These are the set of comic elements need to be understood in order to know how comic works.
The following are set of comic vocabulary words or elements that work together in comic stories. (These are also referred to as comic terminologies) They are:
Speech Balloons
Caption
Emanata
Label
Narrative Blocks
Signs
Sound effects
Thought balloons
Panel
Icon
Speech Balloons:
(Also called speech bubbles) they are the objects that are used to contain the dialogue that the characters in comics speak.
Caption:
In a caption, words appear in a box, usually to give voice to a narrator, but sometimes used for the characters’ thoughts or dialogue. In some comics, where speech balloons are not used, the caption provide the reader with text about what is happening in the images. Caption can be placed below, beside, or above a comic panel.
Emanata:
Text or icons that represents what is going on in the character’s head.
Examples:
A light bulb above a character’s head indicates an idea.
Triple ‘Z’ (ZZZ) indicates sleeping.
Question mark (?) indicates that a character is in confusion, or confused.
Label:
Text labels written on characters in comics. The label can be the character’s name or more general label that identifies the character as part of a general group.
Narrative Blocks:
(Also known as Narrative box) Rectangles or square in which a narrator or a character from the story shares special information with readers. The box usually narrates something that is happening in the scene.
Signs:
Text labels written on objects in comics. Signs may be used to identify an object.
Sound Effects:
Words that indicate a sound that accompanies the comic panel.
Thought Balloon:
Objects used to contain a character’s thoughts.
These text containers are something called thought bubbles because of the trail of little bubbles that connect the thought balloon to the character in comic.
Panel:
(Also known as frame) Rectangles or squares where the action of the comic is drawn. The example here tells the story in four panels.
Icon:
an image used to represent a person, place, thing or idea.
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