Comics & The Graphic Novel

What are comics ?

Comics definition

Standard of Ur – War4,500 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) 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 Panel The 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 frames The 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. Bleed Full 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 page Splash 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 Panel The 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 frames The 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. Bleed Full 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 page Splash 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 Panel The 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 frames The 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. Bleed Full 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 page Splash 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 page Splash 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, take out 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

The Graphic Novel

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’s The 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

Personal Stories into graphic novel

The Trojan War

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?