The Making of a Graphic Novel

This is a double sided "flip-book" by artist Prentis Rollins. The first side includes "The Resonator," a science-fiction story set in the deep future. Bronsen, a uranium miner, in a dream, cracks open a false reality perpetuated by an interplanetary corporation. The story leaves a bit to be desired, though the artwork, delicate and complex, is gorgeous.

What makes the book stand out, though, is that second side. Rollins takes readers behind the scenes of the book. He offers tips on drawing and inking comics, as well as storyboarding and plot formulation. These are all things that can be found in other books, to be sure, but those other books too often tend to lack a sense of applicability. Rollins’ book offers the chance to see how such early decisions as sketching style and lettering affect the finished product.