Three Comic Book Art Styles You Might Not Know

Written By Stephanie Broder

If you’re new to reading or making comics, you may be unaware of the massive variety of comic art styles you can find in this medium.

My students often worry that they may not be skilled enough at realistic representation or superhero comic exaggeration to make comics. But not all comics look alike, and, in fact, the most exciting ones often look little like what you’d expect if you still think of comics as synonymous with superheroes!

Allie Brosh’s MS Paint-chic

Comic artist Allie Brosh started her book Hyberole and a Half as a blog accompanied by charmingly childish digital illustrations that look like they were made with a mouse and MS Paint. Simon and Schuster’s Touchstone imprint published a collection of her stories in 2013 and the book won the Goodreads Choice award for humour that same year. I always use Brosh’s work as an example of how comic art doesn’t have to be complicated or sophisticated to communicate a story still. And, in this case, the style adds to the humour!

Raina Telgemeier’s Middle-Grade Genre Launcher

When middle-grade graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier published her comic Smile in 2010, it was the dawn of the current boom in comics for young readers. Telgemeier published with Scholastic Graphix imprint, a comic-focused division of the young-reader publisher. But since this time, every major publishing house has launched graphic novel imprints and there’s been a huge pivot toward middle-grade and young reader comic books. Telgemeier is also multi-award winning, including the Eisner (the Oscars of comics). Telgemeier’s art style is defined by exaggerated facial expressions and clean panels that read fast and keep young readers engaged.

Renee Nault’s Dreamy Watercolours in a Digital World

I first learned about Renee Nault at the local Vancouver Comic Art Festival many years ago when I picked up her short comic Witchling. Since that time, she worked with Margaret Atwood on the graphic novel adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale. In an increasingly digital comic-making world, where tools like Procreate or Clip Studio Paint put comic-making tools in everyone’s hands, being one of few artists still working traditionally is a calling card that sets Nault apart. Her comic book style is so visually distinct because of the dreamy, muted watercolours with pops of red (in both books!) that she immediately stands out on any shelf.

Scott McCloud remarked that comics are a medium, not a genre, and it’s equally important to remember that comic art style is not singular! Just like not all comic books are superhero stories (that’s a genre!), not all comics look like superhero stories.

Remember that whatever your art style, whatever way you stylize, there is a place for you in comics!

Stephanie Broder
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