I have recommended Robert McKee’s books to comic book creators for years, but his latest book might be his most relevant to this artform.

Character deconstructs the distinct works of art that populate stories. McKee analyzes the process of designing characters tapping into the psychological, philosophical, and social perspectives to create complex contradictions that readers identify with on both an intellectual and emotional level. McKee takes examples from every type of narrative art from The Odyssey to Breaking Bad to Waiting for Gadot to Mission: Impossible to A Fish Called Wanda to The Avengers to illustrate his points.

Characters are important to any story, but they might be most significant to modern comics because the characters can achieve so much life outside the narrative. Most of the Western world knows who Batman is, but not from reading the comics. The character has evolved and adapted to different stories and media over the decades in part because of his internal multilayered conflicts and the cast that surrounds him to highlight those facets of his experience. McKee’s book teaches you how to build that structure for your comics.

Our characters can exist and inspire beyond the confines of their story if they capture the imagination in the manner McKee lays out. If you want to create quality characters and comics on any level, McKee’s books are an important addition to your library.

Have fun with your comic.

Gamal

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