Draw Comic Book Action

Learn how to render all aspects of adrenalin-filled movement, from jaw-dropping superhero antics to kick-ass fistfights. The hallmark of the comic book, the action is what draws a reader in and keeps them hungry for more – in this classic guide all the skills you need to make your action fast-paced and full of movement are laid out on the page, from one of the best creators working in comics today.

Techniques for drawing every dynamic action are explained, from body contact and flying through to fistfights, group rumbles and full-on battles. Everything you need to know to get started as a comic artist, from the tools you need, to techniques for shading and linework are covered, with specific tips and tricks related to creating comic art for publication. Author and comic book artist Lee Garbett introduces the basics of anatomy for comic art, and explains a number of the classic and important poses to master when looking to create dynamic and exciting layouts.

Clever exercises show how to achieve convincing movement, from dynamic standing poses, to running, swinging, flying and fighting. How to use these poses in compositions is also covered, as are a number of the more classic hallmarks of comic art, such as explosions and fight scenes. The concept of camera angles is also explained – the feature of the medium that allows every aspiring artist to be a director, and the rules of pacing are laid out to help the artists guide the comic reader through their vision.

The Action File of comic character drawings in dynamic poses forms an invaluable resource for practice and reference, and can be referred back to again and again, allowing each artist to develop their comic drawing skillset and discover that making drawing comic book action is creative, inspiring and endlessly exciting!