Comics - Introduction

Comics invite you to see the visual aspect of a story through the specific viewpoint of the artist’s mind. Perhaps because of this active participation, youth who read comics are almost twice as likely to say they enjoy reading print books.

Readers become active partners, or "willing collaborators," because they must connect the meaning between the panels—a fundamental technique called closure. This involvement might be why youth who read comics are almost twice as likely to say they enjoy reading print books.[1] Creators manage the flow of the story using a sequence of images and adjusting panel arrangement and size to control the pace.

The entire comics industry is undergoing a massive transformation and expansion, with North American sales reaching about $2.08 billion in 2021.[2] Digital platforms like Webtoon are attracting millions of new readers, notably Gen Z and Millennial women – audiences that traditional comics largely missed. Comics are also being used for more serious purposes, including personal memoirs, factual "comics journalism," and educational materials on topics like history and civics.

[1] Clark, C., et al. (2024) Children and young people’s engagement with comics in 2023. National Literacy Trust.

[2] Gustines, G.G., & Stevens M. (2022) Comics That Read Top to Bottom Are Bringing in New Readers. The New York Times.