Alan Moore

Every once in a while the comic world is blessed with a book that is so good it becomes larger than the comic book community and achieves widespread popularity with the masses.  Alan Moore is one of a handful of writers that has done this more than once.  In fact you will be hard pressed to find somebody, even if they have no interest in comics at all, who isn’t familiar with at least one of his works, whether they know it or not. 

Five of Moore’s comics have been turned into Hollywood films.  Whether or not any of the movies did the original work justice is beside the point.  Keanu Reeves has probably forgotten he played the lead role in Constantine, just like everybody else, even though it opened at the number 2 spot in the box office.  Nobody owns a copy of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen however, for a week it too was the number 2 movie in the country when it opened.  Every other adaptation on the big screen of Moore’s work (Watchmen, V for Vendetta, From Hell) has opened at the top spot in the box office.  Let that sink in.

Every comic enthusiast is familiar with Alan Moore and most can give you a list of their favorite titles by him.  Almost always that list has a striking resemblance to their favorite titles list period.  There is almost no argument that the best comic ever produced was done so by Moore, however, which title that is exactly can be and that is saying something.  V for Vendetta is far and away my favorite installation of the comic canon.  I respect the argument that Watchmen revolutionized the way people looked at comics, presenting previously unthinkable subjects. That being said, when it comes down to symbolism, themes, and story, V for Vendetta is the gold standard.  The iconic Guy Fawkes mask is recognizable world wide even though only a segment of the population knows where it comes from.  Like Orwell’s 1984, the world created is something out of a nightmare that seems to bare more and more resemblance to ours as time goes on.

As I take a step back after immersing myself in comics for a year I can begin to construct my Comic Writers Mount Rushmore.  Alan Moore is front and center, surrounded by Brian K. Vaughan, Scott Snyder and Jonathan Hickman.  As time goes I’m sure faces will be demoed to make room for new ones but Alan Moore will stand the test of time, just as his comics have.

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Scott McCloud

If I could suggest any book to somebody who wants to get a better grasp on comic book art and story telling it would be, without a doubt, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud.  Over 20 years ago McCloud put together the definitive guide on how comics work and it is still the best book in print discussing the topic.   Understanding Comics serves to show the intricacies and complexity of comics in a fashion that is not only interesting, but also easy to digest. 

Imagine a 90 year-old man who thinks that technology is the devil being given an iPhone.  He may discard it in favor of a simple, old fashioned, flip phone with big buttons.  However, because the iPhone is so intuitive and easy to use by design, he could easily be making calls and maybe even sending text messages after fooling around with it in a short amount of time.  Unfortunately the man, who only wants to use it to make calls, will never fully realize what he has.  This device that he sees only as a phone could be so much more if he took the time to learn about it.  He will never know that it could be used access the Internet, take pictures, or play his music.  Without knowledge of the information presented in Understanding Comics, you are that that 90 year old man.  It is true that you can read and enjoy a comic book just fine without it, but you are missing so much.  With this book, McCloud will open your eyes so that you might fully comprehend and appreciate what the writer and/or artist are presenting.  After reading, it will be impossible to view comics in the same light as you once did. 

If you have never heard of Scott McCloud that is because, aside from short stints with DC, he has found the majority of his success as a creator with online comics and creator owned books that bring only a limited amount of wide spread notoriety.  In all likelihood if you do recognize the name you already know who he is.  McCloud has left his mark in comic world by identifying and defining the nuts and bolts of comics and his visions for what they can, could and should(or should not) be. Understanding Comics, ReinventingComics and Making Comics are nothing less than required reading for anyone with an academic interest in the medium or those thinking about creating their own comics, whether they want to be the next Alan Moore or just make an online strip that their friends and family can enjoy. 

I encourage any reader to check out his website scottmccloud.com to learn more about him and see some of the other things he has provided to the comic community.  You can also follow him here on twitter if you are so inclined.  McCloud is currently working on a graphic novel that should be published some time early next year titled, The Sculptor.  I am looking forward to the release and seeing how somebody who has demonstrated their vast knowledge and understanding of comics translate it into a polished story. 

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