Storytelling is a cornerstone of human communication and cultural expression. From the enigmatic cave paintings of Lascaux, which some scholars believe were for ritualistic or narrative purposes, to the intricate Benin Bronzes chronicling the history of a kingdom, to the ornate illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages, visual storytelling has consistently captivated and informed societies across time. In this rich lineage, comic books and even contemporary internet memes emerge as dynamic evolutions of this age-old tradition. Comic books, with their unique blend of text and image, not only entertain but challenge, educate, and inspire. They reaffirm the enduring power of visual narratives to shape our understanding of the world and our place within it.
Don’t turn the page—reveal the superpowers that comic books can bring to your students with innovative artists and three big ideas!
Connect visual arts with other content areas.
Comic books offer an engaging platform for cross-curricular learning in the art classroom. Comic books are malleable and can easily incorporate other connections, such as technology, English Language Arts, and history. Challenge students to make comic books that capture historical events, explore mythology, or advocate for a social issue. By integrating different topics, students make meaningful connections between concepts and classes that are otherwise siloed. This shows students how all disciplines relate to each other. This also reinforces understanding, improves information retention, highlights different perspectives, and develops empathy.
While many art lessons aid students in developing visual literacy skills, comic books connect text and images, which is particularly helpful for English Language Learners. Comic books allow students ample practice reading, writing, illustrating, and visualizing characters, settings, and storylines. Students develop a greater understanding of story arcs and strengthen self-expression and communication skills.
Inspire students with these five comic artists.
1. Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby was a legendary comic book artist, writer, and co-creator of some of the biggest heroes in comic history. Before his comic career, he put his drawing talents to use scouting and mapping the terrain during World War 2. He helped to create The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, Iron Man, and more. Kirby proves how powerful comic art can be in making a difference! His concept art played a key role in a covert CIA mission to rescue hostages in Iran.
2. Jim Davis
Jim Davis created Garfield, which is one of the longest-running and most successful comics in history. Before he found that success, Davis had some major setbacks. His first comic, called Gnorm Gnat, lasted a little over a year before his publisher told him he needed to start over with something new. Davis created a comic called Jon, which evolved into Garfield. He had help from Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. Davis was having trouble drawing Garfield dancing and Schulz suggested giving Garfield big feet so he would look more natural walking on his hind legs. Davis shows the importance of flexibility, resiliency, and applying feedback.
3. Sarah Andersen
Sarah Andersen creates delightful webcomics. She has a simple yet expressive art style, paired with relatable humor and observations about everyday life. Her comics are accessible and engaging for students. Andersen’s webcomic, Sarah’s Scribbles, demonstrates how effective minimalist drawings can be in conveying emotions and telling stories. Additionally, her success in self-publishing and building an online following through social media inspires students to explore non-traditional avenues for sharing their own comic creations.
4. Marjane Satrapi
Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis is an excellent example of the power of comics to convey personal and historical narratives. Her work demonstrates how comics can explore difficult topics, such as war, political oppression, and cultural identity, in a way that is both informative and emotionally engaging. Additionally, Satrapi’s use of humor and personal anecdotes amidst the serious subject matter showcases the versatility of the medium.
5. David Morgan-Mar
David Morgan-Mar, creator of Irregular Webcomic!, offers a unique example for students that blends a passion for comics with plastic building bricks. His innovative use of action figures and sets to create characters and environments demonstrates how to portray a story without traditional drawing. Morgan-Mar’s work encourages students to think outside the box, utilizing readily available materials and their own creativity to construct narratives. This approach not only lowers the barrier to entry for aspiring comic artists but also highlights the importance of resourcefulness and adaptability in the creative process.
Switch things up with these three different ways to create comic books with your students!
One of the greatest things about comic books is that they are an extremely flexible medium. They are adaptable to the tools and resources at hand, making them a perfect fit for any classroom. Choose a format that meets your budget, supplies, and students!
1. Make traditional comic books.
Brainstorm story elements and introduce students to the fundamentals of panel layout. Teach them how to use different panel sizes and shapes to control pacing, emphasize important events, and create visual interest. Show Piet Mondrian for another example of how to visualize similar principles of design. Encourage students to experiment with various angles and perspectives to make their pages more dramatic. Discuss the importance of speech bubbles and captions to clearly convey dialogue and narration. Use the student-friendly worksheet, Plan Your Comic Book, in FLEX Curriculum to help with ideation and organization.
Once the comic is complete, explore different binding options. Accordion fold books are a simple and effective way to showcase a continuous narrative. Traditional stitched binding offers a more polished look, while staples or metal rings provide a quick and easy solution. If you want a fun, unconventional book format, try explosion books!
2. Let students be the hero of their own story!
Using tablets or similar electronic devices, students photograph themselves acting out their stories. They’ll love transforming themselves into superheroes, explorers, or whatever else their imagination conjures. Use a green screen so students can place themselves anywhere. Source backgrounds from found images, draw using traditional media, or even craft within digital art apps. Most available apps provide intuitive platforms where students can easily combine photographs, illustrations, and text into captivating visual narratives.
3. Collaborate on a modular comic.
This idea encourages teamwork, creativity, and storytelling skills while still allowing for individual artistic expression. As a class, brainstorm key elements of a comic, such as the main characters. Ensure there are transitional panels at the start and end of each page to ensure a cohesive narrative flow. Think of this activity as a new version of the Surrealist Exquisite Corpse game.
For example, each page will be a day in the life of the character. The first panel of each student’s page will portray the character waking up. Each student will then tell their own mini-story to fill the rest of their page. The story will close with the last panel which will show the character going to bed. Once the pages are complete, digitize and compile them into a class slide deck. Students can make individual copies of the deck where they can select and rearrange pages to create their own unique versions of the class comic.
Whether students create traditional comic books, perform as superheroes, or collaborate on a collective narrative, students can use comics to explore history, science, social issues, or their own imaginations. These connections promote a deeper understanding of concepts that go well beyond the book. Introduce many innovative and inspirational comic book artists to help students embrace the versatility and power of the medium. Practicing visual storytelling empowers students to become creators, communicators, and critical thinkers in a world increasingly shaped by visual media.
Share a neat comic book lesson your students love!
How do you use literacy in your classroom to enhance visual art?
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Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
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