I have no artistic talent, and no plans to start drawing or writing comics — even if I were to call them graphic novels. So, why did I just read Making Comics? This broad how-to about how to, yes, make comics caught my eye because the more I do in business, the more I realize that telling a story is an essential skill.
Scott McCloud has made a name for himself over the last decade. Less for his actual art, though, and more for his examination and popularization of comics as an art form in English. Word has spread to the usability community, perhaps because he’s been a digital artist for some time. I came across McCloud’s work a few years ago, but Making Comics is his first book I’ve bought and read.
It’s done as a comic book, and the visual pointers are critical. Lead by example, and all that. It’s a quick read, at least for me, since I didn’t pore over the images and try any of the exercises suggested at the end of each chapter. I simply wanted to think differently about how stories are told, and perhaps find ways to apply the ideas to my work.
I’m personally stuck with words as my outlet. But the more I do online, the greater appreciation I have for images which tell a story well. A picture is worth far more than 1000 words, since few people want to read that much!