Christopher Hart - Drawing Cutting Edge Anatomy
sammvitch said:
"Found this on my harddrive, I’m not sure if I downloaded the pdf as a joke or as legitimate help. But copy-pasting the same body for a woman is /not/ how you draw. I was scrolling through this with pretty good hopes that this was going to be a decent explanation of the comic medium in general and how anatomy can be pushed without falling into Esher girl territory.
Nope.
Take most “Lets draw design comic characters” books with a huuuge grain of salt."
akitron said:
"i like that basically u can see whats wrong with the way we view women just right here in “body shapes”
this is absolutely ridiculous"
albinwonderland: said
"SEXISM IS OVER"
This was submitted to me, but I’ve actually already posted this before, but it doesn’t hurt to reblog this for anybody who’s missed it. :)
Diversity. By Christopher Hart.
(Pages from "Drawing Cutting Edge Anatomy" by Christopher Hart)
Transcript for screenreaders:
"Page 1: Body Shapes Men: Men...
In addition to age and height, body type also creates and defines specific characters. While there are some normal-looking figures in cutting-edge comics, note that the Hero, the Brute, and the Villain are all just that much more pumped up. That's what makes them cutting edge.
Regular Joe: He's not an action hero, just your typical guy. He's the type who transforms into an action hero or plays the confidant. No great muscles or definition. Slightly taller than average.
Fat Guy: Heavy people are often stereotyped, as jolly; but in comics, they can play the villain, as well, working off the gluttonous angle.
Brute: He has a thick, massive body with apelike posture. His arms are much longer than they should be, and his legs are shorter. His head should look pasted onto his body. And leave out the neck; this gives him a hunched posture, which is good for brutish characters.
Evil Genius: He's skinny, but with small, defined muscles. This gives him a crafty look. His posture is usually poor, with a sunken chest - a sure sign of comic book villainy. On skinny characters like this, the ribs stick out, but not the muscles of the ribs.
Hero: This is a V-shaped body, proud and showy. All the muscles pop.
Villain: Slightly more powerfully build than the hero (making for dramatic fight scenes), the villain is, however, not quite as graceful. He's got a thicker, less athletic build.
Page 2: ... and women.
With male comics characters, you can mold their bodies into many different shapes, producing a wide range of cool characters. It's not so easy with women. Women in comics are, by and large, attractive - even the villains. Especially the villains! The Voluptuous Vixen and the Villainess are much more attractive in cutting-edge comics. So, you have less latitude in altering the body. You can't draw brutish women or you'll lose the attractiveness. Therefore, the changes rely less on body types and more on pose, costume, and attitude.
Fighter: She has a sturdy stance, muscular arms, and large shoulders - and is somewhat defined overall.
Voluptuous Vixen: She possesses a large chest, slender waist, and wide hips. Her shoulders are softer than the Fighter and her arms are thinner.
Girl Next Door: There's nothing out of proportion on her body - no exaggerated areas that make a bold statement.
Villainess: She stands with an attitude of defiance and disdain. She's sharp, not soft, wearing a lot of black and a severe costume.
Athlete: She often has the superpower of speed. She's small but strong, with lean, defined muscles.
The Innocent: Smaller than the rest. Diminuitive (with a cute haircut), thin, and not overtly sexy. She's a neat and proper dresser."