Understanding Comics: Chapter 1&2

Scott McCloud successfully attempts to explain the dynamics of comics through an actual comic book.  He engages the reader by including himself in the narrative, taking on the identity of a tour guide and navigating the reader through his own comic.  Through the use of images rather than words, McCloud is able to teach substance material without the conventional boring "book" form.

In chapter 1 McCloud introduces himself and how he became interested in comics, he also goes on to give a lesson on the history comics.  Throughout time, civilization has depicted stories or narratives with the use of images.  In a sense these stories can be called comics.  But what exactly are comics? According to McCloud the definition of a comic is as follows, "juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer".  Although there is a overall description of comics, they are not bound to any formal criteria when it comes to paper, ink, subject mater, style, printing process, materials, tools, etc.  

Chapter 2 goes on to describe and introduce the vocabulary of comics.  McCloud first describes the term "icon" to mean "any image used to represent a person, place, thing, or idea".  There are many types of icons, including, symbols that represent concepts ideas and philosophies, icons of language, science, and communication ($), and pictures that actually resemble their subjects.  Comics also play on the idea of realistic images.  According to McCloud a photograph ist he most realistic icon because it resembles their real life counterparts.  As the example image above shows, an icon can become less and less realistic, finally resulting in an icon referred to as a "cartoon".  McCloud creates a scales with some key concepts.  Complex --> Simple.  Realistic --> Iconic.  Objective --> Subjective.  Specific --> Universal.