Comic Art Superheroes - by Sam Hart (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Create your own jaw-dropping comic art characters who burst off the page with personality and power!

This is the essential, practical guide to creating believable, unique characters, authored by influential artist Sam Hart - comic book guru of over 30 years.

Aimed at young teens and upwards, this must-have guide is the perfect introduction to creating dynamic, memorable comic book superheroes, supervillains and monsters. With step-by-step instructions and skill-building exercises integrated throughout for fun, fast results, you will build your characters from the ground up:

• Start with a comprehensive introduction to the human form, looking at muscles, movement and amplifying characteristics for a superhuman finish
• Give your characters charisma and personality through their facial expressions, head movements and masks
• Clothe your characters: from spandex to fabric, this section contains everything you need to know to give your superhero their vital, identifying costume
• Translate power onto paper (from flight, strength and speed, to x-ray vision, magic and even weaponry)
• Create believable, dynamic action poses

Once you master the basics, you'll move on to advanced skills like creating dramatic perspective, adding narrative and inking to create comic-style tone and shading. Sam also shares special secrets on creating drama and dynamics through layout - a key element of comic book art!

Finally you'll find advice on ensuring artwork is print-ready with resources including blueline pages for showing your professional-quality work.

With a foreword from John Higgins, prominent comic book artist and writer best known for his colouring work on two of the biggest and most groundbreaking graphic novels of all time - Watchmen and The Killing Joke, this is the must-have guide to bringing your own comic art to life.

Review Quotes

"Sam Hart is an extraordinary talent, going through all genres like it is a masterclass in storytelling, from Historic, Superhero to Spy Noir. Here is his new venture, a superb premise of what might happen within a lost 10 day period in history. Here be Demi gods, wizards and characters who are not all they first appear to be, enjoy another masterwork of storytelling in the high fantasy concept, 10 Lost Days." John Higgins, Writer/artist on Judge Dredd and Razorjack, colorist on Watchmen

"Weaves historical fiction with the mythical with obvious delight. Timeless." Kieron Gillen, Writer on X-Men, Eternals and Wolverine

"With a fascinating premise and its powerful and fluid narrative, 10 Lost Days has the ability to involve you in search of answers in this magical universe created by Sam Hart" Greg Tocchini, Artist on Thor, Batman and X-Force

"With a very efficient narrative and excellent work with textures and black and white, Sam Hart guides the reader through the wonderful plot with a combination of science and magic that gives the story a unique atmosphere. Worth checking out!" Roger Cruz, Artist on X-Men, Robin, and The Flash

About the Author

Professional comic book and storyboard artist Sam Hart has more than 30 years of experience drawing superheroes and action stars with characters and properties including Judge Dredd, Power Rangers, VR Troopers and Starship Troopers. He has a number of successful graphic novels, and collaborated with Antony Johnston to illustrate The Coldest City, adapted to film in 2017 as Atomic Blonde, starring Oscar winner Charlize Theron. With illustration and artwork experience both freelance and in-house, since 2004 Sam has regularly taught drawing and comic book art. He has taught at Quanta Academia de Artes and, since 2012, at Axis School of Visual Effects. He also features on Domestika, teaching inking for comic books and visual narrative for comic books. He also works with book illustration and freelance storyboards for TV and music videos. Born in England, he now lives in sunny São Paulo, with his wife and daughters.