Summary of Understanding Comics

Understanding Comics is a 1993 non-fiction book about comics by American cartoonist Scott McCloud. The book seeks to explain the inner workings of comics, as well as their potential as an art form. It uses comic strips to explain fundamental concepts such as the relationship between images and words, the significance of the gutter, and the role of the reader in constructing meaning from the elements of a comic. It also discusses the history of comics, and examines the potential of this medium to create a global language. The book is illustrated throughout with McCloud's own artwork.