ROGER’S COMIC RAMBLINGS: THE more things modification

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Roger Ash

by Roger Ash

I started reading comics back in the late 1970s. since then, a great deal has altered both is comics themselves in addition to in the comics industry. I was reflecting on a few of these modifications just recently as well as believed I’d share a few of my believing with you.

Batman believes before he leaps on this traditional page.

Things I miss: believed balloons.

Thought balloons are quite much a thing of the past as far as most publishers are concerned, however I miss them. Yes, sometimes captions are utilized to communicate character’s thoughts, however that’s not the same. In most situations that means the entire story is told from that person’s point of view, however you get no hint as to what other people in the story are thinking. Also, in many cases, these captions function a color connected with the character’s costume which can make them difficult to read. believed balloons can add to the story. For example, envision a panel of two people kissing. one of them thinks, “I like her so much.” The other believes “Blech. I can’t believe I have to put up with this.” That speaks volumes about their connection to every other in one panel. I comprehend that the move in comics has been towards making them more like movies or video games as well as since there are not believed balloons there, that’s a huge reason why they’ve disappeared in comics. however here’s the thing: comics aren’t movies or video games. While there are similarities, comics can do things they can’t as well as getting rid of whatever that separates them likewise gets rid of things that make comics unique. as well as that can lessen the comic reader’s experience.

Gorgeous colors by Laura Martin on the Amanda Conner drawn cover for Marvel’s woman Comics #1.

Things I like: contemporary coloring

Advances in the coloring of comics has come a long, long way. There are many factors behind this such as improved paper stock, advances in printing, as well as new innovation that enables for coloring on computers. The bottom line is that you can do fantastic things with color now that would have been almost impossible years ago. When this new innovation very first arrived, people tended to overdo it just to show off what might be done. While there are still situations of that happening, many have discovered exactly how to make the most of it.

A traditional Daredevil letter page.

Things I miss: Letter columns

Firstly, indeed I understand they haven’t disappeared completely. I still see them in a few comics. However, they are a vanishing species. Secondly, I comprehend that the Web was quite much the letter column’s doom. With blogs, message boards, as well as social network where people can comment on comics as soon as they’ve checked out them (or while they’re reading them), letter columns no longer have them effect they when did. however I don’t checked out many comments about comics on the internet as it doesn’t take long for somebody to be a jerk as well as have the thread devolve into name calling. In letter columns, editors might select not to print letters that basically stated “you suck” as well as not state why the letter writer didn’t like the story or exactly how it might have been improved. Online, those kinds of people seem to comprise a majority of those commenting.

Fantastic four #588 written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Nick Dragotta. Cover art by Alan Davis.

Things I like: more advanced storytelling

As much as I enjoy the purple prose of a Stan Lee written comic, if that was the method comics were still written, I wouldn’t be reading them much anymore. as well as I assumption that many others wouldn’t either as storytelling has altered a great deal over the years. Comics today can tell extremely complex stories with writers dealing with problems as well as storylines that resonate with a contemporary audience. Jonathan Hickman’s work is a excellent example of this. The method he structured his stories in amazing four for example, was different than what I had seen in the book before, however the characters still rang true.

Jeff Smith’s Bone.

Many stories these days are geared towards older readers, however if you just do that, you’re limiting your audience. You can tell complex as well as advanced stories that charm to a wide range of readers, including young readers. Jeff Smith’s Bone is a great example of this as I’ve satisfied a number of teen as well as younger visitors who encountered these books with the Scholastic editions as well as like them.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other things I miss in comics in addition to things I enjoy in contemporary comics, however I’m going to save those for upcoming columns. exactly how about you? What do you miss in comics? What has improved in contemporary comics? jointhe conversation in the comment section!

Now, go checked out a comic!