Graphic novel: how do you show multiple voices inside one character's head?

[ChrisHoward]

What's the best way to graphically handle voices inside someone's head?

I'm working on a graphic novel project called Saltwater Witch. Info here: http://the0phrastus.typepad.com/saltwaterwitch/

There's an old king and queen inside my main character Kassandra's head. They talk to her, advise her, and constantly bicker with each other. These two ruled the Seaborn but there's a gap of a thousand years between their reigns, which also causes quite a bit of contention.

The problem is that there can be a whole conversation going on inside her head with different characters, and she's alone in a room. She talks to them--speaking aloud, they talk to her inside and only she can hear them. (Isn't that the way it always is with voices in your head?)

I've thought of using different kinds of thought balloons for each voice, using different fonts, colors, and I've just started to re-work some of the panels with a small cameo to designate which character is doing the "thinking."

Here's an example:

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Anyone have ideas on this, or preferences?

Thanks!

Chris Howard

[Abacus]

First, you see that trail of bubbles to the main thought bubble? Nix them. I would use them only in the case of the main character's independent thought. As per the your old King and Queen, imagine them as disembodied voices that only the character can hear. Those are usually drawn as thought bubbles without a trail to any particular person, and look like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/theabacus/blah.jpg

(pardon my mouse-painting, the tablet was too far away, couldn't be bothered to get up)

As far as the difference between the king and queen - try different color fills for said bubbles, or fonts. If I had an evil vs. good thing going on, one would be rounder, blue, more scriptlike font while the evil would be red, more severe font with a more jagged bubble. Serif, all caps, small caps, sans serif - all of these could be useful things in making a character's tone appear unique.

Imagine a child speaking in full caps times new roman bold versus no caps comic sans (maybe a few characters reversed here and there)

[Mirana]

Abacus has covered it. The faces aren't a bad idea (and certainly are done) especially if the character has visuals of them in her mind...it would be interesting to see the expressions they have. If not, then text only is more appropriate.

[ChrisHoward]

Thank you, Abacus! This sounds perfect, going to try this tonight. I like the idea of putting faces/expressions to the characters, but it also might get crowded in a frame.

Chris

[Abacus]

Out of curiosity, what are you using to do your lettering? I've been using InDesign for my own graphic novel and my results are so far... weird.

[ChrisHoward]

I'm using Photoshop CS with separate layers for balloons, text, with all the art on the bottom layer. It's working for me so far, each page is 9x12 in. at 300dpi, and they're each coming out around 40Mb. For display, I flatten the image and resize to around 32% at 72dpi.

[RyerOrdStar]

InDesign is a good layout program. It's pretty much becoming the standard. What are you having trouble with?

[ChrisHoward]

Realized I didn't say anything about the lettering. I just use the WebLetterer font, think it came with the Manga Studio app I bought a while back. (Actually pretty cool software, but it didn't do anything more than I already have with CS).

[Ilaekae]

Seems like you already have some good answers. As something after the fact, I use a standard balloon for the character (speak or thought if needed), and treat the other balloons differently--same font, different shape/line style (dotted, slashed, radial lines), or sometimes I simply make the "ghost" balloon transparent but opaque enough to support the speech type. You can also do something as simple as using an Italic form of the font or a different color.

[OmenSpirits]

Read the current run of Deadpool from Marvel.

[Abacus]

InDesign is a good layout program. It's pretty much becoming the standard. What are you having trouble with?

Oh, I suspect that my issues have more to do with the fact that the last time I used InDesign, it was called Pagemaker - many changes to get used to. The trouble I'm having is that it only offers ellipses, rectangles, and... some third thing I haven't used as vector shapes. Thankfully my project doesn't have any thought bubbles...

[ChrisHoward]

Wow! Thanks everyone! I'm going to spend tonight trying out some of these suggestions, and then go with one. I really like your floating thought bubble idea, Abacus, and I'll probably go with that as it is--still want to see what it'll look like some font changes and bubble lines styles differences.

Awesome! Thanks OmenSpirits for the DeadPool suggest. That was my next question, some examples of multiple voices inside one character.

Chris

[RyerOrdStar]

Oh, I suspect that my issues have more to do with the fact that the last time I used InDesign, it was called Pagemaker - many changes to get used to. The trouble I'm having is that it only offers ellipses, rectangles, and... some third thing I haven't used as vector shapes. Thankfully my project doesn't have any thought bubbles...

Well you can always use the pen tool, it works the same as in Illustrator. Or you can make a standard bubble template and import it from Photoshop or Illustrator.
I like to think of Photoshop as a very up close program, Illustrator is one step back, and InDesign shows the whole picture. I often follow such a chain of command, placing PS files in IL then IL files in ID, so that i use ID as much more of a layout program than a creation program. Just moving different parts around and into their right places.

[rpace]

There are a number of ways to do this, though the thought balloon has kinda fallen by the wayside (even though Bendis has tried to bring it back in Mighty Avengers).

Frank Miller had really embraced the caption box as the thought balloon replacement and it's been SOP ever since.

All that you really have to consider is that it's within the tone of the work, reasonably clear what you're doing from the first use and you are consistant in application throughout.

Richard Starking's Comicraft put together a affordable little book that really covers most of what the newcomer to lettering needs to know.

And just because it served as a nice distraction from doing what I'm actually being paid to do, here's a few obvious options:

[OmenSpirits]

Also go for Neil Gaimen's Sandman series, it should be in TPB when he deals with his sister Dellusion. I believe she has multiple voices going on in her head.

:D

[ChrisHoward]

Thanks rpace! I need to dig into this a little more. I'd like to go with what's current and expected.

I did spend some time sketching and painting, and then goofed with a few different methods, one with a floating head over the bubble, with the bubble only, with a bubble that's sort of fuzzy, and last, a different font. I think I like the floating head one best, but I'm going to continue exploring what's out there--I'll check out Sandman.

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[Asatira]

If you want to use the floating head, use the head. However, I'd imagine there would be some frames where it would get too crowded for the use of the head, or it may through the visual flow off. I would suggest using either the more stylized bubble, the different text, or a combination of the two (sometimes, reinforcement is a good thing) and to use it consistently from the beginning, even if you're using the head. Get it so the reader can recognize immediately that this is when this other voice is speaking.

[ChrisHoward]

Thanks, Asatira! One thing's for sure, I had no idea there would be so many options. I completely agree that consistency is the thing I have to really strive for--and will probably be the most difficult part of this. I like the idea of the heads because I can do a lot with expressions, but I know you're right about running into layout and crowding problems.

[Zaxser]

http://www.sokutsu.com/IMG/jpg/Sakura-haruno.jpg

[ChrisHoward]

Thanks, Zaxser! That's why I like the floating head idea. I can do things with facial expressions that I can't with just a box or bubble. It's one thing to have dialogue between two characters, another to see them physically threatening each other, scowling, making fists. Adds a lot. It might get crowded. I'm going to try it anyway.

[Abacus]

Have you considered actually drawing the characters? They could physically interact with the main character and each other and still be only visible to her. If you did, then you could use normal speech bubbles (modified, perhaps, to emphasize their "ghostiness").

[ChrisHoward]

Thanks Abacus! That would work. I'd have to make it clear that no one else can hear them, but like you say, that can be handled with shading or making the characters and/or speech bubbles ghostly. I'm going to try this out. See what it looks like.

[waranghira]

the floating head sucks.
its either that ghost sakura, something else that's visually presentable like abacus' suggestion, or just stylized colored bubbles. (well you can show some panels just the bubbles, and special moments the visual representation)

but then again, why listen to people, your potential audience, if you really like your floating head.

[kev ferrara]

Make sure the way each character speaks is distinctive as well, not just visually through diff. balloon types and fonts, but through character traits, word choices, colloquial expressions, etc.

[ChrisHoward]

Thanks, kev! I've written all the dialogue, and I think I have character voice covered--hope so, anyway. I agree, that's as important as any font or balloon distinction.

[ChrisHoward]

Okay, after trying all kinds of interesting ways to do this--so many great ideas on this thread, I ended up coming back the simple thought bubble that's different from any others--unique to that individual inside character. Simple just worked better, easier to understand. There's only one instance of this so far, but I'd love some feedback.

Here's the link to Saltwater Witch, with the complete chapter 1 and the first six pages of chapter 2 online:
http://the0phrastus.typepad.com/saltwaterwitch

Here are a couple pages with a new voice in her head example (2nd panel below), but go read from the beginning to see what's really going on.

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[Asatira]

It definitely stands out quickly as different from hers. I might suggest something more rounded; squared and rectangeled bubbles tend to read as mechanical or as narration boxes. Final preference is yours, but it does get it across.

Also, be careful of using too large a bubble. You had them pretty well sized for the past page and a half, but the last two bubbles had a lot of space. With practice, you'll be able to tell how much space is just enough and doesn't look too big or too small for the content.

[Dadaist]

I've thought of using different kinds of thought balloons for each voice, using different fonts, colors, and I've just started to re-work some of the panels with a small cameo to designate which character is doing the "thinking."

I've never seen cameos used before. I think you should develop this idea because it's visually interesting.

[ChrisHoward]

Thanks, Asatira. I went back and looked at the varying sizes in bubbles. I have some clean up to do for these. I also need to bump the text size in the some of them--when there's shock or surprise. The WHAT! seems smaller than the reaction should be.

Thanks, Dadaist. I may come back to the cameo idea when there are several people in her head. I think it's interesting too, and maybe I can use them sparingly to establish a visual for the characters.