Creating a graphic novel front page

Learning Aims

• MUST be able to create cover art for your graphic novel

• SHOULD be able to create a cover that reflects your story

• COULD create a professional cover

What makes a great cover? Discuss

• Should engage the audience

• Should tell part of the story

• Protagonist on the cover

• Creates intrigue

• Great typography

It sells the comic to the audience.

Typical Graphic novel / comic book front pages

Good Versus Evil Heroic Pose Unusual Situation

Good Versus Evil

• A single powerful image of protagonist Vs antagonist

• Very typical and often seen, possibly easiest to hint as the purpose of your graphic novel.

• Usually takes place in an interesting location

Heroic Pose

• The main character is posed with some attitude

• Often leaping towards the audience, or standing with strength

• Another typical comic cover but less effective for selling the story of the comic.

• Great for returning audiences who might want to read about the character.

Unusual situation

• The hero is shown in some unlikely situation

• The aim to stimulate the customers curiosity

• This could be a threatening situation, a comedy situation, etc.

Mood Covers

Threatening Pinup

Novelty

Montage Novelty

Criteria for a good cover?

• It has to make the audience want to pick up the graphic novel

Involvement

• The audience must feel like they are part of the action.

• The use of composition lighting and colour can help focus the reader on certain parts of the cover.

Design

• The design must be immediately intriguing

• You should tell a story in one image

• This could be told through character poses and actions, dialogue (although not typically on a cover), the location and background, or a facial expression.

Curiosity

• The situation should pose a question in the customers mind

• It should encourage them to read more and resolve their questions by reading the graphic novel.

Conflict

• The essence of drama is in conflict

• Your cover should pose some element of conflict from your story.

Danger

• Danger might not be the same as conflict, it can be mortal or social.

• The hero might be hanging from a ledge or about to have his secrets revealed.

Impact

• The reader should understand the basis of the story instantly from the cover.

• The impact is lost if the audience have to wade through 75 pages to find out what is going on..

Cover line

• A great cover doesn’t need a cover line but it can help intrigue your audience.

• A terrific and appropriate phrase can enhance your cover.