Basic Figure Structure

This is a basic breakdown of how a comic/manga character is traditionally structured. The drawing on the left is very similar to those little wooden art manequins that are always posed inapropriately by immature jackasses in art classrooms around the world. If you don't own one & take your art seriously, you should go pick one up. They should have one at any art supply store for @ $20. If you don't live around an art store, go buy an action figure with lots of points of articulation with an average build. (Spider-Man & Daredevil work good) I've broken the body down to a few basic shapes in hopes of making it easier for younger/inexperienced artists to see the framework that should be the foundation of any drawing dealing with the human body. Some artists like to just use a long trapezoid or rectangle for the abdomen, but I prefer breaking it into these segments because I feel that too much thinking goes into making a rectangular shape bend & often your figure will come out looking stiff & rigid.
The drawing on the right is the same drawing only I've given it basic muscle & tone when I added detail.