Manga: - How to Draw Manga Volume 12: Giant Robots (How to Draw Manga)

How to Draw Manga Volume 12: Giant Robots (How to Draw Manga) In this book, Chapter 1 is divided into the different parts of the body, starting with the head, explaining directions in designing the eye or mouth, and then proceeding down towards the trunk and the hands and feet. In Chapter 2, techniques in incorporating weapons, wings, and other extras to the robot learned in Chapter 1 to create a new design are explained. In Chapter 3, android designs are presented. This book is indispensable to those creating manga with an interest in robots.
Customer Review: One of three solid mech drawing books
4-1/2 stars. The more I spend time with this book, the more I like it. The big surprise for me here is the amazing attention to detail: *many* ideas & principles of robot design are analyzed & examined, with great variety in mechs. 5 stars for idea generating help(!), but 4-1/2 stars overall due to lack of transforming mech examples, which is really my main interest.

I recently bought three books on robots. A brief comparison:

1. How to Draw Manga- Giant Robots. 4-1/2 stars. Phenomenal details for all kinds of robots. It's my favorite book of the 3. It has very little on robots that transform, which is too bad, but few books can match the incredibly detailed instruction here with such a wide variety of designs. It's a visually attractive, well organized effort.

2. Let's Draw Manga- Transforming Robots. 4 stars. The best book of the 3 in dealing with actual transformations. It shows actual photos of toys, and then plenty of pictures detailing the transforming process. The drawing quality is a little rough but still professional. Better drawing quality would've made this a 5-star book.

3. How to Draw Manga- Mech Drawing. 4 stars. Great looking cover; the interior art is professional as well. Some drawings are truly excellent, but many are a bit too plain looking and lack visual interest. It covers the artistic rendering of mechanical vehicles & items of all types, and not just robots. With very little information on transforming mechs, it's still above average overall.

As you can see, each book has its strengths & weaknesses. And each is entirely black & white- no color drawings inside. I have yet to find a book on robots that I consider truly 5-star material. The day I do, I may update this review.
Customer Review: Decent reference, but not really How To Draw
If the title was "Reference for Mecha Drawings" I'd give it one more star. It doesn't show you How to Draw, it zooms in on different parts of a Mech, where to get inspiration, what works and what to avoid.

Nowhere in the book do they show you how to sketch a drawing of a Mech. If you know how to draw well already and want a reference book for using your talents to draw Mecha, this is a good book. If you are just starting out learning how to draw, this book is not it.