Comics

• Types of Texts

  • Graphic novel
  • Comic book
  • Comic strip
  • Cartoon
• Graphic novel


  A book-length comic with a detailed story and developed characters, like a novel in comic form
• Comic book


  Similar to graphic novels but shorter, often part of a series, with less complex plots and fewer pages
• Comic strip


  A short series of connected drawings, usually funny or dramatic, appearing regularly in newspapers or online
• Cartoon


  A simplified, often humorous drawing commonly seen in newspapers or magazines, sometimes with political or social commentary
• Text Types

  • Panel/Frame
  • Speech bubble
  • Thought bubble
  • Caption/Narration
• Gutter


  The space in between panels that is used to separate the boxes
• Gutter


  • Helps add structure and logic to the story
  • Gives the reader an indication of how to read the story (where each panel begins and ends)
• Panel/Frame


  A box in which there is a drawing often accompanied by captions and various types of speech bubbles
• Panel/Frame


  • Helps convey the information visually
  • Helps add structure and logic to the story
• This bubble has a tail that is pointing towards the character that is delivering the speech that it contains
• Speech bubble


  • Indicate speech from a certain character
• Thought bubble

  They indicate the thoughts of a character. They are different from speech bubbles because of their cloud-like shape. Their tail is usually clouds too
• Thought bubble


  • Used to show the reader the characters' thoughts and feelings
• Caption/Narration


  It is usually a box that appears at the top of a panel which gives description or important background information. Usually written in third person
• Caption/Narration

  • Gives background information about the characters, conflict, plot, setting, etc.
  • Helps the reader better understand the story
• Panel/Frame Parts

  • Foreground
  • Background
  • Midground
  • Splash
  • Bleed
• Foreground

  The panel or part of the panel which is closest to the viewer
• Foreground

  • Draws the audience's eye to the most important characters or events which are crucial to understanding the story
• Background

  The panel or part of the panel which is the most far away from the viewer
• Background


  • Usually shows the audience the small details of the setting, the minor background characters, etc.
• Midground


  The center of the panel
• Midground


  • Includes both setting and character details
• Splash


  A panel that takes up the space of several panels in the comic, or can even be a single panel that fills the entire page
• Splash


  • Introduces or highlights either actions or characters to the audience
  • Can produce a dramatic visual effect as it boldly takes up extra space, or even the whole page
• Bleed


  An image that extends beyond the edge of a page, past the borders/margins
• Bleed


  • Emphasizes or highlights actions or characters
  • Produces a dramatic visual effect as it boldly takes up every inch of the page
• Onomatopoeia

  A word or words that represents a sound, often shown in an unusual font and in capital letters
• Onomatopoeia


  • Creates a sound effect for the reader which helps the reader get a vivid picture and understanding of the setting and action
  • Creates drama, excitement, humour or tension
• Parts of Comics

  
• Grounds of Comic