This is a bit meta, but what are your favorite experiential layouts? If someone has a better term or set of terms for what I'm talking about feel free to tell us.
Pic related is an example.
(Most of these experimental pages obviously fly in the face of 'the rules' though.
http://webcomicalliance.com/featured-news/composition-101-laying-out-your-comic-page/
What do you think about them when illustrators try them out, in terms of readability and comprehension, following what's going on, where and to whom?)
OP again with more
http://real-faker.deviantart.com/art/WtH-5-174127326
Obviously webcomics have a greater latitude than ink and paper due to the size restrictions of the latter, and a web page allows for multiple levels of zoom.
Pic related for example would be long as shit (though in production, would probably be made by having one page folded in several times).
When done well, and the layout is still relatively easy to follow and things like dialogue boxes are placed correctly, it can be a refreshing change of pace. When done wrong, it just makes things confusing and hard to read.
Pic related is an example of what I consider good. JH Williams' Batwoman had lots of interesting layouts.
Posting the GOAT layout
One of the nice things about Comixology is that it makes difficult but interesting pages way more easy to read, thanks to Guided Viewer which leads you through the page.
I appreciate when artists try something different though, even if it's not always successful I like the attempt over copy pasted talking heads.
>>81716927
One of the huge issues I have with comixology is something you consider good then. A good layout is completely ruined by that function. I just keep it off
Back again
I really respect the work Dave McKean did on Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth- he tried to apply sort of a minimalism combined with a painted aesthetic. It was very emotionally evocative. But as a reader, I much prefer a "traditional" style in terms of art and layout (traditional referring to G,S,B or modern, which all have their styles of boarding but still far from 'experimental'.)
>>81716799
I miss this book so much, man.
>>81716799
Whoah. Astounding. He really knows how to use color.
>>81716839
I can respect this, from a technical standpoint.
>>81716927>>81717087
I can see how it's dependent on the layout panels and pages.
>>81717087
I don't keep it on all the time for that reason, but I love the feature when a page is designed poorly. >>81717269
It wasn't the best example, but I think Quitely is great at experimental layouts. For B&R I think those panels really help add to the actions, I also adored the experimental sound effects.
Chris Ware is like the grand master of experimental layouts - you google his name and pretty much every page you get is this fucking ridiculous complicated layout that adds so much to the stories. As an artist I don't understand how he even begins thinking about it.
>>81716839
>start reading Cerebus
>seen this on /co/ often
>assumed it was from late in the run bc so impressive
>issue 20
Fuck you Sim
>>81716839
>>81717843
Post the final issue of Promethea.
Not necessarily with this comic (Captain Marvel) and not necessarily with this artist . . . but I like this concept.
I think too many artists try to fill every corner of every panel. Good layout and composition necessitates a mastery of space, in my opinion.
I love this page
>>81716394
Almost all of The Sandman: Overture. The issue with Time is particularly impressive.
Copra is getting better and better as Michel Fiffe becomes more confident as an artist.
Miracleman: Olympus- John Totleben
Swamp Thing- Bissette and Totleben
>>81716394
There was a lot of this in the recent Wonder Woman: Earth One OGN by Morrison. Really great page layouts used to denote changes between the present and flashbacks. No scans of it yet, though...
>>81721106
>The Sandman: Overture
I'm surprised this slipped through my fingers all these years
>>81724604
Overture is very impressive visually but it almost feels like wankery. Ingwie Malmsteen facemelter solo style wankery. I think the best parts are Time and the conversation Dream has with different aspects of himself.
One of the better sections of Wake. It's all really just one environment with the panels highlighting moments of character movement.
>>81721106
Is Sandman Overture actually any good?
