Over the course of this last semester, we’ve learned not only how to construct and draw a comic, but also how to analyze their components. Broad themes address ‘is it a comic?’ and ‘what does it communicate?’ I thought I’d apply this to a random webcomic to see the results of my learning in action. I selected an XKCD comic from a few days ago.

Desert Island

Firstly, I wanted to make sure this fit Scott McCloud’s definition of a comic, which is that they are “juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer."[1] This particular comic is a single panel picture that has been overlaid with text in the form of dialogue. The text is intended to convey information on the character’s thoughts while the picture conveys an alternate truth to the words. This is designed to produce a humorous response in the viewer based on the ironic juxtaposition of information.

The art style is a simple communication of subject and content. Instead of realistic or overly shaded and detailed depictions, the artist opts rather for solid black lines of a similar width to outline the major recognizable features of object in the comic. This allows the reader to focus more on the words and amount of pictorial subjects rather than artistic skill. For example, the character is a stick figure with no face, but by the posture, as well as his or her dialogue, we know that he or she is tired, downtrodden, and alone. The ocean view concentrates on the sheer number of things in it to communicate a point, rather than the detail of each object. For example, the submarine is just an outline, as are the mountain of sand and protruding plants. The boat and ship have a few more details to add interest, but do not change the overall interpretation of the comic because of these features.

References

  1. McCloud, Scott. "Setting the Record Straight." Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: Kitchen Sink Press, Inc., 1993.