COMICS JOURNAL 18: Watchmen (Visual Effects)
Title: Watchmen
Author: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons
Comics is a two-dimensional visual art that readers are required to fill up the missing details such as sound and mood through the process called closure. To make readers complete the story with visual elements only, creators have to use some visual effects such as repeated lines and colors to represent the speed, sound, feeling, and mood on the comics. Below are some examples of visual effects on Watchmen.
On page 396, in order to kill Dr. Manhattan, Veidt clicked the button even if his loved pet Bubastis were next to Dr. Manhattan. With only incomplete skull silhouette and a white background visible to the readers, readers will interpret it as some strong rays eroding the bodies of Dr. Manhattan and Bubastis. The broken black lines surrounding their bodies showed the readers that their bodies are spreading out and disappearing. The facial expressions on both silhouettes showed the pain they are experiencing.
On page 11, the authors used all red to show the important scene with Comedian being thrown out of the window. Red color can evoke reader's feeling of nervous, a sense of killing, emotion, and make the panel stay longer in the reader's memory. This visual effect also leaves reader a stronger feeling towards this panel. This scene is very important and reappeared in later chapters. Watchmen begins with the murder of Comedian, then some repeated flash backs linked Comedian with other characters, and finally led readers to uncover a bigger plans that are going to harm the earth.
On page 389, the authors applied the background colors on Laurie to tell the readers that Laurie was affected emotionally by the bad situations and made Laurie more human. At the same time, the authors did not apply any background colors on Dr. Manhanttan to show that Jon was calm and not emotionally affected by the tragic scene in front of him. This visual design creates a contrast effect for the reader to better understand the characteristics of the characters.
On page 225, the designers used a warm color monotone for Laurie and Danny. The warm face contrasted to the cold background to evoke a romantic feeling for the audience. The monotone for both characters evoke a feeling of connection and intimate relationship.
On page 182, in order to illustrate the sad childhood of Rorschach and his violent mother, the authors colored Rorschach all red to evoke an angry and emotional feeling to the audience. They used a yellow background which gives a feeling of power and fire to represent Rorschach's mother's violence and anger toward Rorschach.
On page 360, the authors used repeated thick white strokes to represent a snow storm and windy environment.
Author: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons
Comics is a two-dimensional visual art that readers are required to fill up the missing details such as sound and mood through the process called closure. To make readers complete the story with visual elements only, creators have to use some visual effects such as repeated lines and colors to represent the speed, sound, feeling, and mood on the comics. Below are some examples of visual effects on Watchmen.
On page 396, in order to kill Dr. Manhattan, Veidt clicked the button even if his loved pet Bubastis were next to Dr. Manhattan. With only incomplete skull silhouette and a white background visible to the readers, readers will interpret it as some strong rays eroding the bodies of Dr. Manhattan and Bubastis. The broken black lines surrounding their bodies showed the readers that their bodies are spreading out and disappearing. The facial expressions on both silhouettes showed the pain they are experiencing.
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| Page 396, Watchmen |
On page 11, the authors used all red to show the important scene with Comedian being thrown out of the window. Red color can evoke reader's feeling of nervous, a sense of killing, emotion, and make the panel stay longer in the reader's memory. This visual effect also leaves reader a stronger feeling towards this panel. This scene is very important and reappeared in later chapters. Watchmen begins with the murder of Comedian, then some repeated flash backs linked Comedian with other characters, and finally led readers to uncover a bigger plans that are going to harm the earth.
 |
| Page 11, Watchmen |
On page 389, the authors applied the background colors on Laurie to tell the readers that Laurie was affected emotionally by the bad situations and made Laurie more human. At the same time, the authors did not apply any background colors on Dr. Manhanttan to show that Jon was calm and not emotionally affected by the tragic scene in front of him. This visual design creates a contrast effect for the reader to better understand the characteristics of the characters.
 |
| Page 389, Watchmen |
On page 225, the designers used a warm color monotone for Laurie and Danny. The warm face contrasted to the cold background to evoke a romantic feeling for the audience. The monotone for both characters evoke a feeling of connection and intimate relationship.
 |
| Page 225, Watchmen |
On page 182, in order to illustrate the sad childhood of Rorschach and his violent mother, the authors colored Rorschach all red to evoke an angry and emotional feeling to the audience. They used a yellow background which gives a feeling of power and fire to represent Rorschach's mother's violence and anger toward Rorschach.
 |
| Page 182, Watchmen |
On page 360, the authors used repeated thick white strokes to represent a snow storm and windy environment.
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| Page 360, Watchmen |
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