Comickers Art: Tools and Techniques for Drawing Amazing Manga

In my opinion, I love this book because it gives an artist plenty of time to develop his/her own manga style while looking at how other people color.While I'm more familiar with concept art and illustrations; not so much on the manga side, I was excited to see that I did recognize a few artists in the book (Houden Eizou, Renji Murata, and even Hyung Tae Kim).The book encompasses a large variety of ways to color manga, so if you're looking for a way to draw or lay down more specific details, I don't think this is the correct book for you (unless you'd like some really awesome references to look at, which this book does provide). It gives more of examples and art pieces to look at than an actual process or thing for you to go through. What I think is the main idea is to give you some space, make your own work, and learn how to color your work while observing others' artwork (thus the "Hot New Talent" section).While it doesn't actually provide much instruction on the painting process or anything, it does give you an idea how several kinds of colors work. This includes markers to watercolors to acrylics and even pigments. I'm sure that I'll be really excited to try out coloring my traditional manga-style works now, since it tells you exactly what is better for mixing, drying, or being transparent.Really recommend this to any manga-fan or artist who'd like to see the "behind the scenes" for those manga artists and maybe read how their thought process goes.

Finally, a really good tutorial/art book on manga and copic art in English! Lately, some of the best looking copic tutorial books are in Japanese. And, yes, I understand Copic markers are Japanese in origin and make. But still, it would be nice if they would publish those tutorial books in English so we can read them too. There are many English spearkers who want good books to teach them to use Copics and other mediums and it sucks when all the best books are only in Japanese. Has some good tips and tutorials for using Copics and layering and such and also explains other mediums and gives pros and cons as well as section of varied art submissions from all over the world, so is like half Tutorial, half Art book. One of the better ones with lots of color pictures. A worthy buy if you want to know more about using popular mediums and also get to see some examples of different work using those mediums.

For the title of my review...I believe it helps to know who this is good for. This is based soley on my own personal view of my ability, so that you may gauge it for yourself.I am a self taught artist and believe I need no further skill development in many areas of artistic creation. That said, Comickers Art is a great book and worth the money I paid for it.This book covers the basics of many materials, styles, procedures and methods. It is great information for those who already have a good foundation in artistic talent but are always on the lookout to learn the ways of others in hopes of being more efficient, or just learning new ways.Comickers Art books are for refining skills and knowledge and is not meant to teach you how to draw. These books showcase beautiful and genuine artwork and talent from the east.

Awesome a technique building book and hints :) not so good for beginners but great for those wanting to brush up on their style :) and knowledge . Great for the price I bought it used ! It came in sooo super new looking in great condition and came on time :)

I was very excited to get this book, hoping to learn to color better. However the instructions were pretty useless considering how bad the translation was... I can only guess from the picture what the artist is doing..... this is quite frustrating... very.... The only redeeming quality is the beautiful artworks contained in these pages. My advice is - if you're seriously trying to learn to color don't get this book, or if you can decipher the cryptic english get it! I really wish I know Japanese! >sigh<

I really enjoy the books (bought all 3) and they give like about 3-5 pages of pointers and tutorial, then the rest of the book is just art from different authors/artists and a bit of pointer from them. But I mostly enjoy art books for references. Rarely a "how to do" book.

This book does do a nice job of talking about paints vs markers and gives some techniques on how to use them but about half of the book is a gallery which is beautiful but not expected in a "tools and techniques" book. There is plenty of beautiful manga on the Internet to look at for free... I was hoping for more instruction and less gallery.

It's a decent book for those starting in drawing anime/manga. What I enjoyed was the the variation of artist and art styles that I don't usually see in other books like these.

It is a bit misleading because this book talks about only painting and NOT drawing manga. This is a book targeted to people who can draw already. It includes interviews with different artists and contain a lot of graphic arts which are quite nice as an eye candy.Overall it is a good read but treat it like a magazine which you are going to glance and skim instead of a technique book.

As I said in the title, this is not a "How to draw". It clearly explains Techniques that is used in drawing manga and what tools are needed for that particular technique. the art that uses the techniques in the book aren't main - stream art from manga. however knowing different ways of drawing manga helps you, as an artist, define your art and become different form the rest.buy this if you are: - familiar with drawing manga - Unsure what equipment is needed to go from paper drawings to more of an Manga Art - Interested in other methods of painting/techniquesIf you are planning to get the Comickers series. Get this and 3 first. Then 2 and Japanese Comickers for more reference in manga and abstract art.By the Way this is the Structure of the Comickers books (roughly): (~1~10) Detailed explanations of volume title. (~11~40) Step to step guides on art/techniques (~41~70) Interviews and art of famous people (~71~130) Random art by people, interesting but not amazing