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DeformedSunflower
Sep '17

So I'm actually planning on making a Sci-Fi comic, and it has a very complicated setting.

Most of the time, the characters will be having a conversation in their den about how the world works, and how to stop the world from ceasing to exist. It doesn't include a lot of adventure (e.g.running around defeating aliens or saving a damsel in distress) either, since the concept is more of a typical mystery story (for instance, a detective trying to solve a murder case)

And since we all know that continuous droning of scientific mumbo jumbo is boooring as hell, do any of you have advice for me to make the story more interesting, without skewing the concept too much?

Thank you in advance!

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    Sep '17

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    Sep '17
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Chopythes
Sep '17

You could have them walking around the place so that the viewers would be able to see what it looks like in their environment?
Just having the characters talk without much more is pretty boring to a reader (or at least to me).
You could also show a little bit about what the outside world looks like, while they're talking maybe?

Usually, I just think: What's the worst thing that could happen in this moment?
Would it work? How would the characters react? How would the characters react to the characters reactions?
If the worst thing wouldn't be able to happen, then what would?

DeformedSunflower
Sep '17

Thank you for your feedback!
Oh wow, I never actually thought of that! Yup, I'm definitely going to consider your advice when I write the story. Thanks a lot!

J.Lovelace
Sep '17

Definitely don't put a lot of text in one panel :U It discourages a lot of people from what I know, and some even skip over big chunks of text.

Also, whenever there's a chance, if the conversation between the characters goes on about someone important, about a place, device or a situation, you can add panels that show said person/place/situation/etc.
For example, characters talk about a high ranked general, so you can show a picture of him in the background, or in a whole new panel with the convo still going on in a text box.

DeformedSunflower
Sep '17

I definitely won't just plaster a slab of text in! XD Don't you find it annoying when people do that?
And showing the topic of conversation in the panels when they are talking sounds great! Thanks for your advice, will definitely consider it when drawing the comic.

J.Lovelace
Sep '17

It depends on the story, sometimes one can't avoid a wall of text (especially when it's easier to slap a few more sentences in a panel than draw 3 separate ones from scratch), so I really can't blame fellow creators for doing that :U

No prob, it's mostly done to break the monotony of multiple panels with just people talking, and it will make it easier for readers to connect images with the names/events :3

shazzbaa
Sep '17

Let's say you need to explain in more detail than "it's bad" why crossing the streams of the proton packs is bad, and it won't just fit into a couple of sentences because you really need the audience to understand exactly how it works. You could just have one character explain protonic reversal to another character, then when you realise "Oh no, this is just a page of technobabble talking heads!!" you add some nice illustrations of stream-crossing and protons in the background to make it TECHNICALLY not talking heads. Sometimes this is a good option!

But alternately, you could use this moment to also introduce some contrast between the characters. Perhaps one of them has always seen crossing the streams as a last resort -- yeah, obviously it's bad and usually you shouldn't do it, but maybe there's some situations where you have to close a portal or something, and knowing how exactly stream crossing works would be useful! The other character interrupts, adamant that that kind of thinking gets people killed -- no, crossing the streams is bad, it's always bad, under no circumstances should you do it and you CERTAINLY shouldn't teach our new team members how to do it. It's bad. Leave it at that.

In the second option, this scene is more than just exposition -- it is exposition about stream-crossing, but it's also Showing us something interesting about these characters and their attitudes towards life and problem-solving (and each other). In this version, it would actually probably be better to see the characters' faces, rather than an illustration of stream-crossing, so you can see their expressions and reactions to each other during the argument.
(this kind of thing can also be a great way to hide that you're expositing, which is nice for a mystery -- people can pick up on the world-building but don't feel like you're pointing a big flashing arrow saying THIS WILL BE KEY TO SOLVING THE MYSTERY LATER if the scene feels like it might be there more for character development reasons. )

I think if you have a story that has a lot of talking, the answer isn't always to hide the talking --sometimes it's better to make the talking parts dynamic and interesting and full of character. Situations where a character is hiding information can be incredibly tense. Situations where characters argue can be interesting or upsetting or funny. Even just a character yammering on and on about something can be played for laughs, or made into an endearing moment where a normally stoic character opens up about something they're genuinely interested in. Think about what else is (or could be!) happening in that moment other than just the exchange of scientific information!

Rhombik
Sep '17

Maybe show what they're imagining when they're talking?

tayo_rafferty
Sep '17

Considering the fact that you're planning on making this most of the story then you'll have to inject some kind Goal>Obstacle>Resolution into their conversations. As long as the audience empathise with the characters and understands what's at stake and there is some variant of Goal>Obstacle>Resolution you should be fine.

ISNEKO
Sep '17

Lots of good advice in here. The only thing I could come up with was "Have the characters show off their rock-hard abs while they talk for no reason."

I should stop coming into these threads.

Good luck with your comic!

DeformedSunflower
Sep '17
tayo_rafferty

That's right, I always had difficulties in knowing just what to include in the conversation! I often wonder if the conversation is even making sense. Thanks a lot!

catluckey
Sep '17

I gotta say this, but what keeps me interested is the character, their personality, something that's got them on edge, and something we can relate to.

Just don't have two heads discussing, but let there be conflict...whether character A is coming down with a cold, coughing...this annoys the other person. And let these characters show interesting traits...like rubbing their mouths, blinking too much, nervousness, talk too fast, very laughing carefree attitude.

Have something happen, like an accident, bad weather, people are protesting because of factory defaults...bring the "now" or what happens in the news into focus on that day they're having problems. Even someone in the office being ostracized. CONFLICT is the catch...it's second to romance.

I, personally, watch too much Korean drama...they really help to spice a boring day up.

catluckey
Sep '17
1

Okay, I just checked out your comic/artwork at DA and that little guy with big blue eyes is soooooooo CUTE! Your short jokes/comic strip has no problem with engaging a reader! Post him here, I'd soooo SUB!!! Oh, oh, the one with the Yellow Flower! Hahahaha...LOVED IT!!!!:heart:

With that and your sci-fi comic, you'll have more exposure here. What do ya think?

DeformedSunflower
Sep '17

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed them. Currently I'm focusing on my sci-fi comic, so I don't think I'll post them here yet. Maybe one day I will?

UbePie
Sep '17

Well if it's a mystery sci-fi why must you explain everything? Why not let it unfold?

My current webcomic is a mystery in a very mundane sci-fi setting, like the very near future. So it doesn't have fun sciency stuff but it does have some mystery. I have explained zero of it. The comic first just starts out with one over protective charater who feels the other is sensitive. But later through actions I show the character as the ability to read minds. I always think it is best to show not tell, and since you said there is a bit of mystery why not show a little at a time and have people wonder?

Like why say the world is ending and needs to be saved by doing X. Why not show it fall apart and have the reader wondering what is happening and what will they do?

Also think of how the characters act in this world? Is that stuff normal for them. It's normal for us to watch tv so i really would have no occasion to go into a lengthy explaination as to what TV is. And if I did it would be very casual.

Another example in this is, in my comic another character has a healing factor. Never mentioned this never explained it, just showed him surviving something a normal person wouldn't. The charcters reaction in not much. He is use to being able to do that. He litterly gets up and brushes it off. While another charcter is worried about him he asure him he will heal. He doesn't go into explantion that he has a healing factor or how he got it or even how it works.

If i need to drop clues or explain somthing complicated i use flash backs or other outside character to reveal something. Again it is a mystery let people wonder, and I will be happy to check out your comic once you come up with your approach.

jiany0u
Sep '17

I agree that you should only world-build when it's relevant to your story, and don't just drop lore for the sake of dropping lore. If there is no context for why the reader should care about the info, they will not care.