Many people associate comics with silly stories about superheroes, detectives, or talking animals, rather than high quality stories. Not like The Iliad (larger than life hero), Sherlock Holmes series (detective), or Aesop’s Fables (talking animals). But that doesn't have to be the case, and in fact, it isn't anymore!
(How much money have ‘The Avengers’ movies made?)
A comic is a visual story told through images. Words are often used in a combination of onomatopoeia, narration, and speech bubbles. The images are single scenes, and changes in action or location happen by using multiple cells. Comics get their name from the word meaning “funny”. Not all comics are humorous, but the name started with political cartoons and other images printed in newspapers that often were humorous. Check out this comic maker for inspiration!
The idea of telling a story or relating a message through images is nothing new; visual storytelling is tens of thousands years old: cave paintings, Egyptian tombs, friezes on Greek temples, Chinese screens, triptychs, the Bayeux Tapestry, stained glass windows and sculpture on cathedrals, instructional images... I think you get it. For a very long time, the majority of the populace was illiterate, so they could only learn through pictures.
The medium of comics is unique because of its primary use of still images and their combination with text in a narrative fashion. Over time, technological advances have enabled author-artists to greatly expand comic creation and dissemination. A comic template comes in many formats, most commonly in a horizontal strip, left-right top-down grid, or a single cell. Comics and comic books are also versatile and can be read online and printed out, and can greatly aid reading comprehension for readers of any level.
Comics are especially useful for students with emerging language or reading abilities. Resistant and struggling readers are often more engaged with graphic novels or comic books because the visuals allow them to access the content more easily. Use story comic strips or a graphic novel to encourage reading habits, strengthen comprehension of a storyline, develop decoding and comprehension, explain a process or concept, or however else you want.
Socio-political jibes can attract attention to issues we are dealing with in society at large or in a classroom or work environment. Comics often make us laugh or make us look at a situation in a new light, separating ourselves from certain biases or preconceptions. Since characters in a comic can be realistic or completely make-believe, the connection to “real-life” may take a while to sink in.
Comics make excellent serials, but also simple one-off episodes. Whether you are an elementary student trying to make sense of the sequence of events, someone with a great idea for an epic adventure, or someone who just doesn’t get the chance to write anymore, creating comics is a great place to start.
Here at Storyboard That, we encourage everyone to tell their story - whatever it might be! Visual storytelling has often been limited by talent and resources: not everyone can be comic book artists or a comic book creator. Storyboarding for comics has even been limited by talent because, traditionally, people had to have their own ability to draw rough sketches- and then computers changed the world. We have a few different comic layout ideas with custom fields to use, and tons of awesome cartoons storyboards that have already been made for you.
When you first open the Storyboard Creator, you will be prompted to give your comic storyboard a name, beginning the storyboarding process. Once you do this, your work will be autosaved every few seconds. You will notice that you are in "single cell mode", and can toggle between this and "storyboard mode" by using the button in the lower right corner. The default layout is the traditional layout, which is PERFECT for a basic comic strip. Each cell shows action and moves sequentially from left to right. Since the boxes are simple, you can divide them up however you like for your final product. Have a large cell split three different ways to show a conference call or simultaneous actions. (Pro tip: for more space per cell, use the 16x9 layout.)
There are also cell format options which open you up to new possibilities: cell only, title and cell, cell and description, and all three: title, cell and description! It may be that narration happens in the description box and any dialogue happens in the cell itself. There are many options, so choose the one that works best for your needs when you make a comic.
For an additional challenge, you may want to expand to the handout or poster layouts! These are full-page spreads, and allow for a more advanced look while creating comics or a graphic novel. We've created several graphic novel layouts to get you started, but you can be as creative as you want through cropping and fun shapes.
One of the defining features of comics are the speech and thought bubbles. Comics allow the reader to enter the minds of the characters by literally reading their thoughts, or by experiencing through characters’ point of view. Storyboard That offers several different styles of these bubbles, as well as regular and stylized text boxes, to allow you to find the perfect match for your comic book storyboard.
The Storyboard That art library has extensive short comic ideas and continues to grow every week! All scenes, characters, and items can be cropped, rotated, enlarged, flipped, and layered to make sure you get exactly what you need. Several of the scenes have special features that allow you to change the time of day or the weather. In fact, most of the art library is customizable, so you can change colors and characters’ expressions to match the story.
Use a pre-made scene, pattern, a combination, or none at all! You can even construct your own scene by putting different elements together.
Characters range from ancient Egypt to modern day adults to fairies and space aliens. Almost all of them are colorable and poseable. The huge variety allows you to choose various time periods, archetypes, or mythical creatures. These characters cover a wide range of abilities, times, emotions, and more to make sure your storytelling is as precise as you want it to be.
Check out the activities below for ideas and inspiration!
Don’t let a lack of drawing skills keep you from making amazing comics. Use Storyboard That right now!
Storyboard That is an online comic maker that allows users to create their own comics and visual stories. It features a simple drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of customizable characters, scenes, and props.
Storyboard That can be used to create a wide range of comics, from short one-panel jokes to longer, more complex stories. The platform offers a variety of different panel layouts and speech bubble options to help users create comics of varying styles and lengths.
Yes, users can print their comics directly from the platform or export them as image files to be shared on social media or other platforms. Additionally, the platform offers a variety of sharing options, including embedding comics on websites or sharing them via email.
Planning a comic involves several key steps. First, create a clear outline of your story, including the main plot, characters, and setting. Next, sketch out the layouts and panels for each page, considering the flow of the story. Add dialogue and captions to guide the reader. Lastly, review and revise your plan before moving on to the final artwork.
Writing a short comic involves concise storytelling. Begin with a well-defined concept or idea. Develop your characters and plot within the limited space. Ensure that each page or panel contributes to the narrative. Write dialogue that advances the story and complements the artwork. Finally, edit and refine your script to create an engaging short comic.