Select delivery location
See All Buying Options

How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way [DVD]

Stan Lee (Actor) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
Price
New from Used from
DVD
May 7, 2002 		—
1
—
$45.00 $5.00
Genre Action & Adventure
Format Color, NTSC, DVD
Contributor Stan Lee
Language English
Runtime 58 minutes

Product Description

Tools and Terms of the Trade The Secrets of Form The Power of Perspective Figure Drawing & Action Motion Composition and Design

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 4.16 ounces
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, NTSC, DVD
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 58 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2002
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Stan Lee
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Starz / Anchor Bay
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00005YUNX
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
24 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

H. Marie Salz
5.0 out of 5 stars Artists know.
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2013
Verified Purchase
My sister had informed me about a certain How To Draw: Marvel guide that her husband had seen a loooong time ago when he was younger, and couldn't remember what it was or where he saw it, but knew he had wanted it. He couldn't think of the way it item had looked, but was sure he'd know it when he saw it.
Got this for him, and he knew it right away. He was very happy with it. Glad to be of service to a fellow artist.
Helpful
 Report
W. Martell
2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Not what I expected.
Helpful
 Report
David E. Wolfe
3.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational, informative, but dated...
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2006
I remember first seeing this in VHS form MANY years ago, and I enjoyed it. More as a cheerleading device than an article of information. Even when I first saw it, I realized from comic books I was reading at the time, that many of the things being said about comics in general, and Marvel specifically, were simply not true anymore. The "Marvel Way" being viewed and discussed is the way of 1970. The way of John Buscema and Jack Kirby.

There is nothing wrong with this "way", it's just not what's being asked for and wanted from artists in comics today. These are rules, and successful comics today often succeed by 'breaking' these rules. To hear Stan Lee impose what almost sounds like a mandate on drawing lips and eyelashes is almost laughable. The women being illustrated and discussed are women from 1970, which were often already basically women from 1950. And although it's refreshing to see comic book females being drawn and discussed without showing or mentioning the now commonplace trait of over-sized breasts and 8-inch waists, it's still more of a valuable record of an era in comic books than an instructional device.

HOWEVER... the illustrated use of perspective, impact, angles, technique and storytelling are still just as accurate and important today as they were then. And except for the obvious omission of computer use in comics today, also offers excellent advice on the methods and many of the tools used to construct a professional comic book. It also emphasizes the need for dedication and practice to become better skilled in this art form.

It's on this level that I found it most valuable - as a cheerleader. Any beginning artist with an ounce of talent, looking to break into the business of creating comic books will find it hard not to be motivated and encouraged by the energy and enthusiasm in this DVD. Even now, I find myself swept up in Stan's very sincere desire for me, and other artists to succeed.

There's no fancy film work here, shot on video, no real menu or extras, and the music is annoying. But it's crisp, clear and colorful. I'm very glad it's out on DVD, as pausing is much better for viewing the vast art displayed throughout.

I would recommend this for any person starting out or interested in the details of comic book art.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Money
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2005
Verified Purchase
There is NOTHING in this DVD that wasn't in the book. In fact, Stan and John basically read the book to you as they show you the pictures from the book. I was hoping to actually SEE the artists do the drawings, but there is maybe 60 seconds total of footage of actual drawing. The rest of the video is just John Buscema tracing over all the images that are already in the book. If you really want to learn to draw comics, this isn't for you. If you just want a basic overview of the process, this dvd might not be TOO disappointing. But if you already own the book, DEFINITELY don't waste your money. It would be cheaper just to have your mom read the book to you.
22 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Vincent R. Hagman
2.0 out of 5 stars Stan and John Create Surface Tension
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2002
This dvd first caught my eye with high expectations and a low price. The price turned out to be too much. Stan Lee and John Buscema are two of the greatest comic book creators that have ever lived, but this dvd just isn't good enough to meet their standards. It offers much in the way of comic book jargon, but displays each business element very poorly. The main focus of this "visual" video is verbal instruction. There is a very limited amount of important hands-on drawing, barely even enough to teach a learning artist anything. I think that HOW TO DRAW COMICS THE MARVEL WAY could have been done a lot better and should offer a great deal more. Unless you are an avid comic book fan, I do not recommend purchasing this dvd. And, even if you are, I would give it some serious thought.
15 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
n0s4a2
4.0 out of 5 stars Smilin' Stan and Big John Comin' at ya!
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2003
Verified Purchase
This was a fun tape for me, because I grew up reading these guy's comic books, and I bought the book version of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way years ago. I mainly got the video so I could hear artist Buscema's voice (which is great; he sounds like a character from the Sopranos scolding you for not drawing right). But all they do is read the book word for word from a teleprompter while John pretends to draw over some photocopied enlargements from it's pages! He's literally making these theatrical "drawing" motions without touching the pencil to the paper, while writer Stan Lee pontificates in his endearingly overblown and gratingly nasal Brooklynese. It's great. The original book was just Buscema's comic book drawing course, to which Stan wrote some psuedo-hip "Marvel" patter as a way of marketing it to a wider audience, and this is undoudtedly another scheme to cash in a little more, which must have taken the old partners part of a whole day to do. In fairness, they do some things in video that are pretty good, like superimpose the rough drawing over the finished one to illustrate how it develops. These two are real American characters, and if you liked the book, and you read comics in the '60s, you'll probably get a kick out of this.
27 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Mister Der
5.0 out of 5 stars More like, "How to Talk the Marvel Way"
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2005
Way too much exposition and not enough, how you say, "Bob Ross"-style step by step instruction, but hey, that's what art school is for, right, Binky?

Anyhoo, John and Stan do an excellent job explaining the basics of figure drawing and composition choices for comic panels. Inspirational, and rather like hanging at a family gathering with the oldsters. That's my opinion/memory implant. Very 80's in video quality and the music; oy! the soundtrack! I was waiting for someone to get a pie in the face!!!
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Brian Johnstone
5.0 out of 5 stars A good experience
Reviewed in Canada on February 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
It came on time and in fantastic condition.
Report
d godfrey
5.0 out of 5 stars 10/10
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
Taught me all I know best book ever
Report
Stuart king artist
1.0 out of 5 stars Uselss waste of money
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2010
Verified Purchase
The DVD shows Stan lee neither artist (or writer in my opinion)Doing his usual Stan lee routine as Bucsema the artist pretends to draw over reprinted ages from the How to draw marvel book. Don't buy this, get the book and at least you will have a physical reference at full size as opposed to a brief glance at some one waving a pencil at a page of a book on a flickery screen.
I was disappointed in this since the artist is great.
 How to Draw Comics the "Marvel" Way
One person found this helpful
 Report