Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud “is best known for his books particularly Understanding Comics (1993) a 215-page comic book about the comics medium translated into over 16 languages. Also Reinventing Comics (2000) a more controversial look at comics revolutions in art, culture and technology, and Making Comics (2006) an extensive look at comics storytelling techniques that also resulted in the Making Comics 50 State Tour.
He invented ‘The 24 Hour Comic’ that has now become an international phenomenon over the years especially with the debut of 24 Hour Comics Day in 2004. He has other inventions like the Creators’ Bill of Rights and Five Card Nancy. His first comics series was Zot! (1984-1991) that he usually describes as “a cross between Peter Pan, Buck Rogers and Marshall McLuhan.”
Another is the superhero parody Destroy!! (1986) scripts for various Superman comics (12 issues of Superman Adventures, the 3-part Superman: Strength, and JLA Adventures #16), a bizarre 1998 GN called The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln and various short subjects and mini-comics. He is a Public Speaker, Teacher, Consultant for MIT, Google, Harvard, Pixar, DARPA and about 250 other destinations over the years.
Depending on who you ask, he’s either comics’ leading theorist or a deranged lunatic but life continues to be very interesting for him and the ideas that he’s raised continue to provoke reactions throughout the comics community and increasingly beyond it too. In the Spring of 2000, his second book on comics was published: ‘Reinventing Comics’. In this equally comprehensive work he debates the future and possibilities of the comic genre.
So in Overview, he has authored the following:
The Right Number (2003) His experimental webcomic about math, sex and telephone numbers. Parts One and Two of a projected three-part story.
The Morning Improv (2001-2003) A one hour each morning devoted to whatever came into his head.
I Can’t Stop Thinking! (2000-2001) Are comics-style essays on comics and technology.
Zot! Online (2000): “Hearts and Minds”. A sixteen part story featuring his 80’s hero Zot.
Carl Stories (1998-2001) Pointless interactive comics featuring everybody’s favorite nobody, Carl!
My Obsession with Chess (1998-1999) An autobiographical comic in two parts.
Porphyria’s Lover (1998): His first online comic; an adaptation of a poem by Robert Browning; and
The Green Ball (1998 – ?) Miscellaneous older comics and other unusual features.”
In his own words he was an early (and noisy) advocate of digital comics in the ’90s and early ’00s. He had various successes, failures and controversies surround this period. Things are pretty quiet right now, but there’s always a chance they might heat up again. He’ll see.”
