How to Draw Noir Comics : The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling

Listen up, buddy. Here's how it's going to be, see? You're going to draw noir comics. And you know what else? You're going to draw them like apro,see? Like Shawn Martinbrough draws them, see? Martinbrough--he's the master. He walks you around the mean streets of shadowy high-contrast images, stark camera angles, chiaruscuro lighting, everything you need to create a somber, moody tone and a conflicted, angry antihero. He takes you through the dark alleys of layout, thumbnails, creating mood, staging action, and working with actual scripts. More? You need more? Why you dirty little....look, there's a fourteen-page original story, written and illustrated by Martinbrough. You want him to draw you a map? He's drawn it, punk.

Shawn Martinbrough illustrates many DC and Marvel comics, including Superman, Detective Comics, Batman, and X-Men. Other clients include LucasArts, Playboy, and many others. In 2004, he was named one of "Washington, D.C.’s Best" by The Washingtonian. He lives in Washington, D.C.