MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
Make It Better!
How can we make comics better? How can we get comics into the hands of younger readers?
That is the name of the game isn’t it? It is also the goal of this column and seems to be the main interest of most of the readers of the column. By the way, thanks for all the emails lately, and I will reply to every one over the next week. Things have been especially busy lately, but your emails are great, encouraging, and much appreciated.
So this past week the plan was to reread the previous columns and compile a Recommended Reading list from the previous columns, that will be added to each week or so. Please click on both and take a look. Love to hear what you think.
Now this column will serve several purposes: hopefully entertain you with stories from here at Archie Comics plus musings on the All Ages comic book scene, and now to help the kids, teens, adults, parents, teachers and librarians out there become more aware of the great material available.
It would also be nice to start listing all the available resources for learning about what comics has to offer school and libraries. A resource center if you will. So please email
if you know of anything of interest.
As this weeks setting up the new section took about 3 times longer than usual, the column will be a little short, in order for me to recoup and you to hopefully find something else fun to read, in addition to this column of course.
See you next Tuesday, for more rambling and a few more good reads! Plus a good idea for both Comic Book stores and Schools to make a little money and for students to have a great time for Valentine’s Day!
Send your thoughts and projects you’d like to see reviewed to: mikep@silverbulletcomicbooks.com
Check out some new All Ages reads on sale this week:
NOV060011 USAGI YOJIMBO #100 (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
NOV060255 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #29 $2.25
NOV063302 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #128 $3.69
NOV060253 KRYPTO THE SUPER DOG #5 (OF 6) $2.25
NOV063298 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #172 $2.49
OCT063381 NODWICK #36 $2.99
JUL042019 RUNAWAYS VOL 2 TEENAGE WASTELAND DIGEST TP $7.99
STAR19046 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG BEGINNINGS TP $10.95
NOV063304 SABRINA VOL 2 #82 $2.25
OCT063247 SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR #4 $2.99
NOV063583 UNCLE SCROOGE #362 (NOTE PRICE) $7.50
COMIC BOOKS
KRYPTO THE SUPERDOG
KRYPTO THE SUPERDOG from DC Comics DC Johnny line and based on the morning cartoon show. The first issue just hit stands last week and is a perfect introduction to the characters and stories for this 6-issue mini-series. It just as good for fans of past great DC Johnny series Superman Adventures, Batman Strikes and a handful of others. Popular artist Min S. Ku is back penciling along with Jesse Leon McCann writing, Jeff Albrecht inking, letterer/colorist Dave Tanguay, Assistant editor Rachel Gluckstein and editor Joan Hilty really craft a great adventure geared at the youngest audience and longtime fans of the K-9 character. The issue is broken up into smaller stories within the issue featuring a handful of the great characters. With Streaky the Super Cat, Ace the Bat Hound and Krypto making the adventures, this is one read a kid or kid-at-heart can’t miss. What could possible be cooler than having Krypto as a superpet?
KRYPTO THE SUPER DOG #1 (OF 6)
Price: $2.25
Format: 32 pages, Full Color, Mini Series
Diamond Item Code: STAR JUL060201
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
ARCHIE & FRIENDS # 101 and on KATY KEENE
If your first appearance was in 1945 how well would you hold up? Katy Keene, Archie Comics’ super model glamour girl is back in a big way as a back up feature in the pages of Archie and Friends beginning with issue #101, and of course she looks great.
To say response for the new stories of Katy Keene has been good would be as close to an understatement as possible. Katy Keene is hot, and not because she is good looking, but because Katy is gaining attention despite being something a little different than what comics has seen in years. For an Archie property to receive any amount of coverage it usually has to be an event. Something like when Tania Del Rio took over both the writing and art chores for Sabrina The Teenage Witch and moving it into more mature stories with a strong Manga influence (incidentally, another great title to read). Or Archie will get head lines with their 65th Anniversary year celebration, or the new Sonic The Hedgehog and the previously mentioned Sabrina stories being collected in trades for later this year.
Katy however has been getting all sorts of attention even before her comeback. When Archie announced that Katy Keen would be a short story feature of 11 pages or less in each issue of Archie & Friends starting with #101 the mail came rolling in. Before the first story saw print a minimum of 5 pieces of mail a day would arrive. Doesn’t sound like much but that is 15 pieces a month, before a page of story had been printed about a character that hasn’t been in print in a decade. There was no advertising. No big displays at any cons. Just word of mouth and some smart people who run industry websites and magazines covering the return.
One thing that has been a constant in Katy’s life besides the glamour and stardom has been her team of thousands of fashion designers: the readers. That’s right! Just like the first time around Katy has girls and boys, women, men and readers of all ages sending in designs of bathing suits and dresses, casual clothes and other high fashion. This is not a contest. You send in a drawing of a ball gown and Katy needs to wear a ball gown you just got your outfit and name in a comic book. Pretty cool. In a world were fans can sometimes being overlooked, along comes Archie to let the fans know how important they are.
Katy’s’ return is probably just as surprising as the person at the helm. Andrew Pepoy is a name most comic readers have seen in any number of comics as one of the best inkers in the industry for well over the past decade. For an inker to get a chance to not only pencil and ink but to write as well is rare as a Hollywood story with an unhappy ending. But here we are with Andrew showing he is a capable writer and a great good girl artist.
What is nicest about Katy Keene’s stories like all things Archie is the sharing of characters with such generational appeal. Kids get their parents and grandparents to relive some of their youth and parents know that these stories are fun to read as an adult but safe for their kids to read.
Gorgeous women, good-looking guys, funny jokes, romance, backstabbing, movie stars and celebrity all wrapped in the page of Archie & Friends. Check out www.archiecomics.com for more info and of course if you want to send some drawings of your outfits for Katy to wear that info is up too.
Granted there is some bias, I am the editor, but just give it a few pages to see how beautiful the art is and how charming the stories are. That’s not much to ask to read, is it?
ARCHIE & FRIENDS # 101 and on, KATY KEENE
Writer, Penciller, & Inker: Andrew Pepoy, John Workman-letterer, Editors: Mike Pellerito & Victor Gorelick, Editor-In-Chief: Richard Goldwater
Price: $2.25
Format: 32 Pages, Full Color, Ongoing Series
UPC #: 62816-46965-10111
Diamond Item Code: MAR062954
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
Order online: http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG # 160 & 161
The story is pretty straightforward. The Freedom Fighters, of which Sonic is the coolest hero, protect the Kingdom of Knothole, and the whole planet really, from the evil genius Dr. Robotnik. It’s Sonic’s birthday, and of course Dr. Robotnik has to send a gift: two hired evildoers to ruin the party. Sonic fans will recognize Bean, a fast talking insanely funny green duck, and Bark, a big quite brute from the Sega game; SONIC: THE FIGHTERS released on the compilation SONIC GEMS. And just to hedge his bets, pun totally intended, Robotnik send a robotic recreation-Croctobot! Part Crocodile, part Octopus all hilariously insecure robotic destruction machine. All the while Sonic’s recently displaced evil twin has gotten a major power upgrade, a new look, new moniker of Scourge, and is looking to take out Sonic and everyone who gets in his way. All this, plus a back up-by Tania Del Rio (Sabrina the Teenage Witch writer/artist) with Jim Amash –inks, Teresa Davidson-letters, and Ben Hunzeker-colors. The back up features new female character Blaze and is a video game tie-in of SONIC RUSH. And it appears Blaze want to go toe to toe with Sonic!
For $2.25 that is a lot of entertainment, for any age.
Reviewing the proofs for SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #160 and #161 from the colorist, at least the dozenth time reading the issues, it’s impossible to not burst out laughing. And with that, a warm delicious mouthful of morning coffee just became airborne by way of the nostril expressway. The other people in the office, being quite used to odd occurrences given the nature of the business, were all too happy to point and laugh at this physical feat of complete foolishness. This isn’t the first time this sort of thing happened. On a quick flight to Louisville, Kentucky, it was physically impossible to suppress the laughter from SONIC’s second title SONIC X. Those flights to Louisville are small, 20 people tops, and laughing out loud as jokes get tossed around just like evil robots and exploding bombs, all while everyone on board wonders what’s wrong with the giggling fool up front.
Yes, SONIC is that fun! These comics are full of action, danger, romance, and some great jokes. The way comics were when heroes were heroes.
Now, you may say that this is a biased opinion, since it is from the editor of the book. Fine. Go to your comic purveyor of choice, stand in the store and read the first 5 or 6 pages, put it down, walk away. I dare you. If you have no desire to find out what happens, don’t buy it. If you are curious, and you will be, buy it. Read the rest at home, expel some coffee, or whatever you drink, out your nose, and have a good time reading comics again. And when you’re done reading SONIC, clean up the mess and give it to some kid, your kid, another comic reader, whoever and let them have some fun too. You may want to offer a hanky too.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #160
Ian Flynn-Writer, Tracy Yardley! & Tania Del Rio - Pencillers, Jim Amash-inker, John Workman-letterer and Jason Jensen-colorist, Editor: Mike Pellerito, Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick, Editor-In-Chief: Richard Goldwater
Price: $2.25
Format: 32 Pages, Full Color, Ongoing Series
Diamond Item Code: JAN062864
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
Order online: http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #161
Ian Flynn-Writer, Tracy Yardley! & Tania Del Rio - Pencillers, Jim Amash-inker, John Workman-letterer and Jason Jensen-colorist, Editor: Mike Pellerito, Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick, Editor-In-Chief: Richard Goldwater
Price: $2.25
Format: 32 Pages, Full Color, Ongoing Series
Diamond Item Code: FEB062861
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
Order online: http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #75
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH from Archie Comics is absolutely one of the most honest and fun comics on the market. Nothing about this comic comes across as phony or contrived. It like the stories aren’t being made up, rather a telling of actual events, emotions and all. Tania Del Rio handles both writing and penciling, with Jim Amash on inks, Teresa Davidson lettering and Jason Jensen handling the coloring. If you’re familiar at all with Sabrina from any of the other comic incarnations or any of the several cartoons and live action TV shows that is more than enough to know.
For those who don’t know – Sabrina is a teen witch lives with her two aunts also witches, and her cat Salem who is actually a punished warlock trapped in cat form. Salem is and always has been the funniest thing in the comic. Sabrina lives in the mortal world and goes to school in the magic realm. All the teen drama from Spider-Man is there: dates, fights, and the uncertainty of life and self that seems to plague us all during these years and of course wicked cool magic fights and one of the biggest conspiracies that has been brewing since Sabrina was re-launched with her manga style in issue #58. At this point the series is up to the 80’s. Issue #75 is as good an issue as any to hop on. Actually, all the issues are designed for anyone to hop on at any time. Isn’t that so nice of Sabrina? Anyway, apparently the Queen of the magic realm is keeping some secrets from her subjects and the magic realm is dying. And our teen witch is discovering all these little clues. All the while Sabrina is developing her magical abilities far beyond what anyone else has ever seen before. Sabrina, her love interest Shinji along with Llandra her best friend and her new Mer-man boyfriend are going to restart the Four Blades, a group of magical folks who were killed when they tried to expose the Queen’s secrets years ago, only to be branded traitors to the magic realm. Not your typical Archie comic, but much better than you probably think. Sabrina is only $2.25, a lot better than the 3 bucks or more you’re paying for the comic book dust collectors you normally buy. For those of you who have held off until trade the first four issues are being collected into “Sabrina The Teenage Witch: The Magic Revisited” give it a try or Sabrina will turn you into a below mint comic book.
SABRINA VOL. 2 #75
Writer/ Penciller: Tania Del Rio, Inker: Jim Amash, Letters: Teresa Davidson, Colorist: Jason Jensen Asst. Editor: Mike Pellerito, Editor: Victor Gorelick, Editor-In-Chief: Richard Goldwater
Price: $2.25
Format: 32 pages, Full Color, Ongoing Series
Diamond Item code: FEB062860E
Age Level: Grade School and up
Order online: http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/
FRANKLIN RICHARDS: HAPPY FRANKSGIVING!
Well, as far as All Ages comic deserving of more recognition the series of One-Shots form Marvel featuring the son of the Fantastic Fours’ Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Woman - Franklin Richards ranks among the most deserving. Young Franklin along with his nanny the robotic, comedic sidekick H.E.R.B.I.E. get in all sorts of trouble using ("misusing" maybe be a better term) all the wonderful, maybe even fantastic inventions his farther, Mr. Fantastic has just lying around.
There are lots of great gags that are a real blast to read. And of course as the cover hints an alternate universe giant turkey tries to eat Franklin and H.E.R.B.I.E. for Thanksgiving. What Thanksgiving special is complete without giant man-eating turkeys? Set up similar to a typical Archie Comic with a series of several 4-5 pager stories all with loose if any continuity to worry about. In other words check it out for a good laugh. Even better if you know a kid who likes to laugh (don’t they all?) give it to them. A certain “love” scene in the comic is guaranteed to make them snort.
FRANKLIN RICHARDS: HAPPY FRANKSGIVING!
Story: Chris Eliopoulos & Marc Sumerak, Script: Marc Sumerak
Artist & Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos, Colorist: Brad Anderson, Asst. Editor: Nathan Cosby, Editor: Mark Paniccia, Editor Emeritus: Mackenzie Cadenhead
Price: $2.99
Format: 32 pages, Full Color, One Shot
Diamond Item code: SEP062112
Age Level: Grade School and up
THE BAKERS MEET JINGLE BELLE
Two great creators and their creator owned properties collide for some creative Christmas fun. Paul Dini made his name bringing Batman to the small screen, animated of course, and is now, among other things, making a name for his fun character, Jingle Belle. Jingle is the devious daughter of the one and only Santa Claus.
Kyle Baker has been making some of the best comics around for years. His creations, based on his family, The Bakers, seem to get into more wild situations than any other family on the planet.
It is Christmas Eve and the Bakers need to finish their holiday shopping, Jingle is looking to ditch her dad. Of course Jingle is mistaken for the babysitter from the agency, the Bakers just happened to call for their 3 children. It all goes downhill from there. Santa and father Baker on the run from the police, to all sorts of shopping mall madness, this story delvers on the laughs. Of course, there is a nice ending with that Christmas magic feeling. You know those holiday movies you watch year after year and never get tired of? The Bakers Meet Jingle Belle is that, just as a comic book.
THE BAKERS MEET JINGLE BELLE
Writer: Paul Dini (added inspiration-Lillian, Isaac and Jackie Baker), Artist: Kyle Baker, Designer: Darin Fabrick, Asst, Editor: Katie Moody, Editor: Dave Land
Publisher: Mike Richardson
Price: $2.99
Format: 32 Pages, Full Color, One Shot
Diamond Item Code: OCT060022
Age Level: Grade School And Up
SPIDER-MAN AND POWERPACK #3 OF 4
If you come across the name Marc Sumerak, and you want a good read for the All Ages crowd, just buy it. The art by Gurihiru is some of the sharpest looking comic art on the stands and excellent storytelling. Marvel has probably been the biggest surprise in the quality of its All Ages and younger readers comics. Just about everything is a blast to read.
Surprisingly one of the most enjoyable comics has been the various Power Pack team-ups. The current mini-series has the 4 Power siblings in NYC where trouble seems to find these kids with startling regularity. Already 2 issues in and several of the cleverer plot twists seen in a while the series keeps delivering. Venom, one of Spidey’s most popular (soon to be on the big screen in Spider-Man 3) and dangerous villains makes an appearance and the Pack and Spidey must save the day. Venom, in a nutshell, is an alien symbiotic life form, can merge with a person, and give them a nice power boost and do all sorts of evil things. This is one of the cleverest uses of that creepy crawly nature of Venom’s powers.
SPIDER-MAN AND POWERPACK #3 OF 4
Writer: Marc Sumerak, Artist: Gurihiru, Letterer: Dave Sharpe, Production: James Taveras, Special Thanks: Aki Yanagi, Editor: Nathan Cosby, Consulting Editor: Mark Paniccia, Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley
Price: $2.99 us
Format: Full color, 32 Pages, Mini Series
Diamond Item Code: NOV062280
Age Level: All Ages/Grade School and up
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #29
So giant super-powered gorillas vs. the Justice League. What’s not to like? Oh, yeah a bunch of killer bees, tons of superhero infighting and one super crazy hero most kids might not know, but will probably soon love.
From page one the action starts and goes nonstop until the end of the story, featuring B’Wanna Beast- lord of the jungle. B’Wanna, is to put it delicately, difficult. Animal Man, who is constantly stuck with B’Wanna due to their animal background, narrates the story. The two in powers and personality are quite different. So with tons of action and quite a bit of characterization, Adam Beechen manages to write a story any kid and longtime comics reader would love. Some of the most lively and fun art you’ll see in a superhero book, Carlo Barberi’s rendition of the Justice League fit the fun and lively story perfectly. Oh, and it has gorillas, or was that already mentioned?
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #29
Script: Adam Beechen Pencils: Carlo Barberi Inks: Tom Fowler
Letters: Mike Sellers Colors: Heroic Age, Editor: Michael Wright
Price: $2.25 us
Format: Full color, 32 pages, Ongoing Series
Diamond Item Code: NOV060252
Age Level: All Ages/Grade School and up
GRAPHIC NOVELS
ARCHIE’S CLASSIC CHRISTMAS STORIES
Archie Comics is one of those publishers that really embraces the holidays like few others. Regardless of religion or belief Archie delivers on the fun of the holidays and specifically Christmas.
At the time putting this collection of stories was quite an undertaking. One of the few times that full on arguments of what were the best Christmas stories could be allowed given the nature of the season. Every one has their favorites and probably one you have read before is in here. It has turned out to be one of Archie’s most popular collections, pulled out year after year in most families, just like the same crop of holiday movies we watched the year before and can’t wait to watch this year and next. Looking for a good stocking stuffer? This is it.
ARCHIE'S CLASSIC CHRISTMAS STORIES
Price: $10.95
Format: 96 pages Graphic Novel Full Color
ISBN-10: 1879794101
ISBN-13: 978-1879794108
Diamond Item code: STAR16712
Age Level: Grade School and up
Order online: http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE from Marvel Comics is consistently one of the best comics Marvel puts out. Really. The epic adventure stuff is great and all but c’mon isn’t Marvel supposed to be about the everyday heroes with real problems? Well, Mary Jane delivers just that, everyday problems with a splash of super hero adventure. Same thing that goes with SABRINA goes for SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE, if you have any familiarity with the characters what-so-ever you know everything you need to know. And every issue is perfect for the first time reader and the regular team of Sean Mckeever-writing, Takeshi Miyazawa-penciling with Christina Strain coloring and Dave Sharpe lettering and Nathan Crosby, MacKenzie Cadenhead and Mark Paniccia handling the editorial duties help create a comic that perfectly weaves in to the Marvel family. The Series was originally titled ”MARY JANE” but the powers that be thought Spidey in the title would be wise and re-launched the thing in hopes of getting us hardcore comic readers to take notice. Hopefully it worked. The original run of Mary Jane has already been collected into 2 volumes and the first volumes of SLMJ are out (the 5x7 size perfect for hiding it in your back pocket if you’re afraid of you’re cool comic book friends mocking you) and are $7.99 a piece.
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE, VOL. 1: SUPER CRUSH
Price: $7.99
Format: 120 Pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 078511954X
ISBN-13: 978-0785119548
Diamond Item code: MAY062025
Age Level: Grade School and up
COMIC ZONE: DISNEY’S LILO & STITCH VOL. 1
If you have never seen the Lilo & Stitch movies, don’t worry - you will after reading this Graphic Novel. Collected from stories in the Disney Adventures magazine usually found at the supermarket checkout aisle, you quietly see the stringing together of several short stories into one grand adventure. Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl who lives with her sister, is quite the character and often the cause of some sort of trouble due to her imagination and curious nature. Stitch is a wild looking alien critter who is even more troublesome than his best friend Lilo. The first few stories feature the two characters seperately until Stitch makes it to earth and his new friend Lilo. When these two free spirits get together, watch out world! Disney again has some of the most beautiful art and most imaginative stories you can hope for.
COMIC ZONE: DISNEY’S LILO & STITCH VOL. 1
Written by: Michael Stewart, Paola Mulazzi and Bill Matheny
Artwork by: Academia Disney
Price: $4.99 us
Format: 96 pages, Full Color, Graphic novel
ISBN-10: 0786847190
ISBN-13: 978-0786847198
Age Level: All Ages/Grade School and up
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOL. 1
Eventually Sonic sales became so good Archie released a second title: Sonic X. Sonic is now one of only a handful of solo characters with multiple titles. And just recently we started collecting those hard to find early issues of the regular series with SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOLUME #1. And Sonic has never looked so healthy.
It’s funny: when first coming on editorial and reading all these early to present comics a pattern started to emerge. The Sonic comic sort of ran along the history of comics thematically speaking. Starting out as these early issues it did fun, simple stories aimed at the younger reader. The jokes were hip enough; hey, anything Michael Gallagher writes is funny, and even the most sour of sour pusses would crack a smile. Plus with Dave Manak his penciling is one of the best educations you can get in cartooning. Later as the series progressed maybe around issue #25 or so the stories really took on a more serious tone, although it still packs in a lot of laughs. The Sonic books have matured a lot over the last nearly hundred and seventy-five issues while still being readable by any age group.
To read these early comics and to read the newest Sonic comic on the stands today it’s like two separate animals. (Again pun intended) Both are great reads and for fans of comics and fun comics in particular. A lot has changed in the Sonic universe, from his days on the Sega Genesis to today’s X-Box 360 and Nintendo Wii video game systems. And the comic has kept up with Sonic the whole way.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOLUME #1
Price: $7.49
Format: 112 pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 1879794209
ISBN-13: 978-1879794207
Diamond Item Code: SEP063083
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
Order online:
AVENGERS AND POWER PACK ASSEMBLE DIGEST
Writer Marc Sumerak's All Ages comic- Avengers And Power Pack Assemble Digest (collecting the four issue mini-series) is one of the better superhero stories on the market. While slightly more serious than his work on FRANKLIN RICHARD's series of One Shots from Marvel, Marc has been really making The Power Pack, a group of kid brothers and sister actually fun and interesting to read. Really great group dynamics and the Pack believably hold their own with The Avengers, Marvel’s premier super team. A quick check on www.sumerak.com reveals just about everything Marc has written, all good by the way, with one of the best and most informative websites in all of comics. Oh, and best part it is All Ages friendly!
AVENGERS AND POWER PACK ASSEMBLE DIGEST
Price: $6.99
Format: 96 pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 0785121552
ISBN-13: 978-0785121558
Diamond Item Code:
Age Group: Middle School and up
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH VOL. 1 THE MAGIC REVISITED
Still some people would knock her Sabrina work (you know who you are) without ever giving it a chance or say they were waiting for the trade. Some have grown up too cynical and forgotten that magic comics once had. When asked for possible titles collecting the first four issues of Tania’s run, #’s 58, 59, 60 and 61 yours truly blurted out immediately “The Magic Revisited” because that what this collection is.
These stories come across as real as if Tania is telling stories from her own life, magic talking cats and everything. Tania, along with Jim Amash inking Jeff Powell lettering and Jason Jensen Coloring, every month make even one of the editors forget that people make comics and that these stories aren’t made by elves. Although if for some reason you find yourself in Tania’s home, could you see if her brooms fly, just out of curiosity?
Now, you may feel this is biased; you may need more than the usual “read any two consecutive pages” dare, fine. Don’t read a page of the comic. Do an Internet search for Tania Del Rio and Sabrina. You might find a lot of people are a little biased with Sabrina. So Revisit or try it out for the first time, just don’t miss the magic.
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH VOLUME #1 THE MAGIC REVISITED
Price - $7.49
Format: 112 pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 1879794195
ISBN-13: 978-1879794191
Diamond Item Code: AUG063027
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
Order online: http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK by Don Rosa created one of the best collections for the All Ages audience. If you haven’t already heard of this trade, or worse heard of it and haven’t read it yet, get off your back board, spend the $16.99 or put your tax dollars to work and make your librarian get you a copy to read. If the library hasn’t ordered it yet, explain the virtues of reading comic books and that it would encourage younger readers. If you are successful please remind the librarian that a little love for Archie, Sonic, Sabrina Justice League unlimited, Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things, Bone and any thing else you can think of would be smart.
A lot of us of at a certain age first discovered the lovable stingy Uncle to Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck, with Duck Tales, the after school cartoon with Luey, Dewy, Huey. Not to mention the dastardly Beagle Boys and a handful of other vile villains and friends feathered or otherwise.
If you have any affection, a lot, a little or none what-so-ever for clan McDuck this is still one of the most entertaining reads around (sequentially illustrated or otherwise).
The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck is set up like a special edition DVD, filled with extra commentary between the chapters. Each pointing out little artistic nuances, historical accuracies, some inaccuracies, Carl Barks (the Master of all things Disney Duck) factoids and all sorts of info from Scrooge’s early days in Scotland through some of the most important historical happenings up to his life in Duckburg with his nephew Donald and Donald’s nephews.
This is where the point of clearly formatted storytelling comes into play. Each cover-covers a period in time, each lead page a nice large splash panel (Not a splash page, no wasted space here) explains through visuals and text where we are what is happening in a manner almost like sneaking a peak in Scrooge’s personal diary or an old forgotten treasure chest filled with these spectacular memories. And every character is properly introduced. And reintroduced if need be for those among us without the most perfect of memories.
If you want to write comics, give this a look. It is as good an example as anything out there. If you have fond memories of Duck Tales or other Duck cartoons, just hoping to have some young kid get into comics, or are just looking to have some fun reading comics this is perfect. If you haven’t read it in a while dust it off and give it a read again. Everything else you have from Wednesday can wait.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK
Price: $16.99
Format: 256 Pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 0911903968
ISBN-13: 978-0911903966
Diamond Item Code: APR052912
Age Level: Middle School and Up
THE BAKERS: DO THESE TOYS BELONG SOMEWHERE?
THE BAKERS: Do These Toys Belong Somewhere? is the perfect collection to open a kid of any age up to the worlds of comics. Granted these jokes are probably more for the adults, but really are just great vignettes about the Family dynamic. Most of the jokes are completely visual with a minimal amount of dialogue. What Kyle Baker does is manage to cross over every type of comic storytelling and find the best way to tell his stories and jokes without being locked into a set format. For instance: we have all seen the newspaper strip Denis the Menace or The Far Side, which utilize the single panel gag, where the setup and the payoff of the joke have to be done in one shot. We have all seen the multi-paneled gag, like a Peanuts or even the Archie newspaper strip where typically you have a 3-4 panel joke with a beginning a middle and an end of building action until we get to the big pay off. And even the comic book style of storytelling is in there with a page of several panels per page going on for a few pages, building to the big pay off of the joke. The Bakers has enough familiarity to it with all the newness of a sharp and creative mind behind it crafting really superbly funny stories about a wonderful family. The Bakers has everything from baby drool to toddler self defense to of course finally exposing the evil that is the Tooth Fairy. No, really. The Bakers welcome you in like the loving family, just keep your head down and get ready to eat a lot of fish sticks. Oh, and one more brilliant move, the back cover actually mentions The Bakers is good for All Ages. Never take your audience for granted, let them know if this is something for them!
THE BAKERS: DO THESE TOYS BELONG SOMEWHERE?
Price: $18.95
Format: 96 Pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
Diamond Item Code: DEC053096
ISBN-10: 0974721433
ISBN-13: 978-0974721439
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
HEROBEAR AND THE KID
HEROBEAR AND THE KID is one of the best action/comedy collections to ever come out in the All Ages genre. It is that good. “Remember your childhood… and pass it on.” Are the words Mike Kunkel lives by for his creation of Herobear and the Kid. It sounded so lame when first reading those words, but a real honesty really comes through and before you know it you are wrapped up in the world of young Tyler and carried away on the adventure. The story starts out with Tyler’s family moving into his recently deceased grandfather’s mansion and Tyler dealing with moving to a new place, losing his grandfather who means so much to him, a family butler and of course his stuffed toy bear his grandfather left to him. Everything from the schoolyard bullies, to his crush on the most beautiful girl in school to all the awkwardness and sheer fun it was to being a kid is captured so perfectly that you believe these stories were lifted from your life. Well, except for having a super powered Herobear to hang out with and fight crime. Of course enjoy the beautiful art, which immediately reminds everyone on of a pencil test from animation, is superb. Mike Kunkel breaks a lot of the rules of comic books story telling, with pages having panels numbering into double digits as apposed to the normal 5-6 panels a page. But it all works and fits the story perfectly. One of the nicest elements to the story is the way the story ties up, with Tyler learning something valuable about himself and what his grandfather meant to him and the person he has become. The ending is so good and really had a great, unexpected twist. Even with all the clues hidden along the way it was great to be surprised by a comic again.
Anytime someone is unsure of buying one of the comics yours truly works on, the dare goes out to read any two pages. Whatever two you open up to and read. If it catches your fancy buy it and give it a read. Usually it works, and we can hook a new reader. Read any page you open up to in Herobear and the Kid and you will want to start at the beginning and read very page.
HEROBEAR & THE KID VOLUME 1: THE INHERITANCE
Price: $19.95
Format: 220 pages, Graphic Novel, B&W with some color
ISBN-10: 0972125914
ISBN-13: 978-0972125918
Diamond Item Code: STAR18496
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS VOLUME 1 FEAR AND PRIDE
LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS VOLUME 1 FEAR AND PRIDE deals with so many of the emotions that a child today is growing up with, maybe more so that other children in at least a generation. Creator and writer mike Bullock along with Jack Lawrence doing the complete art chores of pencils to colors, with lettering by Dave Lanphear and edited by the accomplished Ron Marz work together to create not only a beautifully told story for adults and kids but something of importance for the comic industry.
This is a good read under any circumstance but especially for some of the kids growing up in today’s world and growing up with fear. It proved the industry would support comics for kids that were new and original as well as the licensed comics and perennial favorites that have lasted to entertain kids for decades. Loins, Tigers and Bears also managed to do this with Image comics a company not known for its children’s comics despite producing several excellent All ages comics in its history.
The themes deal with family and friendship and dealing with good over evil. You can see why this new trade paper back collecting the first four issues would come to mind. Young Joey moves with his mother to a new town and will no longer see his grandmother on a daily basis. Joey’s grandmother gives him a set of stuffed animals called The Night Pride which will look over him now that she is so far away. These stuffed animals are more than mere toys and the things Joey hears at night are much more sinister than his imagination would lead him to believe. What takes place thought the pages of the story are as good as comics get. Action, adventure, humor, and some of the most evil villains comics have seen in decades. It is hard to describe these stories since they are woven so tightly and so well. To give away any of the stories might ruin some of the great-unexpected twists and turns.
Another added feature of the trade are over a dozen new pages of material. A ten-page feature, which ran in, an Arizona Sunday newspaper and a six-page story from a tsunami relief comic funds project round out the collection. All in all this is really something any comic fan would love and something that just can’t be any more recommended especially when a little bravery
Please, check out Lions, Tigers and Bears, it is well worth the effort.
LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS: FEAR AND PRIDE, VOLUME #1
Price: $12.99
Format: 128 pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 158240657X
ISBN-13: 978-1582406572
DIAMOND ITEM CODE: JUL061683
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
THE ADVENTURES OF LITTLE ARCHIE
One collection that does this better than any one else and been at this a lot longer than most is good old- er- young Archie Comics - or should we say Little Archie. This might be one of the best collections of Archie material. The Adventures of Little Archie is of course the adventures of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, Jughead and the rest of the Riverdale gang, (not to mention a few others) when they were young, or rather little. Everything screams out how good childhood was and could be with a little imagination. The inside cover feature drawings of the main cast on a black board, page one is a lemonade stand and the table of contents is a great shot of the kids running between the story titles. The highlight of the series is originator Bob Bolling talking about the early days of the series. Then there's a great new cover by Bob for this collection. It has a great handful of stories from the typical kid adventures to Martians and mad scientists like the mad Doctor Doom, who predates Marvel Comics Dr. Doom by several years. The only bad thing about this collection is knowing how much great material had to be cut to make the page count. A lot of inter-office debates raged on for days believe it or not. So keep your fingers crossed, as a new collection would be easy to put together.
THE ADVENTURES OF LITTLE ARCHIE
Price: $10.95
Format: 96 Pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 1879794179
ISBN-13: 978-1879794177
Diamond Item Code: JUL042624
Age Group: All Ages/Grade School and up
Order online: http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/
LITTLE LULU: SUNDAY AFTERNOON
The next collection was sitting on the desk of someone at Archie and there was a handful to choose from. So at random Little Lulu Sunday Afternoon got the pick and off we went for a read after work. Little Lulu is fun, quirky and immediately it is understandable why so many women have grown up believing a girl can do anything a boy can do, because Lulu did and usually did it better. The brief intro tells you all you need to know about the character and her historical significance. The stories are truly funny and amazingly inventive with foiling kidnapers, dealing with annoying neighbors and some of the best scripted snowball fights ever. The only concern is that these stories from a bygone era might not pass the new politically correct environment we live in today. Silly stuff like a heavy character's name being "Tubby" to children handling guns might make a parent squeamish. Nothing ever approaches anything that would be seriously questionable. Parents, librarians and teachers take a flip through and make your own decision on the content, but the intent is purely innocent fun.
LITTLE LULU Vol. 2: SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Price: $10.95
Format: 208 Pages, Graphic Novel, B&W
ISBN-10: 1593073453
ISBN-13: 978-1593073459
Diamond item Code: MAR050048
Age Group: Middle School and up
W.I.T.C.H.: THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
Don’t let the pink cover of the first graphic novel “The Power of Friendship” fool you into thinking this is all tea parties and make up. W.I.T.C.H. is a great adventure with all the powerful emotion of any teen drama that Stan Lee could cook up in the early days of Spider-Man and all the magical wizardry and wonder that have made the Harry Potter books, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch so popular.
W.I.T.C.H. stands for the five young girls names, Will, Irma, Tarnee, Cornelia and Hay Lin who make up the new Guardians of the Veil. We are all such suckers for acronyms. The Girls use the powers of the four elements of nature; air, earth, wind and fire, and the power of energy, to help them do their good deeds and save the world.
Now, granted this is a familiar premise for a story, young kids learning they have a greater power hidden within themselves and must join together to stop an unspeakable evil. So, personally expiations were low. Couldn’t be more wrong. This is a really good story, with some of the most gorgeous art in any comic out there. Think about that. It is a big statement, but go to you bookstore or comic shop, even a lot of libraries are carrying the series, and just flip through the book. If the artwork doesn’t get your eyes to widen nothing will.
Besides the superb artwork, and perfectly executed layouts, the design and look of W.I.T.C.H. successfully works in a combination of both a Manga and a classic Disney look. Combined with some absolutely beautiful coloring, perfectly rendered with a watercolor feel really add to the magical feel of the stories lending themselves to fairy tales more so than comic books.
Occasionally it is hard for grown men to shake off their inner 12 year old yelling “Ew, its girlie!” but even a 12 year old boy would love this… even if he didn’t let any of his friends know he actually had a copy next to his Sonic and Superman comics. At the very least he would have a major crush on these girls.
What is also really nice about W.I.T.C.H. is that the girls are all believable as real girls, with crushes, attitudes and insecurities that teens have. All the betrayal of friendship, personal loss and evil monsters roaming around are played perfectly for the most entertainment. Most kids should really relate to these characters and stories. A lot of adults too.
It is nice because the W.I.T.C.H girls show such great strength and really come across as heroes, and as positive role models that kids can actually look up to. Even the W.I.T.C.H. girls’ role models and influences in the stories are strong women.
Hopefully the merit of the W.I.T.C.H. graphic novels will not be ignored because of their success as a TV cartoon. Certainly it led to some trepidation on my part. But for an industry that is sorely ignoring its younger readers and female audience W.I.T.C.H is a great read to get both young and female readers into comics. And at $4.99 for 122 pages of story it is really very affordable and worth the risk to try something new.
Five volumes of W.I.T.C.H. graphic novels are out and more are planned.
W.I.T.C.H. POWER OF FRIENDSHIP GRAPHIC NOVEL #1
Price: $4.99
Format: 122 Pages, Graphic Novel, Full Color
ISBN-10: 0786836741
ISBN-13: 978-0786836741
Diamond Item Code: May052797
Age Group: Middle School and up
COURTNEY CRUMRIN SERIES
Currently three collections are available featuring Ted Naifeh’s Courtney Crumrin, one of the best outsiders to show up in comics for years. As kids often are Courtney is smarter than everyone else, much smarter than her shallow money conscience parents who move in to their rich Great Uncle Aloysius Crumrin’s mansion. What young Courtney doesn’t know is her Great Uncle is one of the most feared Warlocks around and she is on her way to becoming a Witch. And Courtney will need these new magical skills to defend herself against some evil creatures that hide in the shadow, “the Night Things”. If you were lucky enough to discover these when on the comic stand you we’re truly lucky. Each issue stands perfectly as an individual issue. It all comes together even better when collected into one volume, and you’ll find the true magic of Courtney Crumrin when you read all three collections and watch as a wonderful epic appears before your eyes.
The first three trades really show a great progression of Courtney from young innocent. (We’ll as innocent as a grumpy sarcastic, and maybe a little dark girl can be!) to becoming a skilled witch, and even becoming a nicer person. Don’t be fooled by this All Ages title, just because it is recommended for 7 years old and up doesn’t mean it is all bubbles and kitty cats. These are real stories featuring some not so nice things, and to be honest by the second collection Courtney does some things which might alienate a few readers. However, all great heroes have some events in their life that they might not be proud of, even if done for the right reasons.
COURTNEY CRUMRIN AND THE NIGHT THINGS. VOL. 1
In Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things, the new world of “Night Things” and magic are opened up to this young, socially challenged girl. She of course immediately is interested in her Great Uncle, who is equally socially challenged. All the while she makes a few friends, some willfully some coerced by magic and quite a few enemies. Not to mention catching the attention of both the magic and the mortal worlds.
COURTNEY CRUMRIN AND THE NIGHT THINGS, VOLUME #1
Price: $11.95
Format: 128 pages, Graphic Novel, B&W
ISBN-10: 1929998600
ISBN-13: 978-1929998609
Diamond Item Code: AUG03 2418
Age Level: Middle School and Up
COURTNEY CRUMRIN AND THE COVEN OF MYSTICS, VOL. 2
For volume 2, Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics, a new evil has been released and is killing some of the most powerful magicians, leaving only Uncle A to stand up to this unstoppable evil. And young Courtney well on her way to becoming a real magical power is pulled into a world even her all powerful Uncle has never experienced.
COURTNEY CRUMRIN AND THE COVEN OF MYSTICS, VOLUME #2
Price: $11.95
Format: 128 pages, Graphic Novel, B&W
ISBN-10: 1929998597
ISBN-13: 978-1929998593
Diamond Item Code: JUL03 2402
Age Level: Middle School and Up
COURTNEY CRUMRIN IN THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM, VOL. 3
Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom, probably the best of the series so far due in part to the great character growth and building action from the previous two volumes. Courtney ,after taking classes teaching her the history of magic, gets caught up in trying to save one of her classmates from a curse, which leads her and her classmates into one of the most dangerous parts of the universe, the Twilights Kingdom.
Well, that is it for a quick review you can learn more at the Oni Press website, not everything is kid friendly, but each Graphic Novel has a 5-page preview:
http://onipress.com/graphicnovels/ just look for Courtney Crumrin.
COURTNEY CRUMRIN IN THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM, VOLUME #3
Price: $11.95
Format: 128 pages, Graphic Novel, B&W
ISBN-10: 1932664017
ISBN-13: 978-1932664010
DIAMOND ITEM CODE - JUL04 3071
Age Level: Middle School and Up
HOW-TO-BOOKS
BEGGINER:
One of the best books, and has been for a while and never seems to get old, is How To Draw The Marvel Way. Even if Marvel isn’t your cup of tea, remember the title is more for promoting Marvel than it is a guide to the Marvel way. All the basics from tools to the basics of design and layout are here, plus a brief overview of the entire process of making a comic. Consider this one a must have.
How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way
Price: $16.00
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Fireside; Reprint edition (September 14, 1984)
Language: English
ISBN: 0671530771
Joe Kubert and his School in New Jersey (www.kubertsworld.com), has been churning out students for decades. Yours truly is one of them. While Kubert’s book is more toward the intermediate end of the beginners level it is still a good book for new artist to get their feet wet. It also focuses more towards the artistic side of comic creating.
Superheroes: Joe Kubert's Wonderful World of Comics
Price: $19.95
Paperback: 143 pages
Publisher: Watson Guptill Publications (February 2000)
Language: English
ISBN: 0823025616
INTERMEDIATE to ADVANCED:
WRITING:
Written by the legendary editor/writer/teacher Denny O’Neil the DC Guide To Writing Comics is one of the most invaluable books around. The three act structure, the Levitz paradigm, graphic novels, mini series, maxi series, dialogue tips; it is all here and explained simply and in a straightforward manner. If there has ever been a handbook on how it’s done, this is it. With advice from an accomplished writer and the added perspective of an editor, (a person who would be buying or not buying your scripts) this book is highly recommended.
The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics
Price: $19.95
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications (May 2001)
Language: English
ISBN: 0823010279
As one of the most popular comic/novel/screenwriters, Peter David, has put together one of the better books on the ins and outs of creating a comic and especially how to work with the other creators making their life easier and yours too. Same rule applies to this book, as does How To Draw The Marvel Way, regardless of how you feel about his writing this is a must read book on how its done.
Writing for Comics With Peter David
Price: $19.99
Paperback: 175 pages
Publisher: Impact Books (OH) (June 23, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 1581807309
INTERMEDIATE to ADVANCED:
ART:
Just like the others in this line from DC, this volume on Pencilling helps move the bigger on to the next stage in their development. Covering tools of the trades and touching on techniques and tricks, this is a perfect book for the artist who has already read How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way and is ready to move to the next level.
The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics
Price: $19.95
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications (March 2002)
ISBN: 0823010287
The best way for someone to give their work a professional look is to learn how to letter. Often the most over-looked part of putting a comic together is the lettering. Lettering is the hand that guides readers through the story. From a catchy looking logo to well placed dialogue balloons that add to the flow of the story. The added benefit of this book from DC is half the material is devoted to color and its use in comics and how style plays a part in the story telling. The only negative is the color section really could have been a book on its own. Regardless, an excellent addition to your reference library.
The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering Comics
Price: $19.95
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications (October 2004)
Language: English
ISBN: 0823010309
Comicraft has been one of the leaders in computer lettering since its inception. With a brief overall history of lettering it goes right to some of the most used modern techniques. While it probably would be a good idea to try to learn hand lettering, the computer today does most lettering and this is a good place to start learning.
Comic Book Lettering: The Comicraft Way
Price: $9.95
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Active Images (June 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN: 0974056731
While the coloring style in comic varies from title to title some of the more flashy tricks, tips, and tutorials are nicely illustrated in How To Color For Comics. With a big client list from their own Antarctic Press to marvel at these guys have worked on it all and allow us a peak inside how it’s done.
Antarctic Press Presents: How To Color For Comics by Guru-eFX
Price: $29.95
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Antarctic Press; Bk&CD-Rom edition (February 23, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN: 1932453415
Inking is more than tracing. And these three books explain the hows, whats and whys of inking and offer several different approaches and examples from some of the best pencillers and inkers in the business.
The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics
Price: $19.95
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications (August 2003)
Language: English
ISBN: 0823010295
The Art of Comic-Book Inking
Publication Date: Oct 15, 1997
Price: $24.95
ISBN-10: 1-56971-258-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-56971-258-0
The Art of Comic-Book Inking Vol. 2
Price: $24.95
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2002
Format: Soft cover, 64 pages plus artboards, b&w 8 1/2" x 11"
Price: $14.95
ISBN-10: 1-56971-613-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-56971-613-7
INTERMEDIATE to ADVANCED
GENERAL SHOULD HAVE’S:
If you haven’t heard of Will Eisner you should have. A pioneer of the industry and master storyteller. How good is he? If you have a good year you can win an award called an Eisner. That’s how good he is. Eisner has a series of books out some excellent how to and this one Shop Talk, which is just what the title says, Eisner and another comics pier having a conversation about their life and work. While some of the interviews are older, the information is still priceless.
Will Eisner's Shop Talk
Price: $19.95
Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Dark Horse; 1st edition (May 30, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN: 156971536X
If a college has a class on comics these three books are always on the list. If you are still interested in comics and are at least on a high school level consider these a must. These three books go into theory as to why you should do something, not just how to.
Will Eisner’s Comics & Sequential Art
Price: $22.99
Paperback: 163 pages
Publisher: Poorhouse Press; Expanded Ed edition (November 1985)
Language: English
ISBN: 0961472812
Will Eisner's Graphic Storytelling
Price: $22.99
Paperback: 164 pages
Publisher: Poorhouse Press (February 1996)
Language: English
ISBN: 0961472820
Scott McClouds’ Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
Price: $22.95
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; Reprint edition (April 27, 1994)
Language: English
ISBN: 006097625X
Lots of younger readers are more into Manga than anything else on the comic stands. This line of Manga How-To is as good as anything out there. For those picking up these books for a younger reader, give the books a flip through; there may be some unclothed shots for figure studies.
How To Draw Manga: Ultimate Manga Lessons Volume 1: Drawing Made Easy
Price: $13.99
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Graphic-Sha; English Ed edition (March 25, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN: 4766115244
Two magazines worth reading are Draw! Covering the art side of comics and Write Now! Cover the writing part of comics. Clever titles. Both are handled by comic’s pros Mike Manley and Danny Fingeroth respectively. Not only lots of good how-tos but they interview how creators do things personally. There is no one way to do any thing and both of these magazines give you as many avenues as possible. Draw! Has a life drawing section so again some unclothed figures will be in the magazine. Just a head up for younger readers and those buying for them.
Draw! Magazine
Write Now! Magazine
Twomorrows.com
The Bridgman and Hogarth series of anatomy books are excellent. If you have a problem, these books have a volume on how to fix it. Again lots of life drawing mostly unclothed figures, so another warning to younger readers and those buying for them.
Burne Hogarth's Dynamic Art Books
George B. Bridgman Art Books
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