This is one of the only books on manga techniques with which I'm familiar which includes good, solid, useful, practical tutorials and direction on storytelling in addition to drawing reference. The author manages to provide advice and tutelage in a humorous way without being pedantic or discouraging. (Including advice-giving manga elves). The introduction provides a good background of what manga is, why it's stylistically the way it is, and a very short background history.
The drawing instructions include poses, dynamics, movement, special effects, proportions, and more.There is relevant info available for everyone, beginners to professional artists. The following chapters give similar thorough treatment to drawing the body, pencil rough sketching, inking, proportion and perspective, effect lines, fukidashi (speech bubbles), a really good discussion on composition and storytelling narrative (introduction - development - twist - conclusion), making storyboards, and really everything to outfit the would-be manga artist from putting pen to paper through the finished product.
A very useful book. It would make a good addition to the artist's home reference library, a classroom or other formal instruction setting, or gift (with supplies). Beautifully made and one of the best manga tutorials I've seen.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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