Do you like when comics have no text?

Sometimes comics will go a whole issue without a word being said. What are your thoughts on these comics?

I hate them very much. Its a comic book. It needs to have words. That's one of my problem with detective comics, there's no dialogue from inside Batman's mind. And that's not even having no words at all like you described in the OP.

There're instances in comics where you don't need text to understand what's going on, and it actually makes it better with few or not words. Example A. when Rachael Summers and young Jean Grey first meet in All New X Men

This was perfect and I laughed a lot when I first saw it.

I usually hate it, but that's largely because it's rarely done properly.

The aftermath of Ultimatum in Ultimate Spider-Man I felt did a great job telling the story without words.

I don't like it unless it's done right. I don't mind having little speak though.

It's cool sometimes. Comic books have great artists and can tell stories without too many words. It's funny because many of the classic comics until the eighties had too many thought bubbles overexplaining exactly what you could see yourself.

Yes, and no. I love being able to just see an assortment of pictures without reading a single word and instantly know whats going on, but I love me some witty dialogue.

This depends greatly on the tone, artist, and the situation being portrayed.

Sometimes a picture's worth a thousand words.

I personally love it.... That is hardest part about being a comic artist. To tell a story with out words. I dare you to try it......

No thank you. I have yet to see it done well for more than a few pages.

I like We3, if that answers your question - I just wish it had better art.

I don't think it's happened to me yet, at least not a full issue.

But the art carried that book.

BB

No, a comic is supposed to tell a story with pictures. They don't have to have words in them.

Read better comics.

BB

I know. The art did a good job of conveying the story; I just thought that a better artist could have been used. I'm just not a fan of the art style, but I appreciate the art utilization.

The original silent story in an issue of GI Joe, way back last century was pretty good. They made it all about Snake Eyes rescuing Scarlet from a Cobra stronghold, and because it was all told from Snake Eyes' perspective it didn't have any dialogue. (Snake Eyes is mute for those who don't know)

I've read The Amazing Spider-Man, New 52 Batman, Justice League, Guardians of The Galaxy, Ultimate Spider-Man and comics of all sort, although, primarily, it's Spidey. I've never read a single comic empty of text - although I can concede the issues from people who haven't and, personally, I mightn't enjoy such a comic book - although if the art is darn good, conveys the narrative well enough and it fits the tone and atmosphere well - that's cool, and in issue of that is fine - anything more, I wouldn't really like. I'm cool with a couple of pages filled with art only, though

- TAS

During fight scenes diouluge shouldnt need much text if any at all. Nobody stands there and has a long story during a fight especially if the opponent could be a potential threat.

Sometimes, they are a visual medium.

I reckon it can work well in specified issues if it fits into the context of what's going on, man...

- TAS

Don't think I have ever read an issue where there was no text at all and honestly, I don't know if I would like it that much, unless the art was strong enough to convey the emotions through the expressions and movements. But there where several textless segments that I have read and enjoyed quite a lot.

When the art is good enough and it tells the story well enough,then yes. But if you can't understand a single thing because of the artwork of a certain artist, then this isn;t a good book with a good story.

This, basically - it's kinda nice sometimes, I guess.

- TAS

I liked it with Batman and Robin #18

Depends on which characther and comicbook.

Marvel have a whole line of comics specifically around this idea 'Nuff Said issues. Where the premise is a story with no text/dialogue. Inspired by the aforementioned Larry Hama comic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #21. Many of those issue I adore. Many other comics/issues from other companies also use this to great effect. I still need to read Batman and Robin #18.

Oh yes. The System does it pretty well :)

I'll pick up a text free comic - I'd like to try one out sometime.

- TAS

@billy_batson: then its an art gallery and no longer a comic book.

One of my favorite issues is a text-less issue of Avengers during the Kang Dynasty storyline. It is a great issue that shows Kang destroying DC and there is nothing any of the heroes can do to stop it. I actually wrote a blog on it a long ways back that talks about it.

What are you on about? There are plenty of comics without words. Them being wordless doesn't make them any less of a comic.

BB

@billy_batson: if the entire issue doesn't have words that's a problem. Then its just pictures. Certain pages or scenes yes, but not the whole book.

It can work well when done right.

I think it works better if the writer builds up to that moment with text. Even then it's really only good for a couple of pages. Doing a whole book like that would be annoying.

I think in most cases, it shouldn't go on for more then a page. Then again, there's not a single word throughout the entirety of Gon and it worked amazingly. Though I think it only worked since everything in it is an animal and because the art was amazing, especial the facial expressions.

@skit:

Heh, I was thinking about Gon when I saw this thread.

What makes it a problem?

BB

Only after an emotional moment. It really lays heavy on the artist to do good character work if it's up to him to tell the story.

The writers still script the issues even without the dialogue.

BB

yea, cause I'm gonna have the script in front of me when I read the issue. You completely misunderstood my meaning there.

There is an issue of Amazing Spiderman after the Human Torch dies that has little or no text that did a good job of telling a story without words.

@billy_batson: you get less info

Not particularly

It requires something extra out of the artist to convey the thoughts and emotions words normally describe, which often (to my mind) has worked well either as sequences or as full issues:

Marjorie Liu/Phil Noto's final issue of X-23.

Morrison/Quietly's scene in New X-Men where Emma and Jean are rummaging around Cassandra Nova's head for Xavier (though it does feature a kind of emotes).

Wolfman/Perez doing Jericho, where Perez asked Wolfman not to even have thought bubbles for the mute Joey so he could have a challenge with making everything come through different expressions and the eyes.

Well for me comics is all about telling a story with art. Text or no the story is still there so I don't mind it.

@humanrocket said:

There're instances in comics where you don't need text to understand what's going on, and it actually makes it better with few or not words. Example A. when Rachael Summers and young Jean Grey first meet in All New X Men

This was perfect and I laughed a lot when I first saw it.

Yeah - it is pretty funny.

- TAS