Decompression (comics)
Encyclopedia
In comics
, decompression is a stylistic storytelling
choice characterized by a strong emphasis on visuals or character interaction, which, in turn, usually leads to slower-moving plots.
The style is often used with widescreen comics
.
Decompression is often claimed to be a result of the growing influence of manga
on the international comics scene. Manga, traditionally less expensive per page than American comics due to higher circulation and black and white printing, extensively uses decompression as a storytelling style. This style of storytelling which was influenced by film storyboarding was first popularized in manga by cartoonist Osamu Tezuka
with his 1947 manga Shin Takarajima (New Treaure Island). Tezuka's more "cinematic style" was so successful that it caught on with other cartoonists in Japan and eventually spread throughout the world with works such as Katsuhiro Otomo's
epic Akira
which was one of the first manga to become popular within the American comicbook community.
One of the first commercially successful American comics to use decompression as its dominant style was the first twelve issues of The Authority by Warren Ellis
and Bryan Hitch
. In the wake of that book's success, decompression was widely adopted across the American comics industry with varying degrees of success.
Many alternative American cartoonists make use of decompression, most notably those who are directly influenced by manga like Bryan Lee O'Malley
.
Some French comicbooks
use decompression as a storytelling technique. Most notable are artists associated with the Franco-Japanese La nouvelle manga
movement such as Frédéric Boilet
(Yukiko's Spinach) and Vanyada (The Building Opposite).
Dave McKean
's Cages
remains one of the finest example of the usage of decompression, with its extensive use of this style. Spanning more than 500 pages, Cages can be labelled a "graphic epic," but the storyline focuses on a relatively short stretch of time.
. Many detractors accuse their writers of unnecessarily stretching out the page length of plots, thinning out the content per page in order to earn more sales and money for a limited amount of work. Defenders of the style claim that decompressed stories are not stretched out, but rich in character development and mood rather than plot progression. Some see the phenomenon as driven by the increasing popularity of trade paperbacks
, which typically collect an average of six comic book issues in a volume and thus provide a target length for stories to fit.
, and Brian Wood have each experimented with compressed storytelling. Ellis' series Fell
, Global Frequency
, and Planetary
each adhere to the format of single issue stories, and Nextwave
is told only in two issue arcs. Slott's stories in She-Hulk
and Thing
also maintain only one, two, or three issue story arcs, and his contribution to the 2005 edition of Amazing Fantasy
#15 use what he referred to as "hypercompressed" storytelling: 6 writers were given 8 pages each to premiere a new character, and Slott elected to tell four stories with his character, each one a mere two pages. Brian Wood's indie series Demo
and Local are all single-issue comics, in some cases with no recurring characters from one issue to the next, creating a true self-contained short story experience.
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
, decompression is a stylistic storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
choice characterized by a strong emphasis on visuals or character interaction, which, in turn, usually leads to slower-moving plots.
The style is often used with widescreen comics
Widescreen comics
Widescreen comics is a movement within the field of comic books named both for its very cinematic style and its tendency to use wide panels.Some widescreen comics, such as the New X-Men 2001 Annual, are published horizontally with the staples at the top....
.
History
Decompression developed a strong presence in mainstream American comic books in the 1990s and 2000s. Traditionally, American comics first appeared as anthologies featuring multiple short stories per issue, usually with different characters, which continued for decades in the back-up story pages. The done-in-one format prevailed for a long time eventually becoming seconded by open ended multiple-subplots that characterized the '70s and '80s in American comics.Decompression is often claimed to be a result of the growing influence of manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
on the international comics scene. Manga, traditionally less expensive per page than American comics due to higher circulation and black and white printing, extensively uses decompression as a storytelling style. This style of storytelling which was influenced by film storyboarding was first popularized in manga by cartoonist Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka
was a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
with his 1947 manga Shin Takarajima (New Treaure Island). Tezuka's more "cinematic style" was so successful that it caught on with other cartoonists in Japan and eventually spread throughout the world with works such as Katsuhiro Otomo's
Katsuhiro Otomo
is a Japanese comic book creator, screenwriter and film director. He is best known as the creator of the manga Akira and its animated film adaptation. Otomo has also directed several live-action films, such as the 2006 feature film adaptation of the manga Mushishi.-Biography:Katsuhiro Otomo was...
epic Akira
Akira (manga)
is a manga series by Katsuhiro Otomo. Set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, the work uses conventions of the cyberpunk genre to detail a saga of turmoil. Initially serialized in the pages of Young Magazine from 1982 until 1990, the work was collected in six volumes by Japanese publisher Kodansha...
which was one of the first manga to become popular within the American comicbook community.
One of the first commercially successful American comics to use decompression as its dominant style was the first twelve issues of The Authority by Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
and Bryan Hitch
Bryan Hitch
Bryan Hitch is a British comic book artist. Hitch began his career in the United Kingdom for Marvel UK, working on titles such as Action Force and Death's Head, before gaining prominence on American titles such as Wildstorm's Stormwatch and The Authority, DC Comics titles such as JLA, and Marvel...
. In the wake of that book's success, decompression was widely adopted across the American comics industry with varying degrees of success.
Many alternative American cartoonists make use of decompression, most notably those who are directly influenced by manga like Bryan Lee O'Malley
Bryan Lee O'Malley
Bryan Lee O'Malley is a Canadian cartoonist. He is best known for the Scott Pilgrim series, but is also a musician using the alias Kupek.-Career:...
.
Some French comicbooks
Franco-Belgian comics
Franco-Belgian comics are comics that are created in Belgium and France. These countries have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are known as BDs, an abbreviation of bande dessinée in French and stripverhalen in Dutch...
use decompression as a storytelling technique. Most notable are artists associated with the Franco-Japanese La nouvelle manga
La nouvelle manga
Nouvelle Manga is an artistic movement which gathers Franco-Belgian and Japanese comic creators together. The expression was first used by Kiyoshi Kusumi, editor of the Japanese manga magazine Comickers, in referring to the work of French expatriate Frédéric Boilet, who lived in Japan for much of...
movement such as Frédéric Boilet
Frédéric Boilet
Frédéric Boilet is a French cartoonist and a manga artist.-Biography:Frédéric Boilet's debut in comic art was in 1983 with La Nuit des Archées....
(Yukiko's Spinach) and Vanyada (The Building Opposite).
Dave McKean
Dave McKean
David McKean is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician....
's Cages
Cages (comic series)
Cages is a ten-issue comic book limited series by Dave McKean between 1990 and 1996, later collected as a single volume.Cages is a story about artists, belief, creativity and cats, illustrated in a stripped-down pen and ink style influenced by José Muñoz and Lorenzo Mattotti.-Publication...
remains one of the finest example of the usage of decompression, with its extensive use of this style. Spanning more than 500 pages, Cages can be labelled a "graphic epic," but the storyline focuses on a relatively short stretch of time.
Criticism
Decompressed stories have been the cause of considerable controversy and debate amongst the American comics fandomFandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
. Many detractors accuse their writers of unnecessarily stretching out the page length of plots, thinning out the content per page in order to earn more sales and money for a limited amount of work. Defenders of the style claim that decompressed stories are not stretched out, but rich in character development and mood rather than plot progression. Some see the phenomenon as driven by the increasing popularity of trade paperbacks
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
, which typically collect an average of six comic book issues in a volume and thus provide a target length for stories to fit.
Compression
In response to criticism of the widespread use of decompression in mainstream American comics, writers Warren Ellis, Dan SlottDan Slott
Dan Slott is an American comic book writer best known for The Amazing Spider-Man, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and She-Hulk. He is the current writer of the twice monthly The Amazing Spider-Man.-Early writing:...
, and Brian Wood have each experimented with compressed storytelling. Ellis' series Fell
Fell (comics)
Fell is an American comic book, written by Warren Ellis, illustrated by Ben Templesmith, and published by Image Comics. It began publication in 2005, and has been on hiatus since 2008...
, Global Frequency
Global Frequency
Global Frequency is an American comic book limited series published by Wildstorm Productions, created and written by Warren Ellis.It is a science fiction series set in the present day, consisting of single-issue, standalone stories. The series of twelve issues was published between October 2002 and...
, and Planetary
Planetary (comics)
Planetary is an American comic book limited series created by writer Warren Ellis and artist John Cassaday published by the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics...
each adhere to the format of single issue stories, and Nextwave
Nextwave
Nextwave is a comic book series by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen, published by Marvel Comics between 2006 and 2007.-Concept:The series was written exclusively in two-issue story arcs, a choice deliberately bucking the trend in modern American comics toward decompression...
is told only in two issue arcs. Slott's stories in She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
and Thing
Thing (comics)
The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
also maintain only one, two, or three issue story arcs, and his contribution to the 2005 edition of Amazing Fantasy
Amazing Fantasy
Amazing Fantasy is an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics from 1961 through 1962, and revived in 1995 and in the 2000s. It is best known as the title that introduced the popular superhero character Spider-Man in 1962...
#15 use what he referred to as "hypercompressed" storytelling: 6 writers were given 8 pages each to premiere a new character, and Slott elected to tell four stories with his character, each one a mere two pages. Brian Wood's indie series Demo
Demo (comics)
Demo is a twelve-issue limited series of comic books by writer Brian Wood and artist Becky Cloonan, published from 2003–2004 by AiT/Planet Lar. Each issue is an isolated story, but they all revolve around the lives of young people...
and Local are all single-issue comics, in some cases with no recurring characters from one issue to the next, creating a true self-contained short story experience.
External links
- Cutting Costs III: Clarifying Decompression
- Stuart Moore's A Thousand Flowers: Compression, Decompression
- Decompression Chamber
- Boilet's discussion on Nouvelle Manga - information on manga influence in the Franco-Belgian comics market
- http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004888595.cfm Keith GiffenKeith GiffenKeith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
vs decompression