The Comics Response Template!

THE COMICS RESPONSE TEMPLATE  

NOTE: Answer all FOUR questions for each comic we read. I know that some questions will seem less obvious for some comics (notably Q3), but that’s where you have to really think ‘big picture’ and connect it to the larger themes of the course. Hopefully our class discussions will help you do this. Give at least a few sentences for each one--let me see you thinking and be as specific as possible. Let me know if you have any questions. 

Q1: Describe the artistic style of the comic. Be specific: would you characterize it as sketchy, realistic, cartoony, artistic, ornate, spare, expressionistic, tight, loose, etc.?  What is the overall feel of the artwork, and what kind of tone does it create for the reader?  Do you feel it is the uniquely suited to the story being told?  Or is supposed to go against the grain of the story? In the case of a work with more than one artist (i.e. Superman: American Alien), you can choose one of the chapters to discuss. 

Q2: What would this story lose if it was a traditional novel (no images)? How do the images help tell the story for you, and what wouldn't you know or understand or appreciate without them? In other words, why does this particular story make more sense as a comic than any other form of literature? Be specific and try to discuss a particular passage or moment that would be untranslatable without the images. 

Q3: How does this comic address the ethics of being a superhero, or someone with unique powers and abilities? According to this comic, what does it mean to be a “hero” and a “villain”? Do the heroes ever cross ethical boundaries in their quest to save humanity? Also, does a superhero always play by the same rules, or does one’s age, sex, race, or religion also play a role?

Q4: ‘Close Read’ a short passage or moment in the comic that you feel is especially significant to the main theme of either the comic or the course. It could be 1-2 pages, a single page, or even a single frame. Discuss what’s going on and why you feel it ‘explains’ something crucial to the entire book. How did it help you understand the story, or the characters, or even comic books themselves? You might consider passages where the creators are stretching the limits of what comic book art can do, or something that was surprising or confusing to read initially. Why do the writers sometimes make things tricky for the reader? Think about frame transitions, word + image relationships, stylistic issues, etc.