David Okum - Superhero Madness

I drew my first comic when I was eight. Mr. Mouse and Jim was an adventure comic of a globe-trotting mouse and his plucky rat sidekick. Later, I expanded into science fiction comics with Galactic Wars. It wasn't until high school that I thought to try my hand at a superhero comic.

I remember thinking as I drew the pages for my freshman art class, Why haven't I done this before? I enjoyed superhero stories because they allowed me to draw whatever I wanted. I could have knights, tanks, robots and aliens all in the same story, on the same page, in the same panel. The creative possibilities seemed limitless. I created a cast of heroes and villains and, with the help of my friends, crafted fantastic stories of heroism and adventure that we still talk about to this day.

When I started thinking about this book, I dug out my old drawings and found hundreds of pages of character and story ideas. It was like bumping into old friends that I had not seen for twenty years. It's nice to have them back.

Superheroes hold a special place in our hearts. They actually exceed the potential of humanity. They are more than human, but they all have problems and weaknesses the reader can identify with. They are the ultimate power fantasy. Who hasn't dreamed they could fly or draw upon super strength or skills when needed?

Getting into the comics business is tricky at best. It's all about building skills, making contacts and maturing as an artist. This book may help you on that road, but there are many side paths that can be taken. You will learn valuable skills in anatomy, proportion, drawing techniques and layout, and gain some insights into the medium of comics. So if you want to learn how to draw superhero comics or if you just want to draw your favorite hero in a cool pose, this book is for you.

Get ready for Superhero Madness!