Contents
Foreword
Preface: Graphic Novel Characters and Seven Precepts
Section I: The Graphic Novel
What Is a Graphic Novel?
History and Geography
The Graphic Novelist: Singular Vision
The Design Team: Collaboration and Oversight
Section II: The Character
Story and Archetype
The Central Character and the Opposition
Contrast and Commonality
The Supporting Cast
Character Histories: Motivation and Conflict
Section III: Elements of Design
Unity and Sequence
Tools and Techniques: Character Model Sheets
Speech Patterns: Dialogue, Balloons, and Lettering
The Face
The Human Form
The Nonhuman Form
Case Study: Eric Shanower
Line, Contour, and Sequence
Case Study: Eddie Campbell
Section IV: Design Style
The Character Design Spectrum: Abstraction to Hyperrealism
Genre and Tone
Minimalism: Tom Gauld and Jeffrey and Brown
Cartooning: Colleen Coover and Jef Czekaj
Verisimilitude: Miriam Katin and Don MacDonald
Reality and Imagination: Jeff Parker and Colleen Doran
Case Study: Leah Hernandez
Case Study: Jeff Nicholson
Section V: Appearance & Reality
Subtext and Symbolism
Wardrobe and Props
Expression, Motion, and Gesture
Case Study: Jenn Manley Lee
Case Study: Brendan Cahill
Case Study: Metaphrog
Section VI: The Expanded Cast
Group Identity and Storytelling
Case Study: Jason Little
Case Study: Dylan Meconis
Case Study: Busiek, Anderson, and Ross
Case Study: Stan Sakai
Section VII: Knowing Your Audience
Age Appeal
Gender and Culture
Case Study: Wendy and Richard Pini
Case Study: Bryan Talbot
Case Study: Andy Runton
Case Study: Mark Crilley
Section VIII: Modern Methods
Digital Design
Internet Research
Case Study: B. Shur
Case Study: Scott Christian Sava
Case Study: Ryan Estrada
Section IX: Putting It All Together
Symmetry and Synthesis
Judging and Refining Your Character Design
Conclusion: Into the Future
Suggested reading
Online resources
Glossary
Steven Withrow is a writer, editor, and the author of 'Toon Art:
The Graphic Art of Digital Cartooning'
(Watson-Guptill/Ilex Press, 2003) and, with John Barber,
'Webcomics: Tools & Techniques for Digital
Cartooning' (Barron's Education Series; Ilex Press, 2005). His
comics stories, poems, essays, and other works have appeared in
several anthologies and online. A graduate of Emerson College and
Roger Williams University, Steven lives in Rhode Island with his
wife and daughter.
Alexander Danner writes the ongoing comic, 'Picture Story Theatre'
(illustrated by Bill Duncan), which has been published by
ModernTales.com since 2004. His short comic, 'The Discovery of
Spoons,' (illustrated by John Barber) received a Web Cartoonist's
Choice Award in 2005, and was later featured prominently in a New
York Times article on the burgeoning art of webcomics. In addition
to serving on the editorial advisory board of 'The Webcomics
Examiner', Alexander also writes for 'Comixpedia', where he
recently began a monthly column about writing webcomics. Alexander
received his master's degree in writing, literature, and publishing
from Emerson College. His comics and other writings can be found
through the website TwentySevenLetters.com. Alex is based in the
USA.
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