G RAPHIC NOVELS

Key Features Splash page: The opening page of a graphic novel is known as the splash page. It contains the title and the subtitles of the story. Panel: Is the boxed picture usually drawn within a rectangular space enclosed by lines. A single panel typically represents a moment in time, a single action, or a setting. Panels are arranged left to right and then top to bottom.

Key Features Full-page panel: Sometimes an author will use a full page panel. This allows the author to show specific details of a scene that otherwise would have been difficult to see in a small panel. Two-page panel: For even more impact the author might stretch one illustration across the fold of the book for increased emphasis.

Key Features Overlapping panels: These panels depict almost simultaneous events in the storyline. Floating panels: These are smaller panels on top of larger panels and full-page panels. Captions: Relates to a scene and appears within a panel. Usually, a caption appears in a rectangular box at the top or bottom of a panel.

Key Features Location of action, depth of field, point of view: Graphic artists use similar techniques to ones used by movie directors to depict space and setting. Establishing shot: Provides the reference to the location of the scene. Zooming in and out on a subject: Provides specific details or perspective. Panoramic shot: used to represent a small object in a large space. Bug’s eye view: depicts a panel from the ground up. Top of the hat: shows the scene from above.

Key Features Gutter: The space between framed panels. Bleed: An image that extends to/ and beyond the edge of the page. Word balloons: Bubble-shaped spaces within a panel or frame that contain dialogue or a character’s thoughts in textual format.

Balloons A speech balloon usually has a squiggly shape attached to it that points to the speaker. A thought balloon has a series of bubbles leading to the thinker. The balloons may be single or in multiples, based on the length of the dialogue. Sometimes colours, shading, and other treatments are used with word balloons to communicate different ideas or expressions (ex. Talking on the phone would have a different balloon shape than normal dialogue).