Comics School: Making Comics - Page Turns and Pacing

In this video I go over a crucial aspect of making comics - using panels and page turns to adjust the pacing and impact of a story.

Free How-To Articles on my main website:

An archive of over 250 scripts and pitches on my Patreon page, plus the chance to ask more questions that might show up here in a future video:

[GitShiddy]

I find the use of "aspect ratio" when talking about panels very intriguing. I watched one of those VFX breakdown things about the (ugh) "Snyder Cut" and they mentioned how the 4:3 ratio felt more like an actual comic because the panels are more vertical in comics so that's how you frame a Superhero. It's an incredibly reductive statement, however it has merit. Hearing aspect ratio here cued me into something that the medium does that I'd never thought of. No medium changes it's aspect ratio as often, or with such intent as comics.
A weirdly useful revelation that.

[thePrairieFox]

This was so helpful. The page turn is so important in picture books and it was fun to see the nuanced similarities and differences you highlighted here. Thanks.

[RyanPond]

So much great info in this one. Can't wait to apply some of these lessons in my own work! 🙌🍻🔥

[Camtaylor]

Thanks for the informative videos Jim! It's always really nice to have these on while working on comics.
I hope I can apply even a sliver of the knowledge you provide us for free. I hope to pass on the assistance one day if I get good enough.


Cheers and thanks for helping the community! Hope to have you read and critique my own book one day!

[MrSageCurtis]

Page turns are something really cool and unique to the comic book genre. I really enjoyed the video!
A small aside, page turns like at 9:28 would always confuse me when reading comics. I'd have to go back and forth a few times to figure out what's supposed to be happening and really look at the art for clues.