Second Opinion
This comic illustrates one of my favorite graphic storytelling techniques: Telling two stories at once. Here, we’re getting the “nagging cough” gag in the dialog but the pictures are telling you that Tina and Floyd are dating.
This technique is usually used for setting up a story in graphic novels. For example, the opening panels of a story may depict a ragged man climbing a cliff overlooking a stormy sea. The words of a narrator or the characters thoughts, however, are telling about a rich and handsome man who often gave money to the poor. The story then catches up with the pictures in 1 or 2 pages and we find out what the man is doing on the cliff.
In character driven comics like Life’s a Witch, there isn’t really a straight story. But there are “story arcs” which carry through several strips. These are short sequences of strips related to one event or topic or story idea. Arcs may be independent or related to the overall “life” of the characters. In this strip, I’m continuing the “nagging cough” arc, while letting the reader know what is happening meanwhile in the “Tina and Floyd” arc.
Another way to use this technique is graphic storytelling shorthand. In this strip, I continue the conversation, but show you that Zelda’s parents are leaving. By doing two things in one strip, I saved a lot of writing and drawing!
(OOooh! I need to post this on Comic Witchery!)
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Comments
First, hooray for Tina and Floyd! Second, I’m loving the “nagging cough” storyline … although it seems slightly familiar. (insert ex-wife joke here)
*grin* I’m glad you are enjoying this strip. I think the coughs looking like mutant dust bunnies just enhances the theme, don’t you? *hee hee*
What makes me wonder, is how do Tina’s wings work with the coat. Always had me curious about winged faeries wearing dresses and coats and the like…
Hi, Line-T! Welcome!
Tina’s wings work magically, of course. They are never far from Tina’s back. Tina had to learn to make them allow clothing to pass through when she was little (like learning to hold a pencil to write). With a bit of effort, she can fold them down and tuck under her clothes, but it’s tiring to keep them that way. Just as if you tried to keep your hand in a fist all the time.
Hi, Seshiru! Tons of stories do this. If you let it go on too long, the reader gets frustrated. “What does all this writing have to do with what I’m seeing?! Get to it already!” You don’t see it too much in humor strips, tho.
It’s good to see Tina and Floyd dating. Your storytelling technique worked perfectly. The last panel is hilarious. My house would be less dusty with those little suckers around, but I know I’d spend most of my time trying to swat them!
It does kind of remind you of a soap opera. I am thinking that Floyd looks a tiny bit familiar. Hmmmmmmm. Nah, the hair is a little too long.
Nicely done, but maybe Tina shouldn’t use ‘Gxxgle’ in her crystal ball, there are better searchmachines imnsho. ^^
http://www.true-magic.com/sparks/
Well, there you go Samantha. ^^ Aja put you up.
LOL @ “soap opera”!
“Tune in tomorrow for another episode of LIFE’S A WITCH…”
@Cemalidor: WOW! Thank you! And thank you for introducing me to True Magic. That’s a great looking comic and I’m looking forward to diving into the archives. I just started reading another comic in their collective (SAGE collective) also.
If you like to exchange them…
Hi, LBD! I’m so happy when you come by.
I think I will start telling the kids to do stuff while pretending to cough. *cough cough* take out the trash *cough cough*
I laughed when I saw this! This is great (both the “productive” nagging cough and that Tina and Floyd are going out!)