You don't need to be a great artist to create your own comic book or graphic novel. This comprehensive manual shows you everything you need to know to turn the beginnings of a story idea into a visually compelling and fully illustrated comic book, and how to get it published on the web or in print. Topics include: how to create characters and plot lines, drama and suspense, understanding grids and layouts, panel captions, speech, lettering, transitions and viewing angles. It also covers all the essentials of drawing from figures, backgrounds and perspectives to inking, colouring and digital rendering.