A masterclass taught by Britain’s first Comics Laureate , Dave Gibbons, this is the most authoritative guide on how comics are made today. Packed full of rare and unpublished material from Gibbons’ archive it reveals insider tips on how comics such as 2000 AD and Watchmen were made. Written in collaboration with award-winning writer and editor Tim Pilcher, this unique guide takes you through each stage of the comic’s creation process, from scriptwriting, to moving through character and superhero design, to lettering and colouring and finally on to covers and logo design. Throughout this insightful course are real-life examples of Gibbons’ art, revealing how he solved actual problems with practical solutions, and unique behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process. Learn the stages of layout and page planning through the initial designs of Give Me Liberty; discover Gibbons handy tips for lettering using never-before-seen examples from The Originals; and find out the secrets of successful writing with sample scripts from The World’s Finest and The Secret Service.

“There’s a million books on how comics are put together, but none from the master storyteller behind the greatest graphic novel of all time. This is Orson Welles giving you a movie tutorial. If you’re serious about this business this should be sitting on your desk.” Mark Millar, writer/co-creator of Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kick-Ass, Wanted, Civil War

"Essential reading." Garth Ennis, co-creator of Preacher, The Boys, Crossed, Hitman and writer of Hellblazer and The Punisher

"I would have to say this is the comic book equivalent to Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species." Forbidden Planet International