Graphic Novel Terms

Bleed

• A full-page illustration, typically used for impactful moments.

• When the artwork extends beyond the edge of the page.

• Where the eye naturally goes

Motion Lines

• Lines used to convey emotion.

• Similar to a speech balloon, but used to represent a character's inner thoughts.

• Lines used to convey movement or action in a static image.

Voicover

• A narrative device where a character's thoughts or commentary are presented in the form of a spoken monologue typically not directly addressed to other characters. This can be represented by captions or text boxes.

• The lines and borders that contain the panels.

• When the artwork extends beyond the edge of the page.

Open Blank

• Faces without much expression or detail

• A box containing text separate from the main action, often providing context.

• Words that imitate the sound they describe (e.g., "Pow," "Bang," "Zap").

Graphic Weight

• Where the eye naturally goes

• Faces without much expression or detail

• The heaviness of a line or shading for visual focus

This bubble shows a character is...

• yelling

• thinking

• whispering

• speaking

The characters and objects in the front of the panel that are usually given the most detail

• special effects lettering

• background

• frame

• foreground

A distinct segment of the comic containing a combination of image and text in endless variety

• panel

• frame

• gutter

• midground

The image furthest back in panel that gives reader context (most often where action is occurring)

• foreground

• background

• midground

• bleed

Elements that enclose either internal or external dialogue

• captions

• special effects lettering

• dialogue bubbles

• gutters