Special Issue on Multimodality 414 So we have some different Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421 Uh, images here of The anyways you Flash in action. get the Well, idea. and jumping.

And spinning his arms. And The Flash is Look how stomping. constantly moving! lines are added to show how fast he is running.

There are another ways to show speed, however.

Sometimes the background is blurred and the subject looks Like so. stationary.

And the amount of lines used to Motion lines illustrate this vary. don't only indicate speed. It can be many or few, maybe even a single line.

They are primarily used to show any type of action. Special Issue on Multimodality 415

Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421

Okay! So let's move onto emotion lines.

Something about lines on the face and emotion.

Oh right! If you add lines to a character face you can represent different emotions, thus

Eh-he, I Emotion forgot what lines! I wanted to say...

I look pretty sad Oh the right? despair!

Let's kick it Like this. up a notch. Special Issue on Multimodality 416

Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421 For instance, what do you feel when you see

Emotion Think about how can also be often color is used in depicted novels to symbolize through an emotion or tone. Red? colors.

Keep this in mind when reading color comics.

And also question why black&white comics decide not to use color.

Okay, so why is Hellboy red?

Okay, well that's all I have to share with you. Let's go re...

Excuse me... Special Issue on Multimodality 417

Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421 Oh! What do you mean "why read comics?"

Heh, that's a pretty common thought.

But really, comics are pretty complex.

But why read Aren't they just for comics? kids? You know, not real literature?

For When we think of example, here comics, we think of are three ways two things: the two work together in panels: Pictures and words.

Word specific, The ways comics use picture specific, and both is what makes interdependent*! comics so cool.

Such as.... So word specific is were the words drive the story

And the pictures can illustrate the mood and tone.

The words inform us, while the pictures illustrate an ominous mood in Hellblazer. * McCloud, 1993, p.153-155 Special Issue on Multimodality 418

Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421

Here pictures drive the story and words add sound effects or amplify a tone.

Picture specific, as you can guess, is the opposite.

Interdependent panels are used most often in comics and really let this specific medium shine! Here, words and pictures work hand in hand to convey an idea that is dependent upon both of them!

So, to But recap, when really, we think of comics do comics we think so much of words and more! pictures.

The words tell us that this is the birth of Ant-man, and that he can use ants for his bidding.

The pictures, on the Comics are other hand, illustrate his actually size in comparison to his foe and really drives home the multimodal urgency of this texts! situation. Special Issue on Multimodality 419

So we've Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421 already discussed words and images

Space is used through page layout, But comics also gesture through utilize the spatial, body language, and gestural, and aural audio through sound Which takes effects and speech care of the modes. volume*. linguistic and visual modes.

And gestures, well...

On a scale from one to happy, how happy am I?

So space includes things like panel size and variance, which we talked about earlier.

And audio is well...

So there you have it, comics are pretty complex.

This! 'Nuff said.

* Jacobs, 213, p.13-14 Except maybe... Special Issue on Multimodality 420419

Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421

Excelsior!!!

Now go read some comics! Special Issue on Multimodality 421

Neitzke/JOGLTEP 2015 3(1), 405-421 References

Jacobs, D. (2013). Graphic Encounters: Comics and the Sponsorship of Multimodal Literacy. New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: Harpercollins.

Peter Parker Assets says cite your sources! Amazing Spider-man #42 Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye Watchmen The Silver Age of Comic Book Art Akira #1 Hellboy: The Third Wish Hellblazer #31 Batman: The Killing Joke Tales to Astonish #35