Question about writing (would like readers perspective)

[Berserk]

I'm trying to get into writing comics. I have a few good stories in mind and would like a little feedback on what people like in terms of having a story presented and having boxes with narration at the same time throughout? To see an example of what I mean, check out this preview of New World Order:

http://www.newsarama.com/ImageComics/Jan08/previews/shadowline.html


Basically what I want to know is, does having narration boxes distance a reader from the story because you have to take time from looking at the word bubbles and art to read the narration or does it flow most of the time and doesn't cause you any concern?

[mattx110]

It depends. I like having a primary character that somehow is able to narrate for events that he isn't present for along with the scenes he is around for to make it all relate-able.
The Stan Lee-ish "and with the strength of blablabla spider-man lifted the voracious villian", is something you don't see a lot of, but could work.
Anything that makes your comic better at telling a story is good. It's not just about pretty pictures, though those help massively.


Odd side-note. When R. Kelly was doing the second round of "trapped in the closet" things, there was a vh1 or MTV thing, where they would show each chapter and discuss it. And there was one where R.Kelly's character was already somewhere, and then R. Kelly was in another closet, and the "music journalist (hahaha)" actually said, "We've been told by R. Kelly that this is not the same character as before, but a new character named "narrator", we'll see what role he plays in the next installment".
And I died a little inside.

So hey, stories are narratives, and if having a narrator helps tell a story, it's a good thing. Comics aren't just about plot, and in fact, are very effective as character studies, where narration can provide a nice look inside someone's head. So it doesn't matter if the narration might be a loose explanation of what the reader can already see, if it gives insight into the characters.

[pigkiller]

I think it works for your example, because it is someone telling a story, and I get the impression that the whole comic won't have that throughout it.

If you set up an omniscient narrator, I think it can work, though not like it does in NWO.

If the narrator is commenting on the action, i think that can work well, instead of stating what is happening.