Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56452 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Synopsis
Explains how digital revolutions are affecting the comic strip business, from the artist's creation of the comic strips to the distribution of the finished product to the consumers.

Customer Reviews

Highly readable but ultimately disappointing
Scott McCloud was always going to have a hard time topping the inspired, revolutionary 'Understanding Comics', and it is perhaps no surprise that this follow-up does not entirely manage to do so. It's certainly highly readable, with McCloud's likeable approach and unquestionable intelligence coming through on every page. But whereas 'Understanding' was a cohesive, tightly-structured study of the language, conventions and underpinnings of comics, 'Reinventing' fails perhaps because in the end it attempts to do too much. The best sections, containing McCloud's theorising on the potential for various forms of digital / online comics, work so well because of the author's infectious enthusiasm for his subject. Other topics, such as a discussion of the woes of the current comics industry and the need for wider cultural representation in the medium, lack this enthusiasm and suffer for it. I suppose the best way to sum it up is to say that whereas 'Understanding' not only fired me up with the desire to create comics but also gave me concrete tools and things to think about, 'Reinventing' did moderately well at the first aspect, but did little regarding the second. Certainly worth reading if you're interested in the future possibilites for the medium, but not the classic it's predecessor was.

A Dated Look at Ways to Break Out of the Box That Comics Are In

Reinventing Comics has one strength that makes it timeless: Scott McCloud systematically explains what was wrong with the comics that were created through the end of the 20th century. When he switches over to what's needed to overcome those issues, the book becomes more idealistic than practical in many areas. The book is particularly hobbled by a limited appreciation of how comics might blur with (and be surpassed by) electronic gaming.

His basic optimism is that the comics genre can expand to satisfy more readers' needs by:

1. Becoming more like literature.
2. Developing as an art form.
3. Providing creators with more rights.
4. Changing the industry business model to serve everyone's needs better
5. Improving public image.
6. Reducing the heavy hand of governmental overview.
7. Appeal to females.
8. Represent all kinds of people.
9. Diversify in subgenres.
10. Employing improved digital production methods.
11. Providing digital delivery.
12. Exploring the potential of digital comics.

Basically, he sees escaping the box of limited distribution by providing online, direct distribution. This method is potentially cheaper and could provide for more creators while eliminating many intermediaries.

I suspect that some of his optimism will be "over the rainbow" for quite a while yet.

It's interesting that even the blockbuster success of so many comic-based characters hasn't helped to reinvigorate the comics business more. I think that's where he doesn't realize that in a world of video, comics seem dated and static.

Will comics go the way of high art and become something primarily for older aficionados? I doubt it. Comics are like candy to boys of a certain age. Comics help them to dream. Can comics go beyond that heritage? It's possible, but is it likely? Books like this one will have to do more than point the way: Breakthrough success is needed to draw an audience and more inspired creators.

I hope Mr. McCloud is right. I still like comics.

Not as good as Understanding Comics
Scott McCloud is the creator of the series "Understanding Comics". This revolutionary comic type reveals the true path of comic history and its follow up.

In Understanding Comics, Scott describes comics as an misunderstood art that combines literature with art and other things. Scott tries to make people care about comics and not see them as a less quality work of art.

Although very good, this book isn't as good as the first one.