Drawing words and writing pictures : making comics : manga, graphic novels, and beyond / Jessica Abel and Matt Madden.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-265) and index.

-- Building blocks -- Every picture tells a story -- The strip club -- Bridging the gap -- Penciling -- Getting on the same page -- Lettering -- Inking the deal -- Structuring story -- Getting into character -- Setting the stage -- Constructing a world -- Black gold -- Comics in the age of mechanical reproduction -- 24-hour comic -- Appendix A : Supplies -- Appendix B : Homework critiques -- Appendix C : Story cards -- Appendix D : Comic book book report -- Appendix E : Making minicomics.

A course on comic creation--for college classes or for independent study--that centers on storytelling and concludes with making a finished comic. With chapters on lettering, story structure, and panel layout, the fifteen lessons offered--each complete with homework, extra-credit activities and supplementary reading suggestions--provide a solid introduction for people interested in making their own comics. Additional resources, lessons, and after-class help are available on the accompanying website, http://www.dw-wp.com. --From publisher description.