It’s Hard to Fight a Revolution on an Empty Stomach

What is a comic? A comic, in its simplest form, stands as an image that seeks to portray a particular message.  What is a comic book? A comic book, in its simplest form, stands as a series of images that seek to portray a particular message. A comic book comes into being when a stand alone image cannot properly convey the enormity of a particular message in the true depth and form by which the message deserves to be conveyed.  What makes a well done comic book? A well done comic book uses color, style, vantage, and dialogue to produce the variety of images that will ultimately depict the final message.

What is a movie frame? A movie frame is an image capturing a single moment in time of which actors or scenery attempt to convey a piece of an overarching message. What is a movie? A series of movie frames capturing many moments in time of which actors or scenery attempt to convey an overarching message. What makes a well done movie? A well done movie uses color, style, vantage, and dialogue to produce the variety of images that will ultimately depict the final overarching message.

In this way, movie frame becomes extension of comic, movie becomes extension of comic book, and both of which continue to utilize the same strategic media creation techniques to produce only the highest quality of media product. The medium of the computer, in combination with comic book, produced what we know as screen based media. The screen provides a more fluid way of visualizing the abrupt transitions buried in the roots of comics. The early comic ached to be behind a screen, acting as the prototype for movies that would soon come to life. While we can now appreciate and capitalize upon the particular advantages of creating media in the form of comic, this aspect cannot become confused with the original intentions of comic itself.

What is an animated movie but a series of comics flashed before your eyes?

V for Vendetta, a comic written by Alan Moore and David LLoyd, naturally evolved into a feature film of its future time. The comic begs to achieve a richer form of life, designing a mental movie through the use of illustrated story boxes. V for Vendetta beautifully exercises the use of point of view and carefully placed color to describe the horrific times of a world in need of revolution. The comic itself acts as a blue print for the movie, intricately documenting exactly how the story should be portrayed.

V for Vendetta is only one of many comics that have bridged the natural transition into appearing behind the screen. This fact comes of no surprise as the comic so easily allows the movie portrayal to come into being. In this way, the screen becomes a rich and futuristic representation of the comic itself.