Clarification of Critique Categories
Comics are a visual medium that combines story and art to create a unique form of expression. There are many criteria that comics can be reviewed on. In thinking about how to review comics on this website I wanted to pick criteria which were more universal so that the reviews I worked on could be more consistent in quality and perspective. Thus the categories that I found online which seemed to be the best categories for review are as follows.
Story
This includes the plot, characters, dialogue, themes, tone, pacing, and originality of the comic. A good story should be engaging, coherent, consistent, and meaningful.
Example:
Art Spiegelman’s Maus is a masterful work that interlaces the harrowing account of his father’s survival during the Holocaust with the author’s own struggles to navigate the intergenerational trauma it left behind. Spiegelman portrays his father with unflinching honesty, neither idealizing nor vilifying him, but instead presenting a complex individual whose choices—both noble and flawed—reflect the desperate realities of survival under unimaginable circumstances. By depicting different cultural and ethnic groups as various animals, Spiegelman not only underscores the dehumanizing effects of racial and ethnic stereotyping but also forces readers to confront how superficial perceptions shape and perpetuate prejudice. The result is a deeply layered narrative that examines memory, guilt, and the lasting legacy of historical atrocity.
Art
This includes the style, quality, composition, coloring, shading, lighting, and lettering of the comic. A good art should be appealing, clear, dynamic, and expressive.
Example:
Frank King’s Gasoline Alley stands as one of the most visually and emotionally resonant newspaper comic strips in the history of the medium. King’s meticulously crafted backgrounds are never mere decoration; they enrich the atmosphere of each strip, subtly reinforcing its tone and emotional undercurrents. In the later stages of his career, King began experimenting with form and composition, engaging in a dialogue with the evolving artistic movements of his era. Gasoline Alley exemplifies how exceptional comics can expand the boundaries of the medium, challenging and redefining expectations of what comics can achieve both aesthetically and narratively.
Craft
This includes the technical aspects of the comic, such as the layout, panel transitions, page design, and visual storytelling. A good craft should be effective, innovative, and appropriate for the genre and format of the comic.
Example:
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen remains one of the most inventive and sophisticated explorations of the comics medium. The creators meticulously craft a narrative in which visual and thematic parallels echo throughout the story, reinforcing its complex layers of meaning. Moore further enriches the work by incorporating in-world prose materials—such as excerpts from memoirs, reports, and articles—immersing readers in the lived reality of the story’s universe. This metafictional approach extends to the inclusion of the Tales of the Black Freighter, an in-universe horror comic that serves as a dark allegory, reflecting and amplifying the moral decay and existential dread faced by the brightly costumed yet deeply flawed characters of the main narrative. Widely regarded as the definitive deconstruction of the superhero genre, Watchmen pushes the boundaries of what comics can achieve as literature and visual art.
Impact
This includes the emotional, intellectual, and cultural effects of the comic on the reader and the society. A good impact should be memorable, influential, and relevant.
Example:
Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home is a profoundly introspective autobiographical graphic memoir that invites readers into the intimate landscape of her coming-of-age and her complex family dynamics. Through its layered narrative, Bechdel weaves together themes of identity, sexuality, and the elusive nature of truth within memory. The work resonates emotionally, offering readers both the vulnerability of personal revelation and the universality of self-discovery. Intellectually, it engages with literature, history, and psychoanalytic theory, deepening the reader’s understanding of how personal and cultural narratives intersect. Culturally, Fun Home has been a landmark in expanding the visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ voices in literature, affirming the power of comics as a medium for deeply personal yet socially significant storytelling. Its impact lingers well beyond the page, sparking reflection and dialogue long after reading.