“This is a fun and origami challenging book. I would recommend this book for fairly experienced folders looking for a new challenge!”
- Age Range: 8 – 12 years
- Grade Level: 4 – 5
- Series: DC Super Heroes
- Paperback: 448 pages
Ever since I was a kid I have always been fascinated by origami. My first exposure came from weekly culture lessons at school on a Navy base in Atsugi, Japan.
Growing up, I continued my interest in origami, sometimes teaching simple models as a substitute teacher. So, I was very interested about John Montroll’s “DC SUPER HEROES ORIGAMI”. Montroll is a master origami artist, whose first origami book, Origami for the Enthusiast; Dover Publications, 1979, introduced the origami technique “double rabbit ear foldâ€. (1)
It’s important to note that I am reviewing an advanced copy of John Montroll’s “DC SUPER HEROES ORIGAMI” and there may be content changes in the final version.
Montroll begins the book by diagramming and explaining eleven basic folds. The origami models in the book are then divided into four sections: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League.
There are 11 models in the first three sections, and 13 models in the Justice League section.
Each model represents a variety of props, locations, vehicles and characters from the DC Universe, including a couple of villains.
Although as a huge “Batman” fan, I was a little disappointed in the omission of a model representing the Joker. Several other Bat-villains are represented including the Riddler, the Penguin and Clayface. The models are listed by complexity using a star system: 1 star for easy, 2 stars for intermediate, and 3 stars for complex.
At the end of the book are 96 sheets of illustrated origami paper designed by DC Comics artist Min Sung Ku.
The book is very detailed. There are clear explanations for each basic fold, and written descriptions for each folding step for the origami models.
There are many colorful illustrations showing the final model using the illustrated origami paper and the art is from the Batman the Animated Series from 1992-1995 (2) and Justice League Unlimited cartoon series from 2001-2006 (3).
In the Illustrated Folding Paper User Guide at the end of the book, it is suggested that readers practice new models with traditional origami paper first, and then when they are comfortable, fold the model using the illustrated folding papers.
This suggestion should be followed, as most of the models are not easy.
Over half of the models fall into the complex category, about a quarter of the models is in the intermediate category, and just over a handful of models (only 6) are ranked as easy.
The models are listed in each section starting with the easy models, then intermediate, and finally the complex models.
However, there are no easy models in the Batman section, only intermediate and complex models. The rest of the book has about two easy models per section.
The illustrated paper is about 8 inches or 20 centimeters square. Normal origami paper is about 6 inches square or 15 centimeters square.
I tried using scrapbook papers, not cardstock, that was 12 inches square, or about 30 and half centimeters square.
However, that paper is still slightly thicker than typical origami paper, and proved difficult to work with on some models such as that Green Lantern Symbol that required folding several layers.
Most of the models have small details that would not be easy to fold on any paper smaller than 15 centimeters square. It would be best to find origami paper at this standard size or bigger to practice with or make models.
One complaint I often see with origami books like this with illustrated origami paper is the books typically only have two or three sheets or pre-printed paper for each model.
But to that I say; that’s where the fun can come in!
Get out the pens, markers, color pencils, and stickers and decorate the models yourselves.
Also, if you get two-toned origami paper, with one color on one side and a different color on the other side, then you can create your own unique pieces. You can make the Bat Symbol in a variety of color combinations instead of just yellow and black.
The same can be done with the Superman Symbol or other heroes’ symbols, or even different color Batarangs or Kryptonite.
Overall, this is a fun and origami challenging book. I would recommend this book for fairly experienced folders looking for a new challenge. Even the easy models have 15-18 steps.
So, I would not recommend this book for any folders with no experience or anyone younger than 10 years old. You can create many awesome origami models, but as stated in the foreword, with patience and practice. This book can provide hours of folding fun.
RECOMMENDED!
Citations/ Sources
1. Origami for the Enthusiast; Dover Publications, 1979 ISBN 0486237990
2. Batman the Animated Series; http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/2.html
3. Justice League Unlimited; http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/20.html