Date:         Thu, 13 Apr 1995 16:39:41 PDT
From: James Drew <[j r d] at [FRAME.COM]>
Subject:      Re: Comics and Film -Reply
To: Multiple recipients of list COMICW-L <[COMICW L] at [UNLVM.UNL.EDU]>

Gleaned from the comix list, reprinted with permission.  The big
paragraph has some interesting bits in it, I think.

Jim

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>From [comix approval] at [world.std.com] Wed Apr 12 22:21:55 1995
From: [T--MI--S] at [ix.netcom.com] (Andrew Giles Buckley)

But addressing the writing aspect of comics, there is one consideration
that is not as notable in movies (yeah, I mean the ones that make
money):  layout uber alles.

A good writer (or editor) is more director (unless he's doing it "the
Marvel way") than the cinematic counterpart.  You have to tell the
artist how many panels per page.  You have to often prescribe
perspective.  And you must always keep in mind that two page spreads
must be (of course) on pages facing each other.  Pacing becomes
drastically important -- you don't want a big dramatic panel on an
odd-numbered page (unless it's page one -- and meaning right hand pages)
because when readers turn from the previous page their eyes will
automatically be guided across those two pages to the biggest, most
interesting thing.  Thus, if you spent the entire left hand page
building up anticipation and suspense, it will be for naught if the
whole show is given away on the facing page -- as if somebody
fast-forwarded to all the big action scenes in a movie and then rewound
to figure out what was going on.  So the writer has to sometimes cut
less poignant scenes, or drag them out, just for the sake of graphic
design.

Writer/artists like Frank Miller and (groan!) Todd McFarlane can get
around this by filling up pages with beautiful artwork.  They have
complete control over the pacing, and know their limitations as they
write each sentence.  However, this leads to the inevitable drawing out
of the story.

And to quote the movies:  "Read Marcus Aurelius.  Of each thing, ask
what is it's nature?"  The nature of a movie is to be seen by an
audience during a fixed amount of time.  The nature of a comic is to be
read at liesure.  As I am sure those on this list would attest, if there
is one thing studied more by it's audience than film, it's comics.

Veritas,

Giles

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