The 4 parts to emotion in comics
Comic Reviews for week ending 10/2/2022
Good morning, my friend,
I usually focus on writing in these newsletters. When you write enough of your own stuff and, more importantly for a comic reviewer, read a lot of comics from other creators, you pick up on the patterns. But today, we’re going to talk about something a writer can’t do and relies on the artists to do for them - create emotion.
Before you turn your writing brain off by saying, “Ugh! Not for me,” realize that your scripts - the starting point for any comic - can provide the art cues needed to get the emotions of your scenes across. Artist’s do the work, but your script provides the map.
You can convey the emotion a reader needs to experience in a panel with four components. Technically, the fourth is optional, but it helps. In no particular order…
The eyes are the window to the soul
It’s true. Eyes can tell almost the entire story. Wide eyes convey shock, surprise, or horror. A squint expresses uncertainty, deep concentration, or skepticism. Closed eyes with tears running down can express overwhelming relief or grief.
Don’t forget the brow in that mix. A deep, furrowed brow can change the aspect of the eyes as much as raised eyebrows.
Open up and say, “Ahh!”
Equally important to the eyes is the mouth. A frown, a toothy grin, a crooked sneer, and more can alter the emotion a character projects.
Amazingly, if you keep your eyes the same and change your mouth, you can create a different emotional reaction. For example, a serious set of eyes with furrowed brows looks like anger when combined with a frown. But the same eyes combined with a grin look like gleeful malice.
Separately, the mouth and the eyes are equally important. Together, they paint an emotional picture for a reader.
Use your “Outside Voice”
Letterers don’t get enough credit for the value they bring to a comic, and this is one of the ways lettering can elevate your scripts. The words alone won’t convey emotion, but how they’re rendered will.
An easy example is a deliberate application of bolding to emphasize one word or a key phrase. Readers will naturally “hear” the speaker raise their voice with bold words, and raised voices to help the reader imagine anger, distress, or excitement.
Bolding is an easy example, but consider all the other ways a letterer can present text. Wavy, ethereal lines around a word balloon can express uncertainty and confusion. Erratic sharp lines can express shouting in anger or shock.
There are courses and books dedicated solely to lettering, so keep in mind that a good Letterer is more than a person who puts words on a page.
The mood is a spectrum
Color is the fourth method for expressing emotion. Not every comic has colors (i.e. B&W comics and most Manga), so technically, this one is optional. When color is present, a good colorist can take your emotional impact to the next level.
Different colors instinctively trigger the perception of emotion in a reader. When a panel is saturated with red tones, a reader will pick up on danger and anger. Soft blues are cool and calming. Pinks are light and happy.
Color can set the mood in a comic in the same way music can set the mood in a film. If you have color, set the mood.
This is a short list to get your creative ideas flowing, so find out more about incorporating these tidbits in your script notes before handing them off to an art team. If you get the emotions across, you improve your chances of connecting with the reader significantly.
Let’s recap
Emotions are the key to hooking a reader, but words alone can’t project emotion
The art projects the emotion with three key elements and an optional 4th
Eyes with the brow are the window to the soul
The mouth expresses intent. Combined with the eyes, many emotional combinations are possible
Letters can do more than lay out the text. Use creative fonts and word balloons to mimic the speech style
If you use color, use it to set the mood through the palette
What are your favorite techniques for conveying emotion? Do you favor the eyes or the mouth? Add a Comment below for your best tips and tricks.
Now, let’s get on to the reviews.
BORN OF BLOOD #2 – Indie Review
DEAD KINGDOM #1 – Review
MECHANIX #3 – Review
THE OBLIVION TRIALS #4 – Review
PANTHA #5 – Review
SHEENA: QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE (VOL. 2) #9 – Review
VAMPIRELLA: YEAR ONE #3 – Review
PROMETHEE 13:13 #3 – Review
MAN GOAT & THE BUNNYMAN: GREEN EGGS & BLAM! #3 – Review
GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #64 – Review
N.O.A. #2 – Review
STEALTH HAMMER #2 – Indie Review
A Legacy of Violence #1 (Mad Cave Studios)
Grimm Tales of Terror Quarterly: Rise of Cthulhu (Zenescope Entertainment)
Killchella #1 (Scout Comics)
Something Juicy #1 (Scout Comics)
The West Moon Chronicle #1 (Scout Comics)
Junior #1 (Scout Comics)
Blade Runner: Black Lotus #3 (Titan Comics)
Gun Honey: Blood for Blood #2 (Titan Comics)
Nyx #10 (Dynamite Comics)
Sirens Gate #1 (Dynamite Comics)
Sweetie Candy Vigilante #1 (Dynamite Comics)
Unbreakable Red Sonja #1 (Dynamite Comics)
Big Bang Adventures #17 (Indie Submission)
Rougarou (Indie Submission)
That’s the shortlist for now. We’ll add more titles and adjust as time and resources allow.
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Have a great day!