Rationale

What is the current state of comics?

I will explore this visually by actually getting involved, making a comic and presenting it in a manner that would be fit for promotion. I feel the only way to understand the process behind making a comic is by doing it. This should result in a physical sample comic, consisting of around 4/ 5 pages, and a cover with reverse. Alongside this will be promotional materials, that utilise current emerging technologies being used in comics, something that uses augmented or virtual reality for example, and explore their capabilities. Continuing with the work, I will then make promotional mockups, that replicate the ways comics are being sold/ pitched in the current market. Again, the only way to understand the process is by doing it.

I wish to have somewhat of a contrast between the process of making the comic, and the promotional material. This will allow me to evaluate and understand the pros and cons offered by both approaches, being physical and digital. Having the comic primarily aimed at a younger audience, I want the work to be colourful, and pop. Keeping the work handmade also offers a relatability for them, making the work with paints or crayons can be something they can relate to and engage with, a medium they will have used or understand.

Behind the project are the ideas and projects of:

SUTU

An interesting figure that relentlessly explores any new technology that poses a potential for storytelling. I will focus on his first AR project, ‘modern polaxis’, being a physical comic, with the AR implementation alongside it. This will give me something to both work from as a building block, and evaluate the worth of AR inclusions.

Marvel AR

Something that can contrast SUTU’s modern polaxis, this will allow to see how an existing, established business approached the use of AR, rather than how an artist with a passion project does. It will be interesting to see how the priorities differ, and how the outcomes use the same tools in different ways.

Scott McCloud

One of the few guiding figures of comics, Scott has both published comics, and books on the subject of making comics. He strikes me as a forward thinking person, speaking about the potential of webcomics before they became a prominent method. Alongside this he displays a great sense of criticality on the subject, noting the cons before they even became apparent, and suggesting different approaches.