Reinventing Comics: The Evolution of an Art Form – Twelve Revolutions in Digital Publishing, Creators' Rights, and the Future of Storytelling

It’s probably been 25 years since I first read Scott McCloud’s Reinventing Comics. Having recently reread his Understanding Comics, I was curious to see how the sequel read all these years later. While some of the technical references are stuck in 2000, the fundamental ideas are as invigorating and stimulating as ever. What surprised me was how little comics have evolved in the way McCloud suggested they might—at least to this point. In fact, the opposite seems to have happened. Mostly, the dynamic picturescape McCloud foresaw has been the dominion of gaming. Meanwhile, comics have been born again in a new upcropping of brick-and-mortar stores that folks like me enjoy frequenting to buy printed comics over which we pore to be transported into interactive worlds that exist only in our own minds. A thought-provoking read!

Following his absolutely perfect Understanding Comics from 1993, this 2000 book is a great What-If? book where Scott McCloud analyzes the zeitgeist of Comics in the US, and explores the industry's history as well as it's possible future. Form the vantage point of 2000, it is surprising how far McCloud's understanding of the digital option is accurate, and although some of his predictions have bared fruit, it's also interesting to see the exploration of mediums that basically already passed. I strongly feel that this is an important a book as his previous Understanding Comics, and would highly recommend this to Comics readers and probably insist (if I may be so bold) that comics artists, authors, businessmen and scholars make this a mandatory reading.

Very insightful

Comics have always been an under-appreciated art form. Survival, in this day and age of mondo-entertainment, where nary a second is left to find a way to boredom, comics are a dying art. Face it, most of the great ones have moved on, and few there are, who are willing to take their place. Scott McCloud has figured a way out of this dilemma -his ideas on the reinvention of this particular wheel, are the most original that I have heard on the subject. It is obvious that his passion for comics is the only thing that exceeds his zeal. If you are in the world of comics, or have ever considered it, listen to this man -he knows which way is UP!

A fantastic addition to my comic book reference library. It’s smart, insightful, and packed with the kind of context that makes you appreciate the medium even more. Great read if you love understanding how comics evolved into the art form they are today.

I have 3 of Scott McCloud's books related to comics and sequential art and they are all top notch quality. He really is good at breaking down ideas and connecting them to just about every aspect of human functions and human history. I enjoy reading comics here and there but after reading this book and the other two I have a new found appreciation for the medium as its helped me all around with my writing. If you enjoy anything related to comics - comic books, graphic novels, comic strips... - then Mr McCloud is the teacher for you. I very very highly recommend his books.

An informative book on the comic medium.

Another great book from Scott McCloud! If you are a consumer or creator of comics, then this is a book you will likely enjoy!

Scott's comic tutorial series is a classic and must be recommended to those around me interested in comics and animation. Really a lot of the rules and tutorials can be applied to storyboarding or just general art techniques.

So... What now? In these uncertain times in that the beloved "editorial paper" world is crumbling and falling apart, what we, poor comic creators, must do in order to spread our loveworks to the world? Well, Scott McCloud have all the answers, and they are full of bits and pixels. Just the way it's meant to be.

Very useful for understanding the history of comics and new ways of writing comics now and into the future.

Highly recommended!

Scott McCloud è l'autore di Understanding comics, un libro molto importante sul fumetto, sul suo valore come arte, sulle sue `regole', sul processo creativo del fumetto. In Reinventing comics affronta un tema sempre più importante, e cioè la rivoluzione telematica e le trasformazioni che questa sta imponendo sul fumetto stesso. Rispetto al libro precedente questo è più `politico', perché affronta l'aspetto industriale del fumetto come forma d'arte, la percezione sociale e politico-giuridica dello stesso, ed i problemi che derivano dalla forma attuale di produzione-distribuzione del fumetto (i costi fan sì che ci si concentri su certi temi main-stream, finendo per produrre fumetti `maschili' e `maggioritarî', solo su pochi generi). L'idea di McCloud è che l'artista sia tale solo se riesce a dire qualcosa che esce dal si-è-sempre-fatto-così, perché il `consueto', l'`industriale' è, alla fine, la morte della diversità, dell'ispirazione. Il problema è, però, quello di trovare il proprio pubblico. Se questo era, prima -nel mondo del fumetto di carta- difficile, l'avvento di internet lo rende invece possibile. Non solo, visto che questo mercato è potenzialmente enorme, questo potrebbe definire i contorni di un mondo completamente nuovo. Reinventare i fumetti, allora, perché il modo attuale di concepirli (vignette contenute in una pagina, ad es., in un medium cartaceo) può essere trasformato, ha sempre meno ragion d'essere, può essere migliore. E qui McCloud passa anche a fare una rassegna di qualche tentativo di reinventare il fumetto, con i suoi pro e contro. Libro estremamente interessante sulle prospettive future, attuale nonostante l'industria abbia preso delle strade differenti da quelle proposte. Un libro sul futuro, per il futuro.