The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics

by Klaus Janson and Mary Louise Kelly

For the aspiring artist who wants to become an expert comic book inker, The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics is the definitive, one-stop resource America's leading comic book publisher brings its... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823010295
• ISBN13: 9780823010295
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.5" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

Understanding the "WHY IS THAT?" about inking

When it comes to drawing or inking you have to understand the rules. Some people have natural ability when it comes to inking and they couldn't tell you exactly "why" they inked in a particular way. This book definitely goes into that realm. It will tell you the fundamentals of the inking process and in time you will develop your own inking style. This book is worth adding to your drawing reference library.

Inky Fingers

This book is like sitting down with a veteran inker and picking his brain. Tips on technique and the theory behind why it works, and a good peek into the world of comic book production. I've been working with ink for a long time, and I wanted some fresh ideas to experiment with. This book is like talking shop with a master.

The BEST book on INKING, yet....

I've read a lot of books on how-to-do comic art, some on writing and publishing, and this book stood out as soon as I began reading it. Last night I finished, and have to recommend this as the best book I ever read on the subject of comic book inking, and there is little need to improve over it as a feast of information. What Janson leaves out can be found in other books, but he carved the meat off the bone where others before were clawing off unappetizing chunks. Absolutely brilliant tips, tricks and approaches are found in these pages. The reviewer that calls this book 'preachy' merely is set to stumble into the holes awaiting most comic book artists on their way to mediocrity. Janson's primary lesson through every chapter is TO CONVEY INFORMATION TO THE COMIC READER. An inker clarifies and improves on the pencils, tightens them, and makes sure the storytelling in improved from pencils if not maintaining. Inside he covers light and dark, feathering, line weight, textures, and other basics that just aren't touched on in other books with the insight Klaus provides. And to help, he provides lots of lush B & W inked art from a period that probably influenced him - the Adams/Giordano/Wrightson/Kane period of DC comics. He also compared pencils to inks with more current art he inked over from Kane and Miller. While Janson's own ink style is rough and appears heavy handed, it does everything it has to with grit. Sometimes the art cries out, "USE THE CIRCLE TEMPLATE!!" but over all it demonstrates how he thinks in planning textures, placement of black and white or tone, and use of feathering to describe form. What the neo-Amero-Japo-manga artists need to learn, as does any art student going anywhere, is that art books give you information, and the more information they give you then the more their worth. Super enticing, glossy, sex bent art work should be reserved for the books people buy to enjoy the art and story, not the training manuals telling you info you use to plug into your own work. Janson hit it right on with this book, the rest is left up to you to DO and IMPROVE. Other books with good inking information - "Marvel Way" by Lee/Buscema has nice beginning info, and quick but pertinent info on weak and strong inking examples. "Rendering in Pen and Ink" by Guptill is a genius book on how to render and draw in ink for illustrators (or comic artists). "How To Draw Manga: Pen & Tone Techniques" by Ryo Touda handles a brilliant look at manga pens and tones. Everything else I fail to mention by name because it really isn't worth buying. You can put together a foundation of inking information with these 4 books that can't be beat at any art school in the nation.

Comic book inking

Janson gives a well written breakdown of the techniques needed to develop into a good inking. He discusses the finer points of story telling through the medium of illustration and uses a wide range of artists he admires as examples. It has become one of my go to books when drawing storyboards. This book, as well as his one on penciling is a must for anyone seriously interested in illustration.

It's NOT Tracing!!!

Simply put, this is the best book on inking I've read. Don't waste your money on other books, buy Jansen's and Miller's and learn everything you need to know.The book doesn't stop with instruction on techniques, tools, and materials, but gives you some great tips such as why you should keep your ink bottle in an ashtray!Anyone who has ever laboured under the misapprehension that comic book inking is just 'going over a proper artists drawing with a pen' is finally shown the error of their ways as Jansen and Miller demonstrate what a fine art inking is when practiced correctly. Moreover, this is a DC guide to inking, not a guide to inking DC characters. Once you've read this and got some practice in, you'll be able to ink everything from cartoons to the most cutting-edge comic book characters.Great text, great illustrations, what's stopping you?Buy it now!