Create unique comic art characters that burst off the page with charisma, personality and power, with professional comic book artist Sam Hart.

Aimed at young teens and upwards, this must-have guide is the perfect introduction to creating dynamic, memorable comic book superheroes, supervillains and monsters. With step-by-step instructions and skill-building exercises integrated throughout, you will build your characters from the ground up:

• Start with a comprehensive introduction to the human form, looking at muscles, movement and amplifying characteristics for a superhuman finish
• Give your characters charisma and personality through their facial expressions, head movements and masks
• Clothe your characters: from spandex to fabric, this section contains everything you need to know to give your superhero their vital, identifying costume
• Translate power onto paper (from flight, strength and speed, to x-ray vision, magic and even weaponry)
• Create believable, dynamic action poses.

Once you master the basics, you'll move on to advanced skills like creating dramatic perspective, adding narrative and inking to create comic-style tone and shading. Sam also shares special secrets on creating drama and dynamics through layout - a key element of comic book art!

Finally you'll find advice on ensuring artwork is print-ready with resources including blueline pages for showing your professional-quality work.

It appears comprehensive and the instructions are concise and well laid out. There is plenty of guidance on anatomy and structure, with block diagrams and example drawings. Only you, the potential market, can judge its suitability and effectiveness, but I’d say it’s worth the few moments of your time it’ll take to have a look.

-- Henry Malt * artbookreview.net *

Professional comic book and storyboard artist Sam Hart has more than 30 years’ experience drawing superheroes and action-packed stories about characters and properties including Judge Dredd, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Joan of Arc, Power Rangers, VR Troopers and Starship Troopers.

After pursuing evil-doers in the pages of UK fanzines, he worked with colourist extraordinaire John Higgins and freelanced for many years in the world of magazine illustration and TV storyboards.

Living in Brazil, he created superheroes for advertising agencies, published his own comics and collaborated with Antony Johnston to illustrate the spy story The Coldest City, adapted to film in 2017 as Atomic Blonde, starring Oscar winner Charlize Theron.

Since 2004 Sam has regularly taught drawing and comic book art, first at libraries in São Paulo, Quanta Academia de Artes and then Axis School of Visual Effects. He presently features on the Domestika platform, with courses on visual narrative and inking for comic books.

Now back in England, Sam is married, has two daughters and, as a side-quest, is researching the ancient and mysterious technique of watercolours.

Find him online at: samhartgraphics.com

Or on Instagram @samrahart