When creating a comic, especially a Christian comic or maybe even a Christian animated cartoon, how many artists think to themselves "I want my readers to relate to this character, to understand him/her where they come from."?
The trouble of creating a character who is memorible and who stands out? One who sticks with us, and feels like a real person?
I know many of us want to create someone like that, but aren't sure how to do it. When I look at many comics, especially of the superhero genre, I often get the impression that many comic characters just don't stand out. Their appearance seems generic, they don't seem to have much of a personality. That maybe the creator just wanted to create a comic for the money and thats it? Maybe I am wrong on this.
In Scott McCloud's book Making Comics he writes that in character design, there are 3 qualities that no great comics character can do without: an inner life, visual distinction and expressive traits. He then goes into details on how to work with those.
But many comic creators seem unaware of that and they seem to do things on their own. They don't appear to make their character seem like a real person that the reader can relate to. We don't get to know enough about them in their early life or what they struggle with, or what they really like and much more. Or they don't make their character stand out in their appearance so they look easily reconizeable. They don't have the exprssive traits like maybe they have a certain look on their face when doing certain things. I guess it's because those things don't come to mind or they haven't read books about creating that perfect character?
When you look at the famous cartoon characters, especially animated, noticed how they all seem to stand out in everything? Theres a reason why they are classic? I feel that if even a non fan of a comic or cartoon can easily reconize a character and know their name without reading or watching what made them famous, thats an accomplishment.
I really do want the Christian comic martket to be noticed and have it's own selection of memorible characters and heroes. When one of my friends on facebook said he liked how real I made my characters feel in Modern Christians, I felt proud to be getting somewhere. That I was accomplishing that goal at least.
What do you guys think? I am curious about your thoughts on this.
Replies
I read through the first issue of Power Mark at my church bookstore (which has a whole rack with those comics)and a couple of other Christian comics I don't remember the name of. They were ok but seem to have been done before. Not much originality. Generic looking Superheros who are Christian or who later discover Christanity.
Still, I noticed no one at that time was using my idea I had for a Christian comic, Modern Christians. Which is bascially a Christian slice of life comic if that makes sense. And since I knew my creation had more originality than most Christian comics, I felt it was an opportunity to go for it and make the best Christian comic I can, especially after having some experience reading some of the best graphic novels and comics and even some manga and apply the same great storytelling and characters to my work. I really wish I did all this years ago since the ideas were already there but I didn't know how to apply them or didn't think I had a chance. But now I do see I do.
Modern Christians to me, is kind of my idea of what can be accomplished in a Christian comic. I want to put everything a good Christian comic should have and show it to the world and let them know what kind of people Christians really are.
Here's the issue: NOT ENOUGH QUALITY. Too many Christian peeps are running out there making BibleHeroSaviourManWhoMightBeAnAngelOrMaybeNotButChangesFromUnassumingPersonIntoHeroViaPrayerMagicWordOrLuckyCharmBracelet...
...And doing it piss-poor. And even in Mainstream you are correct - a lot of characters are being drawn more as "symbols" than actual characters that think, breath and feel. I sometimes wonder if this is something that can be taught or if it's innate.
How do we do this:
1. Make characters think. Express it on their face.
2. Give them a motivation even it's a simple as HEY LOOK OVER THERE
3. Give each unique body language
4. Take the time to make unique characters that have: a distinct look, a distinct shape, a distinct personality, a distinct anything. This takes time.
5. Draw it well...
6. Make it entertaining or insightful - it can even be both!
7. Pull our collective heads out of our butts and figure out that everybody doesn't want SuperHeroBibleManWithTheSameBackStoryAsEveryOtherSuperHeroBibleManColoredMudBrownPurpleGreen and they don't want to see your half-baked not quite ready for market product because it looks, sounds and smells like everything else but is nowhere near as good as the previous guy who was borderline bad to begin with.
Please review steps 1-6, wash, rinse, repeat.
THINK IT THROUGH. Make the character logical to themselves. Make them act. Give them expressions. (Constipation doesn't count - Image i'm looking at you). Observe people around you and use them as the basis or the core of character. Maybe you have a friend that always has a certain way of giving a look, or another always has a peculiar way of thinking - borrow it and embed it into your character.
And for the love Pete, don't do #7.
======= Tirade below slightly off topic but relates to "I really do want the Christian comic martket to be noticed" - read only if interested ===================================
p.s. the "getting noticed" part for Christian comics tends to be the biggest issue - and part of that has to do with #7. People keep seeing that kind of stuff and go - are you for serious? Really?
Never mind the fact that Christians tend to suck at the marketing, sales and distribution side of things even when they have a quality product. Why is that? Is there a reason we as a collective whole can't make something that doesn't stick out like a sore thumb and in a good way? Veggie Tales (not really comics) and Archangels (koff) don't count.
Anyone have a list of quality Characters/Comics in the Christian comics market in the last 5- 10yrs that have legs and longevity? Or maybe we're supposed to be quiet behind the scenes types?
p.p.s. Buzz - I probably want to buy all your books - they available in a digital format?