What If...?
How can depicting historical events through art help me better understand them and my relationship to the subject? Inspired by marvel's "What If" series, my high school history teacher asked us all to create a comic with this premise relating to an event in American history. I have always found history challenging, yet after exploring history through designing a comic, I’ve discovered a newfound appreciation for the study. Focusing on making deliberate choices when considering color, composition, movement, etc. has allowed me to fully explore and understand history and how I can become a better humanities student.
Comic Explained
Comic pages with a description of the thought process behind each page can be found below.
TITLE PAGE
Gradient green background contrasts central figure, creating emphasis
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 1
Lines around figures show movement to highlight the stress of the scene. References from the historic event are used so that the viewer will recognize and know where we are in history.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 2
Insert Description
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 3
Lines convey texture, depth, & feeling. Overall organized composition illustrates a sense of order which is, at this point in the narrative, still present.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 4
The missile is scaled up to show its importance and weight in the narrative. It is juxtaposed by a bright explosion to show its impact.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 5
Homes and people have similar colors showing unity/relation. This is contrasted with the colors at the top of the page, showing a separation between the world of politics and the commonfolk. Juxtaposed newspaper and flags depict conflict. The slant in the panels emphasizes a clash/imbalance.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 6
Lines in background show antsy crowd while color establishes the man in green as the focal point.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 7
Panels illustrating "The People" are colored a bold red and packed with movement/ emotion. This is in contrast with the police, depicted by a still blue and a strong immovable line. The skewed panel emphasizes the contrast by highlighting the imbalance and lost harmony.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 8
Monochromatic colors convey lost energy. Repetition in the figures shows their unification as a solid entity. The scale and positioning of the flag at the center of the page shows its importance and emphasizes the drama of the moment.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 9
Speech bubbles placed deliberately to guide eye down the page around the images allowing for a clear hierarchy throughout the page.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
PAGE 10
Vertical lines and dissonant dark colors create a feeling of suspense. This is mood is released in the last panel as the green washes away the purple in a moment of relief.
Year
2023
Dimensions
11" x 8.5"
Materials
Alcohol markers and gel pen
Behind The Scenes
Comic art was completely novel to me. Exploring this new form of art came with experimentation and studying. Below is a gallery of images showing my sketching and some references I took to help me create the comic.
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