Growing up, I LOVED Calvin and Hobbes. Also loved Betty and Veronica comics (although I always thought they were wasting their talents fighting over a guy. Archie wasn’t worth that.)
Some people may think comics are juvenile or a “lesser form of art” (if they even think it’s an art form at all) but I’m going to have to disagree. Comics- good ones at least- pack so much information into a tiny square, usually with minimal detail or explanation, so every single line counts.
If you study comics, you’ll start to recognize patterns- what lines express anger, joy, confusion, how negative space impacts the viewers emotions, and more.
Those lessons in visual storytelling are essential in all forms of art-comic or otherwise. It’s what makes a person feel like something is “good” or not- even if they can’t put their finger on “why.”
So, long story short, if you’re interested in visual storytelling or comics (or both) read this. It’s witty and much deeper than the subject might suggest.
A special thank you to my friend Hannah Betzel for reminding me yesterday just how much I enjoyed comics