Computer Comic Front Cover example

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Media Studies Assignment 1 Comic Coursework Brief and Front cover checklist

 Comic Brief

You are a designer working for The Island Publishing House (IP) who is planning to launch a new comic. 

The marketing department has identified a gap in the market for a new weekly comic .  At IP we have a policy of trying to educate our readers without making it too obvious.  We are committed to helping kids adopt a healthier and safer lifestyle so part of your job will be to come up with suggestions for characters and storylines as well as a name for the new comic, that will help promote this message without being boring. Try to reflect a multicultural society.

We want some original characters with a rebellious streak.  We want to create characters that youngsters are going to identify with, going back to the days of British comics like Minnie the Minx and Denis the Menace or a superhero for a new generation. This is not going to be an easy task, but make sure your response reflect this! Hand in all work by 10am Thursday 13^th February 2014.

Ms C Lyons (The Editor)

Email - clyons@ip.co.uk

 

Task 1 A   Produce a front cover for a new comic and create one or two character profiles.

Ensure that your comic has the following
 

• Title &  Selling Line (optional)
• The puff / buzz word e.g. The best, the biggest, new, mega
• The cover lines (information like a newspaper headline that tells you what is inside the comic brief but enigmatic)
• The freebie/competition - choice of freebie in relation to audience e.g. colour pencils for primary
• Style of font /logo - Title should be a unique font
• Price, barcode, date
• Main image (and insert images) optional

 

 

Homework - Complete front cover of comic and evaluation

You are required to complete the front cover and evaluation letter/ email by last lesson next week. Wed 5th /Thu 6th March.  During the lessons next week we will complete the comic deconstructions.                                                                                                                                      

• Evaluation – Email the Editor of The Island Publishing House to convince her that your ideas will work, use words like audience, representation, conventions, stereotypes, connotations, genre. 

·         Define your audience age range and gender and how they would be targeted. (pre-school (3 - 6), primary audiences (7 – 11), and teens (12 – 15). ) and consider possible secondary audiences.

·         Write how and why the product might be consumed (read) – refer to your pre-production tasks on why children like comics and superheroes traits, gender stereotypes and the Uses and Gratifications Theory.

·         Select several features that appear on the front cover e.g. (free gifts, websites, competitions, stories) that would be included in the comic and explain how they would attract the audience.

·         Explain how your suggestions are in line with the brief and how this new comic will be different and appeal to today’s audience? (think about interactivity websites etc. and how the Dandy changed to reflect changes in children’s interests)

200 words

Example comic assignment front cover, character profile & evaluation

 

Writing a letter - beginning and endings

You have the option of writing your evaluation to Ms C Lyons as either an email or a letter

When the recipient’s name is unknown to you:
Dear Sir or Madam … Yours faithfully

When you know the recipient’s name:
Dear Ms Lyons… Yours sincerely

Please note only the first letter is a capital Yours faithfully and Yours sincerely

Kraze Club deconstruction example

Title Kraze Club                                                                                                                                                        The font style is like crazy paving which visually represents the title.  The title is misspelt to suggesting it is trendy and cool and is a pun - which suggests this is the best (comic) at the moment to be into (craze) or the name suggests that it is a bit whacky and fun (crazy). The colour of the title is orange on a purple background which connotates fun and adventure suggesting that is what the audience will have if they read this comic the purple is a colour which suggest mystery perhaps there will surprises in store for the audience inside the comic .  The word club in the title suggests you’ll be part of a team who all enjoy this comic and with give you something in common with others. (Personal Relationships Uses and Gratifications)

Selling Line The UK’s Biggest – Selling Magazine for Kids                                                                              Uses informal language in addressing the ‘kids’  the words are all in capitals and use an outline to make them stand out the puff ‘Biggest’ suggests this must be the best and that they don’t read it they will miss out what everyone else is reading

Main Image                                                                                                                                                                Three characters  are the same size which suggests they are all equally important and their close proximity to each other suggest they are a team ( perhaps the audience can be part of that team) they have different hairstyles, facial expressions, and are dressed in different primary colours which suggest they have different personalities, this may allow the audience to identify (Uses and Gratifications) with at least one of the characters.

Main Coverline                                                                                                                                                            Is bigger than the others and is directly under the main image anchoring the meaning of the image ‘Brand New’ and ‘Meet the next generation!’ suggests to the audience that this is something they don’t - but should know about. Asking the audience to ‘Meet’ is a direct mode of address which is backed up by the main characters who all look out directly at the audience. The middle character seems to be showing the audience a card but it is hidden by the text again creating an enigma . (Barthes)

Buzz /Puff words                                                                                                                                                                Stand out in colour boxes in the secondary coverlines in order to  grab the audiences attention ‘Revealed’ and ‘Exclusive’ and ‘Unmissable!’ persuasive  language all suggesting - you must read this comic or miss out. 

Mega Giveaway                                                                                                                                                          A freebie is always a draw on the front cover but here it is a ‘mega’ giveaway inside this suggest that it is bigger and better than any other freebie –  to tease the audience so that they want to buy the comic to find out what is being given away.

Target Audience                                                                                                                                                         I think the primary target audience for this comic is boys aged between 8 – 11 based on the preponderance  of characters that are male,  the stereotypically male sport – football and the more masculine blue background and active colour scheme used. The secondary audience is girls as the comic says ‘KIDS’ on the selling line.