breaks. they have no idea the depths of nerdiness concealed beneath this stylish exterior.

and what’s more, it’s a book review on a comic book! a comic book about comics! yikes.

well here is the problem with this book then. it’s in comic book form, which is scary to non-comics readers — despite the fact that the book itself is an academic albeit creatively expressed explanation/validation of comics as a medium. so if you can bear to read this one comic, you might find yourself appreciating the potential of all the other comics out there, and be more open. if you can just clear that first hurdle.

because the book is definitely enjoyable, readable, engaging, and insightful, and deals with a visual medium you might not think about in a critical way. i thought this book was excellent and i’d recommend it to anyone, not just comics readers, who is at all interested in art or literature. yes, i still maintain that comics falls into those categories.

and if you already read comics, you have no excuse not to read this book. it’s fun, won’t take long to get through, and pretty enlightening. plus it might open your eyes to some nuances you hadn’t really thought to notice before, making comics even better.

either way, very worth the time and a great addition to my bookshelf. the person who gave me this book must be a very cool person indeed.

now to try to sort through

his other work and see if any

of the comics themselves hold up.