Jonny Duddle - The Pirate-Cruncher

'The Pirate Cruncher' is an awesome book i bought with 'A Bit Lost' and its so different but still just as awesome.
This time the book has comic strip style illustrations in it that seamlessly blends with the full page illustrations and adds a good storytelling element to tell more on one page. 

The style of the illustrations is wonderful and is created digitally. It seems very painterly as apposed to the normal bold and graphic digital work of other artists and could easily have been done with acrylic paints.

The digital renedering though, adds rich colour nd added textures and it also plays better with the text. It being directly involved with the illustrations and complimenting.


The pirate characters are larger than life and really funny which makes it so appealing and adds to the bright and happy style.

I really like the comic strip scenes spread throughout the book and they work really well to get as much going on in a double page spread as possible. The pages are cut into tall rectangles which follow in quick succession to get a good feel of the action, and it works really well.

I really love this books and its a joy to read and just look at. I wouldnt hope to create anything to this standard just yet, but it gives a good idea of how digital outcomes can looks great in a childrens book and in turn looks great as a sequential image.
Its far removed from traditonal comics and has a graphic novel feel to it, but its for children. [and big kids too!]