Comics contain many aspects. Most obviously, there's the art and there's the storytelling. The biggest question the creator is faced with is "Is this communicating what I want it to?" With that in mind, I will outline several key aspects to creating comics and graphic novels and what to look out for when creating/critiquing work. This is by no means an exhaustive source, so I encourage you to do your reading. Also, not all comics need to be considered using all of these points. But in general, this is what to look out for.

The Art:

When looking at the artistic side of comics, it is natural to go straight for the obvious: anatomy issues, perspective issues, colors, and so on. This, however, is not the only thing to consider when looking at comics. Overall, we want to see how well the work communicates visually. We've seen good comics created with all the detail in the world. Likewise, we've seen good comics created with stick figures. Depth of detail is not the goal of comics: it's what you do with the detail you choose to include. That said, here are some big things to keep in mind when looking at the visual aspects of a work of sequential art.

• Is the art clear? Can the reader discern what is what?
• Is the panel layout clear and does it aid rather than hinder the reader?
• Does the comic page/strip flow correctly?
• Is the text readable and placed clearly on the page?
• Regardless of the simplicity or complexity of the art style, is the art able to invoke a convincing world in the reader's mind?
• Are the characters discernible from one another?
• Does the art fit and make sense with the storytelling goal?
• Is the font used readable and appropriate? If handwritten, is the letterer aware of the process for correctly handlettering comics? If digitized, is the font being used one meant for comics, rather than a standard pre-installed computer font?
• Are the panels composed in an engaging way, or are there a lot of redundant shots, talking heads, etc.?
• Does the artist utilize different angles and make use of background/middle ground/foreground? Are there too many closeups? Not enough? Are there adequate establishing shots?
• Does the artist understand basic anatomy, perspective, color theory, etc.? Are they striving to improve?
• Does the work show some originality, or is it derivative of other styles that came before it?

Writing:

The writing or storytelling aspects of comics have many of the same necessities that regular prose requires. If your comic is following the basic storytelling formula (exposition--rising action--climax--falling action--dénouement; plot; setting; characters; etc.) you will want to study effective writing and utilize that. Not all comics are intended to tell a fictional story, as is the case in essay comics, journal comics, gag-a-day comics, and so on. In this case, the writing will have a different goal, but generally we want to keep these things in mind:

• Is the writing clear? Has the creator taken the time to spell and grammar check the work?
• [When applicable] Are the characters properly developed? Are they engaging? Does each character in the story have purpose to be there? Did the writer take the time to figure out what they want the characters to do and be?
• Is the flow/pacing of the plot appropriate? Are certain aspects of the storytelling rushed or too drawn out, or does the plot flow just right? (This applies to strip or gag-a-day comics too, not just stories.)
• Is the amount of written text (dialogue, narration) appropriate? Is there too much text, not enough, or just the right amount? Does the text compliment and supplement the art, or does it dominate the storytelling? (Showing vs telling.)
• [When applicable] Regardless of how fantastical, is the world consistent with itself and believable to the reader?
• Is the reader able to follow and understand, or is the reader lost due to lack of information or ill-timed explanations?
• Does everything in the story feel intentional and meaningful, or does it feel like some aspects were just crammed in for poor reasons? Does the writer understand how everything is supposed to fit together?
• Does the work show some originality, or is it derivative of other stories that came before it?

The goal to communication is clarity. Any number of sources will tell you what's most important--dazzling art, attention to detail, epic storytelling, engaging characters, whatever. All of those are great, but the pressing importance is clarity--what are you trying to say, and are your readers able to understand it? (This is not to say you need to spell everything out--certainly not. The best comics, like the best poems, allow the readers to take something new and different from the work each time.) Think about what works have moved you most, and consider what makes them so moving.

Critics:

When reading the work, ask yourself "Is this working? Is this effective?" Keep in mind which things are working and which things aren't. Let them know where you feel the work suffers, but also let them know where you feel the work is succeeding. These are some things to focus on in your critiques. Think about how the work speaks to you as a reader. From what you've seen of the work, would you want to see more? Why or why not? Afterall, you are the potential audience and your opinion matters!

Resources

Fonts:

Blambot Fonts
Font Squirrel
1001 Free Fonts

Help with Dialogue, Text, and Balloons:

Your Webcomic Can Still Be Saved
Blambot Handlettering Guide

Art:

Pose Maniacs
Perspective and Composition Tutorial
Save Loomis!

General:

Paneling, Pacing, and Layout Tutorial
Joel Fagin's Tutorials
CG Textures
Webcomic Beacon

That concludes this guide! I may add further resources in the future. All of these have helped me along the way and I hope they help you, whether you are a comics creator or critic! As always, contact me if you have any questions!