On January 6th Hachette are launching a new partwork magazine in newsagents across the UK. Draw the Marvel Way presents tips and guidance on how to draw dynamic illustrations in the Marvel style.
Every issue of the magazine will also be accompanied with tools of the trade. Issue 1 has a metal rule, a 2H pencil, a fineliner pen, and a kneadable putty eraser. Some may think this is quite archaic in an age where many artists use digital methods, but I think it's good for newcomers to learn a traditional 'hands on' approach. (Besides, a lot of us do still use pencil, pen and paper. I only use the computer for corrections and colouring for example.)
As well as drawing tips, the magazine will also spotlight the work of various artists.
Issue 1 is just 99p, with £4.99 being the regular price with later issues. John Freeman has more info on his ever-reliable Down the Tubes website (the best blog on the UK comics scene in my opinion):
http://downthetubes.net/?p=27815
You can also find out more, and subscription details, at the Hachette website:
http://www.marveldrawing.hachettepartworks.com/
Hachette Partworks have launched a new magazine for aspiring superhero artists. Draw the Marvel Way is a fortnightly partwork filled with professional drawing tips and tutorials (by Mike Collins sharing his 30 plus years of experience as a comic artist) and accompanied with various tools of the trade.
Some might complain that it's teaching people to draw in a limited stylized way, but anything that encourages the art of drawing is welcome in my opinion. What I do find curious though is that issue 2 will come with an art box to store a collection of water colours (given away a few at a time in future issues). Colouring in comics (especially Marvel) is done digitally now, so this seems quaintly old fashioned for the purpose of this particular partwork. However, it can't do any harm to teach the old style of applying colour I suppose. Besides, bagging the mag with a Photoshop disc would push the price up a few hundred quid.
Cover price of issue No.1 is £1.99. Usual price £4.99. (Not a bad price for a partwork.)
As is the norm with most new partworks, Draw the Marvel Way is only being tested in selected areas at the moment so chances are you won't find it in your newsagents. If anyone knows the area it's being tested in, please let me know. It if proves successful I'm sure it'll be relaunched nationally.
To find out more, visit the official website here:
http://marveldrawing.hachettepartworks.com/
