The art of writing for comics

[Tim Mallos]

So, I'm writing my comic epic. In the comics I read it seems that thought bubbles are on the decline and captions are more often used for character thought.

Anyone have any opinions? I know this is kind of a dry topic, but the mechanics of a long-form comic continue to provide challenges like this. I know the answer is going to be "do what you want". I'm just looking for input so I can figure out what I want.

Thanks!
Tim

[Greg Stephens]

No, the answer is gong to be "use what works."

Here's some thoughts, though. Are the captions going to be omniscient narrator style captions, do you think, or just square boxes that do the same job as thought balloons? If the former, then that's OK, but if you intend on supplying any sort of internal monologue for the chracters, then it's probably a good idea to find a way to differentiate them from the captions and thought balloons may come in handy there.

If the square caption boxes are intended as internal monologue for one of the characters, perhaps narrating the story, then I think that works best when you only have one character doing that and avoid shifting points of view. I know people will vary the style of the caption boxes along with the fonts, the colors, etc. in order to differentiate them from each other, and that's not a bad way to go either, but I can't help but think that it's replacing one form of thought balloon which is quite intuitive (specific shape, balloon "tails" pointing to the character that's doing the thinking) with another one that requires more work on the reader's part to make function.

Hm. I guess this is turning out to be "do what you like" but at least those are some things to think about so you can determine "what works for you."

[Kris Lachowski]

Many times I use them both in the same comic. I often have zoom ins where the character starts out thinking with the bubble approach and then when either "the camera" zooms out or is focused on another scence, but the character is still thinking I use the caption method. Usually it is very apparent that it is the thoughts of the character because the sentances logically follow from what was thought in the bubble just previously and the caption and bubble have the same "voice". I guess whether that would be an option for you depends on the story and your peronal inclinations. So just do what you want.

[William G]

I use both thought balloons and ballonless text for thought.

Whatever does the job.

[reinder]

I personally avoid "interior monologue" captions like the plague. They can be used well but in my experience, usually they're not.
(I also dislike using captions saying "Meanwhile" or "Elsewhere" but that's a different matter altogether.)

On several occasions, I've seen commentators bandy about the "show, don't tell" principle. To me, this is a bit like "write what you know" or "fair and balanced reporting" for that matter. Useful advice, but it should not be taken as holy writ handed down from above. In the case of thought balloons, "show, don't tell" is translated as "don't tell me what a character is thinking, show it through action". But sometimes a character's actions will be contrary to his thoughts, or the only interesting action (or humor) will be in the character's head. I try to limit my use of thought balloons to those occasions.

[gazorenzoku]

hmmm..... some interesting responses.

The only thing that I could think to add is that I think it is ok to play with different techniques in the same work. I used to feel differently. If I picked one drawing style or writing style or whatever, I used to want to stay with it through the whole work. And to some degree that is a good thing.

But at the same time, experimentation is great too. Both for the writer and the reader.

Also, unlike the novel, which can be finished and then reworked and reworked, a comic is pretty much done so that you finish each page before you go on to the next, so it is pretty much too late to change things when you find a different technique that you want to try out. Or, even if you do a lot of pencils first before you ink, it is still hard to change things around, and if your work is really long chances are at least some of it will be inked before you even begin to draw other pages. And even though you can work a lot of stuff out in advance on layout pages or whatever, you still won't really get a good feel for how it is working out until you get deep into actually drawing real pages.

Or at least that is how it is for me. Might be different for others. Hope your story works out well. Is it intended for print? Online? Can we see it some day? Keep me posted!

[Tim Mallos]

It's intended for the web, because that's an affordable distribution medium. I'm planning a layout that could be printed, but I will side with Web layout demands.

Really, it's intended for film. See, I do the poorly drawn comic then 3 major studios vie to option the rights to my characters and stories.

Heheheheheh.

Actually, I just want to try to make a solid, well-packaged long-form comic. I recently updated the copyright to 2004 on my script. It started at 2001, I think.

Nothing like 3 jobs, 2 houses, and 2 kids to slow down the development cycle

It's still a lot of fun to have a long running project to pick up and advance a little at a time.

Realistically, I'd guess sometime in early 2005. I'd like to release it in a serial fashion bi or tri weekly, but I want to be way ahead so I can try to render what is in my head (looks really cool there, wish you could see it!).

I am also trying to develop a penciling / coloring style that fits the narrative. So, I'm trying to do a lot of life drawing right now.

This is a lot more than anyone asked to hear.

Anyway, thanks for the interest and encouragement!

Tim

[gazorenzoku]

looking forward to it in a couple of years!

[William G]

Nothing like 3 jobs, 2 houses, and 2 kids to slow down the development cycle

What? You have two houses? I'm struggling to get cable in my cardboard box!

[Tim Mallos]

I see how that post could be easily misunderstood.

I've changed jobs 3 times, bought a house, sold a house, bought a house.

I still have both children!

And the wife.

Lost a cat along the way.

Anyway, just one house.

Tim