Character Design for Graphic Novels

Steven Withrow is a writer, editor, and the author of 'Toon Art: The Graphic Art of Digital Cartooning' (Watson-Guptill/Ilex Press, 2003) and, with John Barber, 'Webcomics: Tools & Techniques for Digital Cartooning' (Barron's Education Series; Ilex Press, 2005). His comics stories, poems, essays, and other works have appeared in several anthologies and online. A graduate of Emerson College and Roger Williams University, Steven lives in Rhode Island with his wife and daughter. Alexander Danner writes the ongoing comic, 'Picture Story Theatre' (illustrated by Bill Duncan), which has been published by ModernTales.com since 2004. His short comic, 'The Discovery of Spoons,' (illustrated by John Barber) received a Web Cartoonist's Choice Award in 2005, and was later featured prominently in a New York Times article on the burgeoning art of webcomics. In addition to serving on the editorial advisory board of 'The Webcomics Examiner', Alexander also writes for 'Comixpedia', where he recently began a monthly column about writing webcomics. Alexander received his master's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College. His comics and other writings can be found through the website TwentySevenLetters.com. Alex is based in the USA.

Contents

Foreword
Preface: Graphic Novel Characters and Seven Precepts

Section I: The Graphic Novel
What Is a Graphic Novel?
History and Geography
The Graphic Novelist: Singular Vision
The Design Team: Collaboration and Oversight

Section II: The Character
Story and Archetype
The Central Character and the Opposition
Contrast and Commonality
The Supporting Cast
Character Histories: Motivation and Conflict

Section III: Elements of Design
Unity and Sequence
Tools and Techniques: Character Model Sheets
Speech Patterns: Dialogue, Balloons, and Lettering
The Face
The Human Form
The Nonhuman Form
Case Study: Eric Shanower
Line, Contour, and Sequence
Case Study: Eddie Campbell

Section IV: Design Style
The Character Design Spectrum: Abstraction to Hyperrealism
Genre and Tone
Minimalism: Tom Gauld and Jeffrey and Brown
Cartooning: Colleen Coover and Jef Czekaj
Verisimilitude: Miriam Katin and Don MacDonald
Reality and Imagination: Jeff Parker and Colleen Doran
Case Study: Leah Hernandez
Case Study: Jeff Nicholson

Section V: Appearance & Reality
Subtext and Symbolism
Wardrobe and Props
Expression, Motion, and Gesture
Case Study: Jenn Manley Lee
Case Study: Brendan Cahill
Case Study: Metaphrog

Section VI: The Expanded Cast
Group Identity and Storytelling
Case Study: Jason Little
Case Study: Dylan Meconis
Case Study: Busiek, Anderson, and Ross
Case Study: Stan Sakai

Section VII: Knowing Your Audience
Age Appeal
Gender and Culture
Case Study: Wendy and Richard Pini
Case Study: Bryan Talbot
Case Study: Andy Runton
Case Study: Mark Crilley

Section VIII: Modern Methods
Digital Design
Internet Research
Case Study: B. Shur
Case Study: Scott Christian Sava
Case Study: Ryan Estrada

Section IX: Putting It All Together
Symmetry and Synthesis
Judging and Refining Your Character Design
Conclusion: Into the Future

Suggested reading
Online resources
Glossary