Synopses & Reviews
So, You Wanna Be a Comic Book Artist? is a hip how-to book that helps aspiring young comic book artists realize their dreams. Using a lively, informative style, Phil Amara shows kids how to create their own superheroes, write storylines, get their comics published, and possibly become famous. The book features precise techniques for creating a superhero or villain, advice on how and where to submit work and how to navigate the minefield of self-publishing a comic or zine, interviews with current artists, and biographies of the founders of the most popular comics. The book also profiles ten young comic book artists who are publishing their work.
Review
"The breezy, conversational approach and cartoon-style artwork will draw aspiring comic-book artists to this appealing paperback....One- to three-page illustrated profiles of some of the young artists offer advice and inspiration as well as a practical take on the process of making a career....Amara's expertise, practical tips, and entertaining style make this a rewarding read for any young person with a playful or professional interest in the field." Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
Review
"A fast-paced and practical introduction to the creative and production aspects of working in the cartoon-art field....[T]he text is direct and accessible....A particular strength of this book is its inclusion of assorted genres and popular styles of comic-book art." School Library Journal
Synopsis
Explains to readers how to create their own superheroes, write their own storylines, and get their comics published.
About the Author
Philip Amara eats, drinks, and breathes, comic books. As a kid, he spent Saturdays at Boston comic shops. He wrote about comics for newspapers and magazines. In college, he did a comics radio show. In graduate school, he wrote even more about comics. Phil worked as an editor for one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creators, as well as the publisher of The Spirit. Then, he moved to Oregon, and worked as an editor for the publisher of the Star Wars comics. The books he edited have won some cool awards, and he’s worked with too many talented creators too mention here. He lived in Japan, where comic books are everywhere! He’s the creator of the Sky Ape and Nevermen comics. He’s currently a teacher for Boston Public Schools, where he created the Mighty Writers program to introduce his students to the power of animation, film, and of course, comic books. When Phil's not writing about comics, he might be writing about food for the Boston Phoenix. His new children’s book is called Treehouse Heroes. It’s not a comic, but it certainly could be.