Every script in this volume shows you something. Gaiman's reads like a personal note to the artist, Wolfman shows how plot-first can work, McDuffie shows you how to work in a recap, Kevin Smith shows a more movie-script style of writing and Kurt Busiek's entry... heck, when I read the original comic book I thought it was one of the greatest comic book stories I ever read, but the script for "The Nearness of You" just made it all the more powerful.

If you want to try to write comics, you could do a lot worse than picking up this book.


Why didn't some body think of this sooner?   May 6, 2002
 17 out of 20 found this review helpful

It seems like such an obvious good idea.
It's a wonderful glimpse into the creative process.

Just received it last night, and I'm already half through it. I haven't done that since I was eleven and got Stan Lee's How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way. Not that this book has any similarity to that one. This is not a how to book. Its a more intimate, than any instructional book. Its a similar difference in experience to watching a biography to reading someones private correspondence. The presentation adds to the feeling as well.

Better than seeing pencils, better than watching a demo, or hearing someone try to explain the creative process. You actually see it and are part of it because this is what the artist sees, while he is in the process.

As a comic book fan for years and creative hopeful (which I believe is a large part of the intended audience), I hope this is first in a long line.
Great job, thanks Mr. Gertler.


GREAT FOR THE ASPIRING COMIC WRITER!   May 28, 2003
 2 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is a great text that takes you through the creative process of several unique writing styles. The variety of script and drawings from a host of authors, really made this book encouraging to the aspiring comic writer. I'm looking forward to getting Panel Two when it comes out.


Really great but...   August 10, 2008
This book is amazing. It is a real pleasure to read these scripts and to admire the different styles. This is truly inspiring but... What is this ugly cover ? Why is the inside presentation so cheap ? I'm sure there are a lot of explanations, but, in case you re-edit it, would be a good idea to make this jewel shine.
Thanks a lot mister Gertler.


Not a review, so much as a query & an invitation for a response....   September 17, 2008
... I'm curious... how many aspiring pencillers out there have picked up this book (or its' sequel) as a source of scripts from which to prepare sample portfolio page layouts?