¿Qué es el cómic? Tipos y características

What is comics?

The world of comics is not just drawings and adventures; it is a unique visual art form that combines scripts, images and sounds to tell stories in a unique way. This medium can be physical, on paper, or digital, in forms such as webtoons or webcomics. The bottom line is that a comic book always maintains certain characteristic elements that make its narrative something special.

What are the basic components of a comic?

The comic is built on a series of structural components that facilitate storytelling:

• Page: It is the basic unit of the comic where all the action takes place, whether it is printed or digital.
• Vignettes: These are the spaces that contain scenes or sequences; their shape can vary to better serve the story.
• Frame: The lines that delimit the vignettes.
• Streets: The spaces between vignettes that allow the illustrations to breathe.
• Margins: Separate the vignettes from the edge of the page.
• Blood: Refers to the illustration that reaches the edge of the page, cutting off any margin.
• Onomatopoeia: Sound represented in words such as "boom" or "crash" to add dynamism.
• Snacks: Dialogue containers that emerge from the characters to articulate the story.
• Cartouche: Narrative text outside the characters' dialogue, providing additional context.
• Page number: Sometimes present to indicate the sequence of the comic, though not always necessary.

What styles and types of comics are there?

Cultural and historical diversity has generated different styles and types of comics around the world, each with its own characteristics:

American comic.

This is probably one of the best known styles in the world of comics, famous for its superheroes. American comics traditionally feature:

• Realistic drawing style: characters are often depicted with an exaggeratedly heroic aesthetic.
• Superhero themes: Although not exclusively, they are widely recognized for dealing with these stories.
• Western reading format: Read from left to right.
• Comic books or staples: 24-page series published periodically.

Franco-Belgian comic book

This style is famous for iconic characters such as Asterix and Tintin. It is characterized by:

• Cartoon style: characters are drawn in a more lighthearted and cartoonish manner.
• Adventure themes and humor: Although not limited, they are distinctive.
• Western reading: Same as American comics.
• Albums: Complete stories in cover books, self-conclusive but part of a series.

Manga or Japanese comics.

Manga, a word meaning comic in Japanese, has its own unmistakable style:

• Expressive drawing: with intensive use of plots and contrast between black and white.
• Oriental reading: They are read from right to left, although they are sometimes adapted to Western style.
• Magazines and tankobon: Stories compiled in thick volumes.

How does globalization affect comics?

Globalization has allowed different forms of comics to influence each other, enriching each culture with styles and narrative methods from other regions. This has generated a mix of techniques that transcends borders, allowing authors to be freely inspired without the restrictions of traditional styles.

Dare to explore this fascinating universe, and feel free to let your creativity run wild!