Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art is a comic book by Scott McCloud, whose purpose is to teach the reader the meaning of Comics, the history and the processes to create this type of art. The book begins with the definition of comics. As McCloud states, comics are “juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and /or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.” In the book, McCloud touches subjects, such as the design process, and the steps that every artist and designer follows at one point or another in creating their composition.
The book is divides in nine chapters, and each chapter has its specific topic. The font, the size, and the location of text vary from panel to panel. Some words are bolded to attract attention and to emphasise their importance. The size of the panels and the images inside these, also vary. Each panel is separated by borders. Rarely there is any text without an image. This combination of text and visual elements creates a visual balance and keeps the reader engaged.
The juxtaposition of words and images in this book creates powerful panels that are meant to inform, as well as create a good disposition in the reader. The color is black and white (there are a couple of color pages at the end of the book). The main character represents the author and has a cartoony look. He appears almost in all panels. Some panels are darker, some are white, or different values of black.
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud is a Comic Book, that emphasizes the power created by the juxtaposition of words and images in a composition. Meant as an academic instrument, the book teaches, inspires, as well as creates good disposition for the readers.
Works Cited:
McCloud. Understanding Comics:The Invisible Art. Harper Perennial, New York, NY. 1993.
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