Tips for Creating a Narrative Comic

Establishing a Narrative Structure with Main Characters

Your comic must tell a story. It must have a narrative structure. This means that it must have at least one main character (more than one character would probably be easier), and that character must undergo some kind of development. In comic terms, the development may be as simple as a sequence of carefully thought out and connected actions, or it may be as complex as a sequenced psychological development.

 

Whatever type of character(s) you decide to create, you must not use a trademarked/copyrighted character, although you can create a parody of such a character. In other words, Wolverine cannot be the star of your comic, but Honey Badger can.

 

Along with character, you comic must have actions and/or events. An action can be loosely defined as any activity that requires the visual depiction of motion or of movement from one state of mind to another. An event, again defined very loosely, can be non-visual insofar as it relies upon narrative text and/or dialogue, but, most often, events are visual. An event generally is made up of a sequence of images that include most or all of the following: setting, atmosphere, character, action, dialogue, text. An event may delineate a physical action or it may be a psychological action.

 

Narrative structure also requires the use of metaphor and symbol. In comic terms, we are talking about establishing and using iconic systems. The iconic level of the comic carries much of the weight of the comic’s meaning. Much care must be taken in the creation and depiction of characters, scenes, and action sequences in order for the iconic systems to become established and to be effective.

 

Your comic may be in colour or in black and white. This decision is yours and must be one that you make with an eye to the requirements of your story (and your budget). The use of medium is an artistic decision you must make, and it should be made with the requirements of your comic in mind, not with the limitations of your artistic skill. For those hand drawing a comic, a word of advice: unless your artistic vision includes the lines of lined paper as a design/visual element (see the work of Lynda Barry), stick to blank paper. The paper may be any colour you wish, but do avoid fluorescent colours. Similarly, you may use almost any drawing implement and method you wish – form pencil to Photoshop.

Keep in mind that you will not be evaluated on your drawing skill. Your characters can be geometric shapes or random squiggles. A drawn thing becomes a character when it is given language and, hence, a personality.

An essay explaining your narrative and visual decisions in the creation of this comic must accompany your comic. Your essay should not exceed 1500 words.
Below are some guiding questions to help you put your essay together.
NOTE: These questions are a guideline. Your essay should answer them, but also keep in mind that some questions will lead to you answer other related questions that are not mentioned in this brief list.

What is your story about? Do not give me a summary or a synopsis of your story. Tell me what the theme or “point” of your comic is.

Why did you create your particular character(s)?
 Why did you decide to depict your character the way you did?


If your comic is based on real world events, how are you employing the techniques of autobiographiction?


How is your setting (physical/temporal) connected to the story of your comic?

What icons and/or iconic systems are you using and why?


Why are your panels all the same size or in different sizes?


Why are your panels all the same shape or in different shapes?


How are your panels positioned on the page? Why?


How many of the six panel types/relationships did you use? What is the ratio of the six panel types/relationships in your comic?

How are you relating the background of the panel to the foreground and why?


Why did you use the speech representations you did? Why bubbles, blocks, or externalized text?

 

 

Learning Outcomes Met by This Assignment

 

Apply the principles and elements of graphic sequential narrative in the creation of a comic

 

Apply the specialized terminology of graphic sequential narrative to analyze and evaluate the student’s own comic in the accompanying essay.

 

Apply the six types of image transitions within the student’s own comic. Evaluate the effectiveness of the image transitions used in the accompanying essay.

 

If applicable, evaluate, in the accompanying essay, the student’s application of Lynda Barry’s concept of autobiographiction to the student’s comic.

 

Evaluate the graphic translation of conventional text-based rhetorical devices in the student’s comic.