1. Imagination and Creativity in
Graphic Novels
It is common for many
people to believe that
Graphic Novels do not
allow the reader to use
their imagination and
creativity as they read.

2. They believe that the
graphics do not
allow you to imagine
the scene, but rather
presents it there
before you.

3. They have a valid argument…
but!
There is more
happening in
graphic novels than
meets the eye.

4. Closure
In Scott McCloud’s book,
“Understanding Comics,” McCloud
discusses what is called “closure.”
Simply put, “closure” is when the mind
pieces together cues or evidence given
to create a complete image or story.

5. Let me show you what I mean.
Closure can have many forms.
For many this image or cue
can create closure simply
because they recognize this
as a symbol for Michael
Jordan.

6. Closure can also be more complicated
But I’ll let this
scan from Scott
McCloud’s book
explain this part.

7. So what does closure have to do with
comics?
Closure for comics is quite
similar. According to
Wikipedia, closure in comics
is, “the process by which the
mind fills in missing details
between the panels of a
comic”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closure

8. This space between
the panels is called
the gutter by some,
but lets see what
Scott McCloud has
to say about the
gutter.

10. This is where imagination comes into the
reading of a Graphic Novel.
As McCloud just pointed out, it is
in this gap between panels that
the reader’s imagination is
allowed to create what is not
shown (otherwise known as
closure). It’s this gap that allows
the reader to use creativity and
imagination, giving the graphics
motion and action apart from
what is drawn.

11. In these panels it is your
imagination (closure)
that puts the characters
in motion. As you read
along, you can visualize
the boy raising and
lowering his sandwich.

12. In a broader spectrum,
your imagination can
create the whole scene
around the boy eating
the sandwich and if you
really try you might even
be able to hear some of
the noises of the
schoolyard.

13. Sometimes though, closure is not limited to
what is between the panels.
In some instances,
one panel can create
closure. Let me show
you what I mean.

14. In this scene here, there is no gutter, but as you read left to
right, your mind (imagination) creates the scene and its
movement. - Just another way your creativity and
imagination can be used while reading a Graphic Novel.

15. From what we have looked at, it is plain to
see that the reading of a Graphic Novel
does not eliminate or lessen our use of
imagination or creativity. In fact it might
be more beneficial especially for the
student who has trouble picturing a scene
or character from a ‘conventional novel.’

16. Pictures were obtained from the following websites.
Listed in order of appearance.
http://mentalmodels.mitre.org/Hyperlinks/The_Project_Thesis.htm
http://www.specproductions.com/strip_scene/strip_scene2.html
http://atulsharma.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/eye-sketch/
www.nbaloud.com/2006-07/
The scans in this PowerPoint came from the following
Graphic Novels.
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud