Comics with several chapters per issue

**Lovecraft13** · 06-25-2006, 07:36 PM

This question is for the comic book savvy. Are there a lot of comic books on the market today that use chapters within their issues as a story-telling device? Also, if you read any, did the method work for you, or would you prefer a linear method? I ask because I'm currently writing a six-issue miniseries that has about two or three chapters per book, and each chapter is treated like its own self-contained story in one larger plot.

Icaruss · 06-25-2006, 08:04 PM

There aren't a lot of comic-books who use several chapters within a single issue, except if you're talking about your 80 pages long specials. I think the reason for this is that it's easier for the reader to take on each issue as a chapter. I wouldn't mind having several chapters in an issue that's 50 pages long, but it starts to be kinda annoying if there's a new one every eight pages.

What if your reader doesn't care about the characters introduced on chapter two? They would want to get to see what's happening to the character they liked in the first place, the one that got them to buy the story. Or worse, what if your reader doesn't like the things happening in Chapter 3, and what's to see how the situation introduced in Chapter 1 is holding out?

You gotta make sure you keep every chapter, in every book, interesting for everyone. And that's tough.

You can do it though.

jrod · 06-25-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icaruss

What if your reader doesn't care about the characters introduced on chapter two? They would want to get to see what's happening to the character they liked in the first place, the one that got them to buy the story. Or worse, what if your reader doesn't like the things happening in Chapter 3, and what's to see how the situation introduced in Chapter 1 is holding out?

If your audience is turning away from a comic because of four pages dedicated to a character you have bigger problems than structure.

Paul Sanderson · 06-25-2006, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrod

If your audience is turning away from a comic because of four pages dedicated to a character you have bigger problems than structure.

Agreed.

**L Jamal** · 06-25-2006, 08:26 PM

Outside one shots you usually don't see the multiple chapters in a single issues, but I wouldn't let that stop me from doing it. Most comics don't bother to finish a story in one issue, but that doens't mean it shouldn't or can't be done.

JamieRoberts · 06-26-2006, 08:16 AM

There's a way to make everything work, you've just got to work hard enough to nail it. I mean (OK, this is a movie, but) Pulp Fiction, on paper, would have been a bit of a risk but Tarantino made it not only work, but kinda kicked off a whole new way of storytelling. Disclaimer: I don't know if anyone else did it first, but certainly not on the same scale.

Every single issue is a chapter, so you already write in chapters naturally. It's all about balance when you condense those chapters.

T.J. May · 06-26-2006, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quones

\Disclaimer: I don't know if anyone else did it first, but certainly not on the same scale.

Every single issue is a chapter, so you already write in chapters naturally. It's all about balance when you condense those chapters.

Yes, many people did it first. It's just that they were in Japan ad most of us Americans never heard of them. So, Tarantino was fresh to the US scene, but not the global.

As for chapters, check out some of Allan Moore's stuff. Not sure if he used Chapters in the original monthlies, but he uses them in some of his Trades and GNs.

Dave Reynolds · 06-26-2006, 11:18 PM

Early issues of the Batman Adventures did this too. I actually thought it was kind of clever... About every eight pages, they'd have a chapter or an "Act Break", set up like the cartoon show was. And they were usually kind of fun and clever. Of course in a 22 page story, it served no other purpose than style, but it was still fun... Which at the height of "Knightquest" was a welcomed relief.

SDulaney · 06-27-2006, 09:50 AM

If you look back at a lot of Kirby's 70's work (mostly the Post-New Gods DC material) he did a lot of chapter/act breaks. THe ATLAS one shot and his JUSTICE INC. issues are great examples as are the KAMANDI issues before he returned to Marvel. Not sure if it was a stylistic choice, habit going back to his days when he and Simon were packaging anthology material or just something that developed as he tried to stay interested in the material he had to knock out due to his contract.

jimmycakes · 06-28-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Reynolds

Early issues of the Batman Adventures did this too. I actually thought it was kind of clever... About every eight pages, they'd have a chapter or an "Act Break", set up like the cartoon show was. And they were usually kind of fun and clever. Of course in a 22 page story, it served no other purpose than style, but it was still fun... Which at the height of "Knightquest" was a welcomed relief.

Yeah, I dug the Batman Adventure breaks as well.

Make anything fun or interesting and it will work.

Scott Story · 06-28-2006, 03:52 PM

Chris Priest used to do this sort of chapter thing in Black Panther.

Boy · 06-28-2006, 04:15 PM

Fables by Bill Willingham uses it from time to time. Though I don't think it serves any function what so ever most of the time.

06-25-2006, 07:36 PM	#1
Lovecraft13 Diabeetus! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Our House Posts: 6,763	Comics with several chapters per issue This question is for the comic book savvy. Are there a lot of comic books on the market today that use chapters within their issues as a story-telling device? Also, if you read any, did the method work for you, or would you prefer a linear method? I ask because I'm currently writing a six-issue miniseries that has about two or three chapters per book, and each chapter is treated like its own self-contained story in one larger plot. __________________ The "Abigail & Rox" series is available exclusively for download on the iTunes Store, and come visit us on Facebook. Last edited by Lovecraft13; 06-25-2006 at 07:42 PM.

06-25-2006, 08:26 PM	#5
L Jamal member of G.R.O.S.S. Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: right here Posts: 10,574	Outside one shots you usually don't see the multiple chapters in a single issues, but I wouldn't let that stop me from doing it. Most comics don't bother to finish a story in one issue, but that doens't mean it shouldn't or can't be done. __________________ L Jámal Walton UNGOODWISE \| MY BLOG \| SELF-PUBLISHING COMICS

06-28-2006, 03:52 PM	#11
Scott Story www.johnnysaturn.com Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,213	Chris Priest used to do this sort of chapter thing in Black Panther. __________________ Johnny Saturn Website \| Scott Story Portfolio \| Myspace Our Book

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06-25-2006, 08:04 PM	#2
Icaruss The Masked Avenger Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peru. And I'm not freaking kidding. Posts: 185	There aren't a lot of comic-books who use several chapters within a single issue, except if you're talking about your 80 pages long specials. I think the reason for this is that it's easier for the reader to take on each issue as a chapter. I wouldn't mind having several chapters in an issue that's 50 pages long, but it starts to be kinda annoying if there's a new one every eight pages. What if your reader doesn't care about the characters introduced on chapter two? They would want to get to see what's happening to the character they liked in the first place, the one that got them to buy the story. Or worse, what if your reader doesn't like the things happening in Chapter 3, and what's to see how the situation introduced in Chapter 1 is holding out? You gotta make sure you keep every chapter, in every book, interesting for everyone. And that's tough. You can do it though.

06-26-2006, 08:16 AM	#6
JamieRoberts Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 3,689	There's a way to make everything work, you've just got to work hard enough to nail it. I mean (OK, this is a movie, but) Pulp Fiction, on paper, would have been a bit of a risk but Tarantino made it not only work, but kinda kicked off a whole new way of storytelling. Disclaimer: I don't know if anyone else did it first, but certainly not on the same scale. Every single issue is a chapter, so you already write in chapters naturally. It's all about balance when you condense those chapters.

06-26-2006, 11:18 PM	#8
Dave Reynolds Art dork Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 140	Early issues of the Batman Adventures did this too. I actually thought it was kind of clever... About every eight pages, they'd have a chapter or an "Act Break", set up like the cartoon show was. And they were usually kind of fun and clever. Of course in a 22 page story, it served no other purpose than style, but it was still fun... Which at the height of "Knightquest" was a welcomed relief.

06-27-2006, 09:50 AM	#9
SDulaney Pythonist (reform) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The studios of ESPN 106.7 Posts: 2,265	If you look back at a lot of Kirby's 70's work (mostly the Post-New Gods DC material) he did a lot of chapter/act breaks. THe ATLAS one shot and his JUSTICE INC. issues are great examples as are the KAMANDI issues before he returned to Marvel. Not sure if it was a stylistic choice, habit going back to his days when he and Simon were packaging anthology material or just something that developed as he tried to stay interested in the material he had to knock out due to his contract.

06-28-2006, 04:15 PM	#12
Boy TheUltimateDeuxExMachina Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Over there, by the big X. Posts: 3,879	Fables by Bill Willingham uses it from time to time. Though I don't think it serves any function what so ever most of the time.