Hello everyone, and welcome to Panel by Panel, a periodic exploration of comic panels around The Duck. This week we're going to look at the usage of infographics in comics as expositionary devices. Our panel for this comes from the comic Meatware by The Jagged. Specifically, we're looking at the most recent page, #165.
I won't be going too much into the story, but as far as this panel goes, it is placed on a page that provides a lot of context for the setting of Meatware. One of the best ways to provide context in exposition when it comes to comics is not relying on talking heads but using the medium to its strength as a visual one, such as through infographics.
Allow me to turn to Wikipedia for a moment: “Infographics (a clipped compound of ”information“ and ”graphics“) are graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly.” We most often associate infographics with business proposals, marketing websites, and magazines. However, they encompass a whole lot more than that. They work to break down a lot of information in a way that uses visual representation. It may not initially seem like something you'd associate with comics, but they are pretty common.
For example, take a map or diagram. I am willing to bet that we've all read a comic or two that utilizes a map during expository scenes. It's a great way to establish space and location and provides often-needed context about fictional locations. Such as the case with this panel I clipped from Meatware. The scene gives us an explanation of the stratification of this society and the marginality of some groups, but it doesn't just tell us: it literally shows us.
Great stuff. We see that inset map, but we also get the complementary visual of the domes of those outside of the city to build on this theme of isolation of a population present on the page.
But how about you? Have you used infographics in your comics at all? Something beyond maps? If you want to see how good infographics can be in a comic, I'd also consider a couple of comics here: Matt Fraction's run on Hawkeye had a wonderful issue from the perspective of a dog that uses infographics to convey meaning and the dog's thought process in the story. Also, speaking of Marvel, Jonathan Hickman's recent X-Men run utilizes heavy infographics for world-building that have a very cool aesthetic.
Anyway, by all means, please share your links in the comments if you have a page that utilizes infographics.
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Panel by Panel: 'Meatware' and the joy of Infographics
hpkomic at 2:45PM, March 24, 2023
8 likes!
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skyangel at 10:45AM, March 25, 2023
As always your articles on here are very informative and educational! I've always been more aware of infographics as a red line travelling across a map in movies but this example shows how well they can be used to a larger extent. The comic itself sounds interesting so I'm looking forward to checking that out too.
TheJagged at 9:22AM, March 25, 2023
Ah yes, showing interesting graphics while doing very talky exposition so the audience doesn't drift to sleep. It's another technique i picked up from manga/anime, who like doing this stuff a lot. Especially when it comes to sci-fi, which is always in need of a lot of exposition on how stuff works. Better spruce it up with some cool flashes of cells mutating and labs exploding.
PaulEberhardt at 6:40AM, March 25, 2023
Same here. Meatware has some really unique visuals and it's a cool story, too. I like using infographics myself. They're great for some fun, too, because they allow you to play with different or simplified styles that you can use to reflect the way the characters think or what the world is like.
kawaiidaigakusei at 5:26PM, March 24, 2023
Great comic! I am glad Meatware is being featured on panel-by-panel today.