Certain Quote by Denise Mina
“I hate it when I'm reading a comic, and the dialogue looks like stickers stuck on top to explain what's going on. For me the best is when your eye goes in a certain point and moves through the composition and then springs out on the dialogue, or gets confused in the image and then goes to the dialogue for an explanation.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Comic creators discussion, 2023
The quote critiques poor comic dialogue placement that feels like overlay stickers, preferring seamless visual flow where the eye naturally moves to text.
In simple terms: Bad dialogue placement disrupts reading; good layout guides eye smoothly.
Key Takeaway
Design comics so eye flow integrates dialogue naturally.
Themes
visual storytelling
design
reading experience
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
observational
instructional
When to use this quote
- graphic novels
- comic panels
- illustration workshops
- visual design education
Key Concepts
composition
eye movement
visual hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can layout balance detail and readability?
- What techniques ensure dialogue enhances, not hinders, visual narrative?
A Different Perspective
If the artwork is too busy, dialogue may still be missed.
![“There's a rhythm to the words combined with the pictures [in a comic]. Whenever I'm working on a comic strip I re-read it, probably hundreds of times through to pay attention to how all of those things work. Sometimes even changing the angle of a character's eyebrow can really, seriously alter the…” quote by Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dec/chris-ware-8123_angle_there-s-a-rhythm-to-the-words-combined-w_506554.jpg)
