Book · 1993
Understanding Comics
by Scott McCloud
A reader almost skips it over the condescending-sounding title, then calls it the book that changed how they see art.
What does Reddit think of Understanding Comics?
One comment calls it formative for "how I view art and comics," full stop, ahead of Cerebus and Maus in that reader's own list (↑67). Another goes further: "one of the most important comics that's been made," "amazing" (↑27), though the same comment adds a caveat: it's a "total mind-melt" best read in chunks, not straight through. The title itself gets addressed directly more than once. One commenter admits it "sounds a little condescending" before recommending it anyway (↑28), which suggests the marketing undersells what's actually inside. It also gets suggested to someone asking about making their own comic (↑31), not just to readers looking for theory, and shows up as a hypothetical "textbook for the class" in a canon-building discussion next to Watchmen and Sandman (↑54).
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · The default textbook answer for how comics work
- · A title that sounds condescending but earns trust anyway
- · Recommended to working artists making comics, not just readers
- · Read in chunks because it's a mind-melt, not something to skim
Common praise
- + Credited with shaping how a reader sees art and comics generally, ranked ahead of Cerebus and Maus in that reader's own influences (↑67).
- + Recommended straight to someone asking how to make their own comic, not just to readers looking for theory (↑31).
- + A reader talks themselves past the "condescending"-sounding title and ends up recommending it anyway (↑28).
Common criticism
- − More than one comment flags it as a "mind-melt" best read in chunks, a real warning about pacing, not just a compliment in disguise (↑27).
- − Every tracked mention sits inside r/graphicnovels, so this sample can't say how it lands with readers who aren't already comics-focused.
- − The title itself needs defending in these comments before the recommendation lands, real friction even among people who end up endorsing it (↑28).
Who it's for
Making your own comic and want the theory behind panel transitions and closure? That's the exact context someone got this recommendation in here (↑31). Don't expect a straight cover-to-cover read: readers in this sample specifically suggest chunks, not one sitting, calling it a "mind-melt" otherwise (↑27). Would a slightly condescending-sounding title stop you from picking something up? At least one reader here had that exact reaction and recommended it anyway (↑28). Treat it as a working reference on how comics function; one comment literally floats it as the textbook for a class, right next to Watchmen and Sandman (↑54).
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Understanding Comics?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud for how I view art and comics. For a time, Cerebus by Dave Sim was pretty influential to me (until he went off the deep end). Maus. Honestly, the Lee/Ditko Spider-man stuff was influential really early on. I viewed myself as being a lot like Peter.
“Not finishing understanding comics is so funny
“The following people from your list are all from the United States: Box Brown (André the Giant), David Mazzucchelli (Asterios Polyp), Jeff Smith (Bone), Sam Kieth (The Maxx), P. Craig Russell (The Ring of the Nibelung), Noah van Sciver (Fante Bukowski), Will Eisner (A Contract with God), Don Rosa (L…
“Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud.
“Watchmen by Moore and the entire Sandman series by Gaiman are must reads, imo. Beyond that, everything’s fairly murky in regards to any sort of canon. The Complete Maus by Spiegelman is a really close third though. Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics would absolutely be the textbook for the class …
“Put Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud next in your reading queue! The title sounds a little condescending but, as a let my time comics fan, I found it fascinating. It talks a lot about this in a really cool way, and I think it even hits harder if you’re really into comics. I think you’ll dig it.
“Understanding Comics is one of the most important comics that’s been made. It’s amazing. I read it all the way through once but it’s a total mind-melt. I much prefer reading it in chunks. Making Comics is also awesome.
“The short answer: They can. The long answer: Read Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics.”
“Echoing everyone else, yeah, it’s a fantastic book. A beautiful telling of the history of comics, mixed with elements Morrison’s own history and perspective on countless aspects of the industry. This and Understanding Comics are my go-to books about comics to recommend.
“Buy scott mccloud - understanding comics. He’ll be too young to understand it. But you can read it and distill some concepts/techniques to him.
“Great start, keep it up! I recommend checking out Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics and Making Comics. They are a great academic breakdown of how comics/graphic novels work and how to create them but in graphic novel form. It will improve your drawing but also help you know *what* you should draw…
“Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. You don't have to agree with everything he says (I certainly don't) but its got a lot of food for thought.
“I would recommend *Understanding Comics* by Scott Mccloud is a great start to help them better engage with the comics that they read. If they know the techniques they can analyze them better and it's just a fun book. *In this Corner of the World* by Fumiyo Kouno follows the life of a woman in/around…
“Understanding Comics. Art theory plus comics for a lifelong artist and comics lover. How could it not? Maus. It really made me think a lot about the trauma people carry, especially because the Prisoner on Planet Hell insert. That made the whole book a lot more universal for my mind as opposed to ju…
“March by John Lewis was amazing and taught me what the schools should have taught me about some of the details of the civil rights movement. I Kill Giants helped me with the grief of losing my mother and of course Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics
Convinced? Pick up Understanding Comics
What else does r/graphicnovels read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
Guides featuring Understanding Comics
Ranked best-of lists and editorial guides where this book's tracked mentions place it.
Understanding Comics — frequently asked
Is Understanding Comics only useful for people who want to make comics?+
No, based on this sample, but it does show up in both contexts. One comment recommends it to someone specifically asking how to make their own comic (↑31), while another credits it more broadly with shaping how they view art and comics generally (↑67).
Should you read Understanding Comics in one sitting?+
Not according to the reader with the most detailed account here. They call it "one of the most important comics that's been made" but also a "total mind-melt," and say they prefer reading it in chunks instead of straight through (↑27).
Does Understanding Comics' title undersell the book?+
At least one reader in this sample thought so. They admit the title "sounds a little condescending" before recommending it anyway, saying it was fascinating and hits harder the more you're already into comics (↑28).
Is Understanding Comics considered a serious reference book, or just a recommendation for beginners?+
Both, per this sample. One comment floats it as the hypothetical "textbook for the class" in a discussion about canon-worthy comics (↑54), alongside Watchmen and the Sandman series, not positioned as beginner-only material.