Includes index.

Written by a master cartoonist with a combination of wit and valuable advice, this book serves as a course for beginners as well as a tool for the most advanced cartoonist. Author Christopher Hart covers everything a cartoonist needs to know to tell a joke visually, from the effective use of layout, light, and shading to the techniques of conveying emotion. There are lessons in drawing characters in reaction shots and "takes," indicating specific settings such as underwater and nighttime scenes, and depicting various weather conditions. There is even a chapter devoted to creating special effects--from speed to explosions. Of special importance, Hart shows cartoonists how to find their own drawing style and how to develop a cast of characters.--From publisher description.