Quiz 2 ReviewComic Book Art
Unit 5Developing a Story
Types of Characters
Main Characters

Protagonist- the most
important character (hero
OR antihero)

Antagonist- character in
conflict with protagonist
(often the villain, but
doesn’t have to be…
doesn’t even have to be
another person!)
Types of Characters
Secondary Characters

Confidante- sidekick to
the protagonist

Foil- often a sidekick to
the antagonist who is
foolish and ruins plans
Types of Characters
Static vs. Dynamic Characters

Dynamic- a well-developed character who
undergoes some kind of change throughout the
story

Static- an underdeveloped character that does
not go through a significant change
Narrative Arc
•
A narrative arc refers to the chronological
construction of plot in a novel or story.
(Beginning, Middle, End)
1. Intro to Protagonist
• The beginning of a story
when the main character,
your protagonist, is
revealed. This character
should have empathy
(we identify with him or
her), motivation to
pursue needs and desires,
and ability to achieve
those desires.
2. Spark
• The event that propels the
protagonist into action.
This event must create an
imbalance in the
protagonist’s life that
he/she then must correct.
The spark makes us ask,
“What is he or she going
to do about that?” The
protagonist now has a
clear need or desire.
• In superhero comics, this
often has to do with the
antagonist
3. Escalation
• Protagonist tries a series
of approaches to put his
or her life back into
balance. Each attempt, and
each response to the
attempt from the hostile
forces that oppose him or
her (in the world, in
his/her own
head…whatever) is more
extreme than the last, until
he or she reaches the
logical culmination of the
struggle.
4. Climax
• The ultimate event in
the cycle of escalations.
The protagonist enters
into a decisive
confrontation with the
forces arrayed against
him or her. The
protagonist either
achieves his/her need or
desire, or definitively
does not.
5. Denouement (Resolution)
• The loose ends of the story are quickly tied up.
This does not necessarily mean that a happy
ending has been reached, only that the
protagonist’s life has returned to stability and
normalcy (perhaps a different “normal” than
before the story).
Storyboards
• Storyboards are
graphic organizers in
the form
of illustrations or imag
es displayed in
sequence for the
purpose of previsualizing a motion
picture, animation, mot
ion
graphic or interactive
media sequence.
Unit 6Elements of a Comic
Elements of a Comic
Panels

Still images in a sequence
of juxtaposed images

Panels can be any shape
or size that will fit on a
page

Panels are usually
bounded by heavy lines
called borders.
However, borderless
images can also qualify as
panels
Types of Panels

Splash Panel- Massive
panels that take up most,
or all, of the page. If it
takes up the whole page,
it is usually called a fullpage splash.

Double-page SpreadOne scene that covers
two pages
Types of Panels

Inset Panel- A panel
contained within a larger
panel

Bleed Panel- The imagery
extends or “bleeds” out
of the page
Gutters & T-Square

Gutters- The space
between and around
panels (usually white)

T-Square- Drafting tool
that draws parallel and
perpendicular lines
(used to create panels)
Lettering



Any text on a comic’s page
Dialogue and caption lettering is usually all
UPPERCASE.
You can use the same font for all characters or
choose a font that fits your characters’
personalities
Types of Lettering

Bold Lettering
Used to emphasize words

LARGE Lettering
Represent shouting

small lettering
Indicates whispering
Types of Lettering

Captions- Often used
for narration,
transitional text

Display Lettering- Text
that isn’t dialogue or
caption (ex. Street sign)
Types of Lettering

Sound Effects (SFX)Stylized lettering that
represents noises within
a scene.
◦ Onomatopoeia- A word
that sounds like it is
spelled (ex. Boom,
Meow, Brrrring)

AMES Lettering Guide-
Creates evenly-spaced
lines of different heights
for text in a comic.
Word Bubbles


A bordered shape containing text
Types of Word Bubbles:
◦ Word Balloons contain dialogue with a tail
pointed towards the speaker.
◦ Thought Balloons contain a character’s
unspoken thoughts. Thought balloons almost
always have bumpy, cloudlike borders and tails
that look like trails of bubbles.
Emanata

Symbols or icons defining
what is happening in a
character’s head, or defining
an action

Action Lines- A type of
emanata; Appear behind a
moving object to show
motion
Unit 7Backgrounds in Perspective
What is Perspective?

Definition- Your point of view when you look at
something. Creates the illusion of depth in an
illustration

Linear perspective was discovered by Architect
“Brunelleschi” during the Renaissance
Atmospheric Perspective


Refers to the effect the
atmosphere has on the appearance
of an object as it is viewed from a
distance (usually landscapes)
An illustrator creates depth by:
◦ Drawing objects in the distance
smaller
◦ Increasing contrast in the
foreground, and reducing it in the
background
◦ Increasing the brightness and
intensity of colors in the
foreground
Linear Perspective

A mathematical system for creating the illusion of
space and distance on a flat surface
◦ One-point, Two-point, or Three-point
Linear Perspective- Vocab



Converging Lines- Parallel in reality, but appear to
recede at an angle towards a common point
Vanishing Point(s)- The intersection point of all
converging lines
Horizon Line- Passes through the vanishing point(s)
at eye level
One-Point Perspective


When a drawing has only one vanishing point
Example- A city street with buildings on either side
Two-Point Perspective


When a drawing has two vanishing points
Example- The corner of a structure with both sides
angled away from the viewer
Three-Point Perspective



When a drawing has three vanishing points (the third
is above or below the horizon line)
Used to show exaggeration
Example- Bird’s-eye or Worm’s-eye views
Illustration Media /
Materials
Grayscale Prismacolor Markers

Warm vs. Cool Grays- The difference between
them is in the overall tone:
◦ Cool Grays- Have a blue tone
◦ Warm Grays- have a yellow tone
Grayscale Prismacolor Markers
Different values Tints (lightest)= 10% - 30%
 Midtones= 40% - 60%
 Shades (darkest)= 70% - 90%
◦ Use the range of options to create highlights and
shadows, depending on your light source