Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Create Your Own Comic”

In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of McCloud’s explanation of comic construction by creating their own comic.

Now that you have read Understanding Comics, you know many of the techniques that are used to convey ideas and emotions in comic art. In this activity, you will create a brief comic of your own, using these techniques.

Part One: Plan Your Comic

• Choose a topic for your comic. Your finished comic will be between eight and 12 panels, so you will need to choose action and ideas that can fit into this brief format.

o You can create something original, choose a scene from a novel or short story, or choose a short poem to use as the basis for your comic. (Do not choose a text that has already been interpreted visually in a film, play, etc.)

o The topic and tone of your comic can be humorous or serious, understated or melodramatic—whatever you wish, as long as it is classroom-appropriate.

• Storyboard your comic. Plan how you will use eight to 12 panels and the gutters in between to communicate what is happening, where it is happening, and why it is happening.