Why comics?

If somebody says comics are useless and meant only for children and youths, you can calmly and with vigour argue why it’s clever to use comics in communication:

Why it's clever to use comics:

1. 

   With comics you can dramatise your message! A story is always stronger than a mere statement. With a story you leave it to the reader to make up his/her mind about the message in it.

   
   
2. 

   You can use both pictures and text, and add effects. One picture says more than a thousand words, but pictures and words combined, multiplies that.

   
   
3. 

   You increase reader interest - your message becomes lively.

   
   
4. 

   You can be technically very specific. You can show, rather than explain.

   
   
5. 

   Comics are low-tech compared to video and film.

   
   
6. 

   The reader can return to the story anytime.

   
   
7. 

   When made by local artists, the visual language and the meanings of the words are correct.

   
   
8. 

   You can deal with sensitive issues - comics are non-agressive.

   
   
9. 

   Humour makes life easier, people like stories.

   
   
10. 

    Drawing has a distinct human quality, it is more appealing than photographs.

    
    

Drawings by Katti Ka-Batembo (Tanzania) and Leif Packalen.

Related pages

Further reading

Think of comics as a communication medium, this will help you to see its true potential.

Read more

Frequently asked questions

Grassroots comics are a new phenomenon and we get the same questions almost everywhere.

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We are many

Short profiles and interviews with comics workshop tutors, participants, NGO activists, and media persons, etc., from different countries and backgrounds.

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World Comics Finland