Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art - Scott McCloud (1)
During my research of Understanding Comics, I also learned about how to effectively present time and motion in comic format, which will help with the pacing of my graphic novels. These techniques are important so that I can plan out each panel of my novels without having the action too cluttered on the pages, and can more easily connect with the reader.
Character Design for Graphic Novels - Stephen Withrow and Alexander Danner (2)
This book gives a clear breakdown on storytelling through characters, and the various archetypes of characters that are usually found in graphic novels. It also teaches how to visually develop characters for a story - with various examples of artists/graphic novelists and their work.
During my research of Character Design for Graphic Novels, I learned about the seven precepts of designing characters for this medium, as well as the different character archetypes that are present in most modern stories, and how to differentiate the central character from the opposing and supporting characters, along with creating motivation and conflict for these characters.
Making Comics - Scott McCloud (3)
Making Comics provides an understanding on how to structure everything in a comic, from basic panel construction and layout, to how to effectively and clearly tell stories through the artwork.
During my research of Making Comics, I discovered how to use clarity to present stories through the choice of moment, frame, image, word and flow. I also learnt about important techniques for making comics, which included depth cues, exaggerated poses for characters, and the use of diagonals (among other things).
Next, I conducted research into the more specific interests that inspired elements of my Final Major Project, and looked into how I could use this inspiration to tell my own graphic novel story. This helped me to understand some examples of the sci-fi comics and novels that were already on the market, and how they were presented to a wide audience.
Halo: Uprising - Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev (4)
Halo: Uprising is a comic series that follows the adventures of Spartan supersoldier Master Chief as a Covenant invasion of an Earth city begins. This comic introduces us to a character called Ruwan who is able to escape the invasion and sacrifice himself to destroy the alien leadership. It has a gritty, detailed art-style that captures the horror of an alien invasion like no other Halo comic.
My research into this comic inspired me with ideas about alien invasions and armoured heroes, with the biggest takeaway being the name of the character Ruwan was used for the name of the protagonist of my story. As the comic mostly shows the alien aggressors speaking in their native languages (symbols in print form), it gave me the idea to develop my own symbol-based language/alphabet for the Cryp'lar aliens of my project.
Halo: The Fall of Reach - Eric Nylund (5)
Halo: The Fall of Reach is a novel that details the events leading up to the first Halo game, including the creation of the Spartan-II supersoldiers and the most devastating loss during the war with the alien Covenant - the Fall of the planet Reach. The novel is written with scientific detail and detailed descriptions which paint a vivid depiction of the last days of the Covenant war.
My research into this book inspired me to read deeper into the lore of the series and want to create such a rich canon story for my own project with as much depth as Halo. This led me to write character histories and planet names and descriptions for world-building. It also helped me to appreciate the detail of the story and be able to apply the same level of detail to my own writing and illustration work.
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith - Matthew Stover (6)
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is a novelisation of the third episode of the Star Wars film series. It is an adaptation of the events that led to the end of the Clone Wars and the fall of the Republic, with the shadow of Darth Vader being an ever-present threat. The novel is written with great care and is emotionally moving in its descriptions of events seen on the screen, now viewed in a more respected light.
My research into this book inspired me to improve my own fictional writing, resulting in a drive to improve the humanity of my characters, and my writing within the graphic novel itself. When comparing the book with its film counterpoint, it was important to note that words make all the difference to the interpretation of a scene - which is something I hope to replicate when creating the lore and emotional struggles for the characters of my story.
After this, I conducted a final round of research into the mythology of narrative and how it could inspire me to utilise classical story structures while creating new stories. This helped me to understand the representation of journeys, especially the 'Hero's Journey,' and encouraged me to merge what I knew about modern sci-fi storytelling with the mono-myth and themes from other mythological stories.
Orpheus in the Underworld - Ovid (7)
This book is a reprint of one of Ovid's most renown Greek myths, and tells the story of a musician journeying into the underworld to retrieve his lover, only to lose her again at the last moment. It is a tale of tragedy and adventure through both the metaphorical and physical underworld of Orpheus.
As short as this tale is, during my research I learnt about the origins of underworld mythology and the representation of Greek demons and devils. The journey to the underworld is a myth that I am planning to incorporate into the journey present in my own narrative.
The Hero With a Thousand Faces - Joseph Campbell (8)
This book describes the great mono-myth of the one tale that has been passed through centuries of storytelling - the 'Hero's Journey.' This myth details a character journeying across worlds and returning in a different form of himself. It was the intentional basis for the original Star Wars movie and continues to be an inspiration to storytellers across the world.
During my research into the 'Hero's Journey' mythologue, I discovered the different stages of the journey, along with the character archetypes and outcomes. Early in the development stages of my project, I adapted this information to the characters of my narrative, as well as the overall journey that the protagonist embarks on.
This primary research maintained a strong foundation for project development and inspiration, ranging from classical myths to modern sci-fi media. I believe that this research was relevant to my practice and will not only have an impact on my FMP, but also on any future projects I choose to do.
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(1) McCloud, S. and Martin, M. (2014). Understanding comics. 1st ed. New York, NY: William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
(2) Withrow, S. and Danner, A. (2007). Character design for graphic novels. 1st ed. Burlington, MA [u.a.]: Focal Press.
(3) McCloud, S. (2007). Making comics. 1st ed. New York: Harper.
(4) Bendis, B. and Maleev, A. (2010). Halo: Uprising. 1st ed. New York: Marvel Pub.
(5) Nylund, E. (2001). Halo: The Fall of Reach. 1st ed. New York: Ballantine Pub. Group.
(6) Stover, M. (2005). Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. 1st ed. New York: Del Rey/Ballantine Books.
(7) Ovid and Innes, M. (1995). Orpheus in the underworld. 1st ed. New York: Penguin Books.
(8) Campbell, J. (1971). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. 1st ed. Princeton, N.J.]: Princeton University Press.
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