Praise for How Comics Were Made
Endorsements and reactions from cartoonists, comics historians, critics, and readers.
“…no one, before now, has written a history of the comic strip as a technological artifact — not, at least, in such depth, and on such a sound foundation of research.”
“For all those who say that comics are not art, I refer you to books like How Comics Are Made to see that not only are these illustrations masterfully crafted, but they have something to say.”
“As much as we love comics as an art form, we must also acknowledge that it is a business. This amazing book looks at the history of how newspaper comics have been produced since they first emerged as a mass entertainment medium in the late 19th century. Reading it is a revelation. You learn something new on every page.”
“In all the years I cut and burnished Zipatone on acetate sheets to create ‘mechanical color separations’ back in the ’70s, I never imagined it would be so fully and interestingly detailed. Now, instead of trying to explain this arcane process to my uncomprehending cartooning students at the School of Visual Arts, I can tell them to buy this book!”
“Objects tell stories in unique ways, and Glenn Fleishman captured it beautifully in How Comics Are Made.”
“This fascinating and extensively researched book taught me things about my profession that I hadn’t known. An enlightening look at the mechanics behind the comic strip.”
“Most of us have been huge comics fans from way back, yet few of us know anything about how they are made. I come from a cartooning family, and I didn’t know all I didn’t know! If your thing is comics, then you will absolutely love this book!”
“…if you want to know about how comics were produced for basically any time during the twentieth century, I can assure you this is the best book on the subject.”
“…a deep dive into the print production world of syndicated comic strips and is exactly as nerdy and fun as that sounds.”
“This book has a place of honor on my bookshelf.…it’s a must-have for the comics aficionado on your list that’s impossible to buy for. It is well-researched, tremendously written, and beautifully designed! I'm agog. Just a Herculean effort!”
“…essential reading, as much a history of technology as of art. The story is one of art in amongst the constraints, artists working with the changes in printing technologies”
“Glenn interweaves the technological advances with the creators’ inventiveness to tell this seemingly familiar story from new angles and greater depths. Well done, indeed.”
“How Comics Are Made is second only to the behind-the-scenes book on how the sausage gets made. Seriously, an eye-opening and entertaining read”
“There are few things more wonderful than reading a book that expresses the absolute joy of the author.”
“Having worked in comic strip syndication for over 35 years, the subject matter is especially close to my heart. Some of the deep dives Glenn goes into is stuff from a bygone age I’ve always wondered about, but never had a clue how it was actually done. He also covers topics I’m very familiar with and everything rings true. My sincere admiration for all the research and hard work that went into this book. It’s freakin’ fantastic!”
“I never knew I wanted to learn about the history of comics until now.”
“The amount of history and knowledge packed into 300 pages is incredible!”
“I found How Comics Were Made more fascinating than intimidating, and came away having been entertained as well as educated.”
“Print fanatics rejoice! Glenn Fleishman gives us a deep dive into the complex, time-consuming, flong-filled history of getting comics in front of your face.”
“This book — and the research behind it — are a love letter to comics. It’s a fascinating read, and one I cherish!”
“Absolutely fantastic, and a must for any art library, certainly any comic art library…Very impressed…”
“…Even a relatively casual skimming of it fills me with a mixture of joy and keen interest. It’s well organized, chock-a-block with all sorts of interesting things, and already it’s answered one question I had about some items I have (a bunch of zinc plates for editorial cartoons). In short: a wonder of a book.”
“Even the nerdiest of nerds must bow to Glenn for his insight into the history of the newspaper comics industry. It’s produced with stunning visual reverence to the art. Not only has How Comics Are Made taught me what the hell happens (or used to happen) to my art after it left my hands, it taught me my favorite new word: flong.”
“Anyone captivated by how things are made would adore this book. It appeals not only to cartoonists but to journalists, engineers, and students of American history and ingenuity. I believe Joseph Pulitzer would have been proud to have it on his bookshelf.”
“How Comics Are Made is one of these books that I would say is recommended only if ‘you are into that sort of thing.’ This is usually taken as damning with faint praise, so I will make something clear: Dear reader, I am into this sort of thing.…How Comics Are Made offers us something new – a mechanical history, an exploration of the physical process that makes comics strips possible.”
“How Comics Are Made is the kind of resource that can help on a reader’s journey to developing a deeper level of insight. Understanding how the post-studio process of the medium works is to connect the art to its place in the world.”