Comic Book Transitions

Understanding Comics

Transitions

start

Overview

Type One: Moment to Moment

Type Two: Action to Action

Type Three: Subject to Subject

Type Four: Scene to Scene

Type Five Aspect to Aspect

Type Six: Non Sequitor

Practice Transitions

Moment to Moment Transitions

The most common type of transition typically.

• Moment to Moment Transitions
• Small progressions of time and space. Natural, chronological order. Typically of a single subject.
• Doesn't require a big leap of detective work to know what happened between panels.

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Moment to Moment Transitions

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Moment to Moment Transitions

Another Common Type

Action to Action Transitions

Action to Action: Focuses on the completion of an action by a single subject. Small progression of time, and typically only a small change in space as a result of the action. Doesn't "have to" show the start and end of an action. Often confused with moment to moment transitions.

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Action to Action Transitions

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Action to Action Transitions

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Action to Action Transitions

Moment to Moment

Action to Action

• Moment is natural things happening while the focus of the story may be on something else.
• Opening a door to leave while talking on the phone to your friend.

• Action is kind of central to the plot/subject of the panel.
• Like slamming a door to show you're mad about something.

Subject to Subject

Common. Especially during dialogue.

• Subject to Subject Transitions
• A change in focal points within the same space/scene/ location. Small progression of time, but no change in space.
• Camera cuts to a different focal point within the same conversation or action.
• Gives readers something new to look at.

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Subject to Subject Transitions

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Subject to Subject Transitions

Scene to Scene

02

01

Panel 2 - Tuesday Night. (May or may not be a new location).

Large leap in time. Panel 1 - Tuesday Morning

Panel 2 - Cut to a bank vault getting robbed by the Joker.

Large leap in space. Panel 1 - Wayne Manor

04

03

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Scene to Scene Transitions

Rare but important

Aspect to Aspect

Typically depicts multiple images/subjects in a frozen moment in time. It basically sets the tone or vibe of the scene. It's like snapshots of different angles of the same room at the same time.

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Aspect to Aspect Transitions

Non Sequitur: No relationship between panels. This does NOT occur very often, if ever.

Spoiler Alert: It NEVER Happens. There's always a relationship between panels.