3. Comics
are a visual medium used to express ideas via
images, often combined with text or visual information.
3
4. The language of comics
• Panels are individual images containing a
segment of action, often surrounded by a
border.
• Speech balloons (also speech bubbles or
dialogue balloons) are a graphic convention
used to allow words to be understood as
representing the speech or thoughts of
comic
4
the characters in the comic.
5. Examples of speech balloons or bubbles
Thought bubble
Someone shouting
One character talking
Someone muttering
Several characters speak
The narrator writes
5
17. ACTIVITY nº 1
Observe the following Corkscrew, can
you think of a comic character?
17
18. Design a character based on the
corkscrew. Personificate the
object (give it human
characteristics). It is important
to work on previous sketches.
Create a short six-frame comic
strip based on this character
18
19.
ACTIVITY nº 2
Design using simple shapes a cartoon character. This
character can be a person or an animal. Remember to use
exaggeration, as in a caricature. Describe his/her clothes
and complements and draw a few positions and expressions.
19
21. ACTIVITY Nº 3
Draw a short six-frame comic strip.
Frame 1- Design using simple shapes a cartoon character, face, neck and shoulders
only, with ears. This character can be a person or an animal. Remember to use
exaggeration, as in a caricature.
Frame 2- A repeat of the first box, with the addition of an insect, who has flown
into the box. Use lines to show the motion of the flying.
Frame 3- Repeat the image, only here the insect flies into the character’s ear, and
the expression on the face of the character changes appropiately.
21
22. Frame 4- The character’s face should get more upset
with lines and symbols showing the upset around his/her
face.
Frame 5- The insect exits the other ear, and the facial
expression of the character should change again.
Frame 6- Shows the insect gone and the character
feeling… relief, joy, whatever you want, with a dialogue
balloon overhead to write and appropiate “whew!!!” or
other suitable words.
Finally go over the pencil lines with a fine black marker,
and add color with colored pencils.
22