Panel Grids: 6, 9, 16...?

[dewline]

Some comic books I've read over the years distinguished themselves by sticking as closely as possible to a "grid" system of panel layout. The "base" number of panels would vary from artist to artist, book to book, but within a book, it would almost never vary unless you really wanted an attention-getter moment in the book in question. Ditko-era Spider-Man, Watchmen, Miller's first Dark Knight series, Legion of Super-Heroes during the "Giffen-Bierbaum-Squared" era...these stand out as some of the best examples of the method I recall reading to date.

So, I've got a question to throw out to you to answer with your opinions: Is this a method of layout for beginners to stick to as a survival tool, or hardcore pros to show how they really excel under self-inflicted pressure, or both?

Comments

[quietdarkness.livejournal.com]

You managed to ask this question when I was dead tired from working. I've actually had to give some thought to this one.

I suspect this is a difficult method of storytelling that isn't really easy to pull off. Note that the people who have used this method successfully are seasoned writers.

I personally like that storytelling form...it almost makes it a movie storyboard experience.

I don't know that budding writers CAN use this method well. I suppose as a challenge you could attempt it. It's probably a good exercise in trying to make a story flow, with each panel having equal importance to the previous one.

Back in the 80's, I did write a couple of comics. Never published, because the damned artist disappeared with my scripts. However, it's a real challenge just to get the information into the panels, using size and placement to make the story flow and to emphasize certain points.

I don't think the static grid is an easy thing to write.

And by the way, thanks for friending me!

[dewline.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. And thanks in turn for your "writer's POV" musings. Much appreciated.