62
Comics & The Graphic Novel
Comics & The Graphic Novel
What are comics ?
Comics definition
Standard of Ur – War 4,500 years ago
Standard of Ur - Peace
Comics history – tomb paintings
circa 1300 BCE
Comics history – Egyptian tomb painting
Akhenaten & Nefertiti awarding gold necklace to Aye, circa 1330 BCE.
Comics history—Bayeux tapestry (20 inch x 230 feet)
1064. Edward is King of England. He talks to his brother-in-law Harold, who leaves with his companions and hunting dogs. He holds the hawk. He arrives at a church and prays for safe passage and they set sail. Note: sequential art, but there are no panel divisions but rather subject divisions..
Comics basics American comics are usually
read from left to right, top to bottom.
Comics basics American comics are read
from left to right, top to bottom.
Pages are often produced using a basic grid.
Comics basics American comics are usually
read from left to right, top to bottom.
Pages are often produced using a basic grid.
The space between frames is called the gutter.
Comics basics American comics are
usually read from right to left, top to bottom.
Pages are often produced using a basic grid.
The space between frames if called the gutter.
A panel is usually outlined with a frame.
Comics basics American comics are
usually read from right to left, top to bottom.
Pages are often produced using a basic grid.
The space between frames if called the gutter.
Panels are usually outlined with a frame.
Dialogue is shown in floating balloons; narration in boxes.
Principles of the Comics
PanelThe single image that is usually laid out within borders is known as a panel. These panels would be similar to individual frames of film.
Panel framesThe border or edges of a panel, when drawn, are called frames. These are normally rectangular in shape, but this shape can be altered to convey information to the reader.
BleedFull bleed is usually used on a comic book cover, and is when the art is allowed to run to the edge of each page, rather than having a white border around it.
Splash pageSplash page or sometimes referred to simply as a "splash", is a full page drawing in a comic book. A splash page is often used as the first page of a story, and includes the title and credits.
Principles of the Comics
PanelThe single image that is usually laid out within borders is known as a panel. These panels would be similar to individual frames of film.
Panel framesThe border or edges of a panel, when drawn, are called frames. These are normally rectangular in shape, but this shape can be altered to convey information to the reader.
BleedFull bleed is usually used on a comic book cover, and is when the art is allowed to run to the edge of each page, rather than having a white border around it.
Splash pageSplash page or sometimes referred to simply as a "splash", is a full page drawing in a comic book. A splash page is often used as the first page of a story, and includes the title and credits.
Principles of the Comics
PanelThe single image that is usually laid out within borders is known as a panel. These panels would be similar to individual frames of film.
Panel framesThe border or edges of a panel, when drawn, are called frames. These are normally rectangular in shape, but this shape can be altered to convey information to the reader.
BleedFull bleed is usually used on a comic book cover, and is when the art is allowed to run to the edge of each page, rather than having a white border around it.
Splash pageSplash page or sometimes referred to simply as a "splash", is a full page drawing in a comic book. A splash page is often used as the first page of a story, and includes the title and credits.
Principles of the Comics
Splash pageSplash page or sometimes referred to simply as a "splash", is a full page drawing in a comic book. A splash page is often used as the first page of a story, and includes the title and credits.
Scott McCloud, the comics philosopher
The essence of a cartoon: focus
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Universality
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Closure
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
To understand closure, takeout two dimes and a quarter.
Reality Vs. Iconic
An icon is any image used to represent a person, place, thing, or idea. Simple drawings and/or iconic cartoons allow us to forget about the messenger and focus on the message. In other words, ideas become clearer and louder when the messenger is easy to understand.
How pictures become comics?
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
The action takes place between the pictures. We ‘read between the lines/pictures.’
The Gutter
Gutters are the spaces between the panels.
“To kill a man between frames is to condemn him to a 1000 deaths.”
--Scott McCloud
Transitions: Moment to Moment
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Transitions: Action to Action
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Transitions: Subject to Subject
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Transitions: Scene to Scene
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Transitions: Aspect to Aspect
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Transitions: Non-sequitur
From Scott McCloud’s, Understanding Comics
Film Terms & Principles
Establishing shots [often highly detailed] show the reader/viewer where they are.
Film Terms & Principles
Establishing shots [often highly detailed] show the reader/viewer where they are.
Film Terms & Principles
Establishing shots [often highly detailed] show the reader/viewer where they are.
Differentiating Language
Sometimes the artist wants to show differences between characters and how they speak.
Differentiating Language
Sometimes the artist wants to show differences between characters and how they speak.
Differentiating Language
Sometimes the artist wants to show differences between characters and how they speak.
Differentiating Language
Sometimes the artist wants to show differences between characters and how they speak.
Showing sound
Zip lines can indicate movement.
Film Terms & Principles
Shots: XLS, LS, MS, CU, XCU
Reverse angle
Two successive shots from equal and opposite angles, typically of characters during conversation. Characters are usually kept on the same side of the picture throughout a scene.
Good comics … … like films, tell a story visually and create a dialogue between viewer and artist.
1950s - Classics Illustrated
1950s - Classics Illustrated
The Graphic Novel
The Graphic Novel definition
The Graphic Novel definition
Graphic novel is to novel as comic book is to short story
The first “graphic novel”
Bloodstar [1976] was the first graphic novel to be advertised as such, although Will Eisner’s A Contract with God [1978] trade paperback used the term also.But …
The first “graphic novel”
In 1842, the first major graphic novel was published in the United States. The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck by humorist Rodolphe Toffer, appeared in a weekly humor magazine called Brother Jonathan.
From A Brief History of the Graphic Novel by Stan Tychinski
Neil Gaiman’sThe Sandman
Considered the most popular graphic novel is Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.
The Sandman
The series consists of 10 volumes and is drawn by various artists.
Other popular graphic novels
The Books of Magic
Other popular graphic novels
Popular graphic novels about animals
Super heroes
Other popular graphic novels Invincible
The Classics
The Trojan War
Historical graphic novels
Historical graphic novels
Parchment of Light: The Life & Death of William Shakespeare
Left Behind series graphic novels
Now it’s your turn!In your journals, draw a simple cartoon that
depicts your morning routine.
What are the steps you go through from waking up to showing up at school?
