Before I began drawing my comic book, interactive or otherwise, I wanted to understand more about the world of comic books and graphic novels. Although I had read them since I could walk and was raised on Spider-man, Hulk and X-men I felt that I needed to learn a lot more about how they are put together and more about them as a medium. As Stephen King (2002) writes "Just because I listen to the radio everyday, doesn't mean I know anything about the music industry" (p114).
I started with the books by Will Eisner and read forward from there, it was very interesting to learn that the angles used in panels are not arbitrary at all, but that each panel is the same as a camera angle in a film, each panel needs to justify itself. If a low angle is uses as apposed to an overhead shot, then why? As the angle can completely change the mood and pace of a image. A low angles shot can signify domination and imposition by the character, a close up shot of the face augments the emotion. All these things are carefully taken into consideration by the artist. The artist has to work like a film director, establishing shots which would show what the writer intended. Putting the focus where it needs to be.
Campiti (2011) writes "Each frame should act like a stand-alone piece of art" (p51), this is something I agree with strongly as each frame should take into consideration the tenants of any art such as appropriate lighting, good composition and should make the purpose of the frame clear.
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