Dibujando Historietas (which translates to Drawing Comics) was co-published by Grupo Editorial Ceac, S.A. and Planeta Formación y Universidades in Barcelona, Spain in 1969. Written by Ivan Tubau, the book is aimed at teaching the techniques of creating comics, covering both humorous and adventure genres, and utilizing professional examples, including the work of artists like John Cullen Murphy.
Ivan Tubau Comamala, a multifaceted figure in Spanish cultural life, left an indelible mark as a writer, poet, journalist, and even an actor. Born in 1937 and passing away in 2016, Tubau’s literary contributions spanned poetry and insightful essays, revealing a keen observer of his time. Titles such as ‘Nada por la Patria’ and ‘Semen sonor sobtat’ showcase his poetic sensibilities, while his writings on comics and broader cultural themes demonstrated a wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. This engagement with diverse forms of expression underscores his commitment to exploring and interpreting the nuances of Spanish society and its artistic landscape.
Beyond his literary endeavors, Tubau was a significant voice in Spanish journalism. His work graced the pages of influential publications like Bang!, El Jueves, and El Mundo, bringing his critical eye and engaging prose to a wide readership. Notably, he also directed the Spanish edition of Playboy magazine, a role that reflects his involvement in more popular cultural spheres. Furthermore, his dedication to nurturing future generations of journalists is evident in his role as a teacher of cultural journalism at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Complementing his writing and journalistic pursuits, Tubau also ventured into acting, appearing in notable films and television series, further illustrating his diverse talents and deep immersion in the Spanish cultural fabric.
Dibujando Historietas is a hardcover book containing a dust jacket with 169 black and white pages measuring 24cm x 16cm in Spanish text. The front cover contains not only the title of the book, but also a brief description notifying the reader of it’s contents, which translates to, ‘Drawing Comics – Comic book technique and creation. Humorous and adventure comics. Professional resources’.
The front and back covers can be seen below, with an image by Sy Barry seen amongst other images on the front cover, with the Phantom appearing in a red costume, as he’s published in Spain.
The book is broken down into 11 chapters with an interesting article featuring the Phantom found in Chapter 1 commencing from page 13. The Chapter is titled ‘La Historieta, Narracion En Imagenes’, which translates to ‘The Comic, Narration in Images’. Illustrations from Phantom comic strips by artist Wilson McCoy are compared to illustrations by Hal Foster, with Wilson McCoys work highly regarded for it’s heightened storytelling ability.
The book blends informative written chapters with sample images to support the topic in question. A sample of internal pages can be seen below.
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