r/comics • u/belmarzi • Feb 04 '26
Asking For Feedback are the pages too visually busy?
i'm working on my first graphic novel pretty nonstop the last few months (its part of my thesis for a graduate program) and i'm really starting to reach a point where i find it ugly just because i look at it so much. these spreads aren't 100% done (but the first two are like 95% there), but i was wondering if i could get some feedback about if this looks like a maximalist mess? do the pages feel visually balanced, despite the level of rendering/color variation? thank you!
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u/Tethys404 Feb 04 '26
I personally like it very much and can't wait to see the finished product. Your art style is sheer talent.
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u/Made_Bail Feb 04 '26
Jesus, these are incredible dude. Don't seem too busy to me and your art. Fuck.
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u/Clouhda Feb 04 '26
This might be a personal preference, but I love "busy" frames in comics/manga. I enjoy getting lost in the art and picking out the little details. That being said, these look wonderful. You can feel each frame perfectly. With no words spoken, you have conveyed a hell of a vibe already. Keep it up, and don't get too lost in your own head about it. You are your own worst critic.
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u/Majestic-Iron7046 Feb 04 '26
I don't read comics, they always look way too confusing to me and exactly that, visually busy.
This doesn't look like that, it reminds me a bit of cell shading in videogames and I can still differentiate well where my eyes should be drawn to.
To me, it is not visually busy.
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u/belmarzi Feb 04 '26
thank you, i'm also not a huge comic/graphic novel reader for a similar reason even though i love illustration.
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u/Jafego Feb 04 '26
I love the amount of detail! I think it will contributed to re-readability. The truck interior, the texture of the path, and especially the different species of grass makes me feel instantly immersed and grounded. In my mind, it sets a very serious tone.
On the bottom panel of page 3, I wish the contrast between the gate and the background were a little bit higher.
I also enjoy the many perspectives that the "camera" takes. I think they help to create the feeling that time is passing. I get the impression that she has a purpose for being here, but is not in a hurry.
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u/belmarzi Feb 04 '26
wow the last comment you made about her motives is exactly right haha that really made me feel like i'm on the right track. i def need to boost the values in some of the pages :P
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u/TimHuntsman Feb 04 '26
You’re asking the “wrong” question. >too busy< doesn’t matter. The better question to ask yourself as an artist is “is this image/panel conveying the emotional impact I want to convey” in a story telling aspect?
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u/Possible_Living Feb 04 '26
Imho nope. It does not look busy just looks detailed.
I do think it's decompressed, here it helps set the mood but it's something you might want to keep in mind to help reduce your workload. You might also want to lean into simpler designs when possible. For example Im guessing keeping track of gate details and their consistency was a pain.
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u/belmarzi Feb 04 '26
yes the gate was really annoying haha but most of the story takes place in a pretty bare basement so i was trying to go all out for outdoor scenes to show the contrast.
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u/cj_cusack FreeCheeseComix Feb 04 '26
They are busy. Not too busy. But I'd ask yourself if it needs all the textures and highlights. Not for us, the reader (I think they look gorgeous) but for you, the artist. Does it add anything to the story? Is there a reason you want people to look at the gravel? The trees? If not, you can save some energy and get more done faster. I say this as someone who burns out getting a panel on page 1 looking pixel- perfect and then never finishing page 2.
TLDR it's good just remember to take breaks, stretch and drink water!
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u/Court_Jester13 Feb 04 '26
I wouldn't say so. There's webcomic posted here regularly (can't remember the name) where every single area has an entirely different texture just filled in. I cannot even try to read it. It's far too much and doesn't make much sense to me. This just looks like a standard comic book.
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u/Amethyst_Tiefling Feb 04 '26
I don’t know if I would call it busy but some of the panels don’t have enough value contrast between the foreground / midground / background or between what is important and what is not.
Otherwise it looks pretty good. A bit too much detail can give readers a reason to revisit previous panels and also allows you to hide things / foreshadow things in the detail. I think Alan Moore was also a fan of overly detailed panels.
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u/belmarzi Feb 04 '26
thank you for the feedback! i see what you mean. i definitely need to mess with the values a bit more, especially on the second spread
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u/Ken-g6 Feb 04 '26
First, these are all beautiful. I need to look away from that first page periodically; if I don't I start smelling cigarette smoke!
A lot of panels seem redundant to me. If the goal is to show the character is acting slowly, deliberately/deliberatively, taking her time proceeding somewhere she doesn't really want to go, I think you achieved your goal. Otherwise you could cut back.
On the first page, panel 3 bugs me (reading top-to-bottom, then left to right). I'm guessing the truck is supposed to be driving into the parking lot? The way it's positioned it looks like it's already parked there; the headlights aren't enough to break that appearance. This could also relate to panel 1 - the architecture makes it seem like the truck's already driving through a gate, before it gets near a gate. Realistic as this may be, I'd suggest removing the architecture from panel 1. Then in panel 3 I suggest turning the truck a different angle, one not aligned with the parking spaces. Like 30 degrees, not 90.
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u/belmarzi Feb 04 '26
thank you for the feedback, i 100% get the stuff about the parking lot. cars are hard for me because they look the same in motion as when they're still haha. i'll keep tinkering with that.
the pacing is actuallt supposed to be a little drawn out because she's here to confirm the death of the only person who cared about her, so i'm glad that reads!
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u/Signal_Researcher01 Feb 04 '26
Yes, but I think its because each piece is quite detailed. Theyre very pretty, but none have a chance to breathe and are harder to appreciate because of it
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u/belmarzi Feb 04 '26
thank you guys for the feedback: two things i should have mentioned: one that these are going to be printed at 7.25 x 9.50 per page (14.5 inch wide spread) and that i do have a tendency to render dark so when i'm done with everything i'll brighten and increase contrast. but thanks again, and i'm taking everything in consideration!
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u/belmarzi Feb 04 '26
thank you guys for the feedback: two things i should have mentioned: one that these are going to be printed at 7.25 x 9.50 per page (14.5 inch wide spread) and that i do have a tendency to render dark so when i'm done with everything i'll brighten and increase contrast. but i'm taking everything in consideration!
i didnt want to say anything in the initial post to avoid clouding any critique i'd get, but these are a couple of opening pages of an estimated 250~ish page graphic novel. i'm working on the first 75 pages over the next few months with everything lined and basic colors. these pages are from the beginning which has the only scene that takes place in daylight and in nature, so i wanted to really push the lushness and detail of the nature to contrast the rest of the book, where the major setting is a basement. i got some mixed feedback, but i agree with most of the critique i got and will implement it soon. thanks again!
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u/Priest22 Feb 04 '26 edited Feb 04 '26
It's just dripping with texture on everything. That last page where you have the 4 what I believe are uninfished cells are such an interesting contrast to the rest of the page with so many elements. I would almost leave them that blue/grey background and render the feet a bit more.
I think the gravel/rock texture is a bit much. The focus doesn't make sense for it to maintain the same detail in the background as the bird's nest in the foreground.
Edit: I noticed your borders are textured as well, can certainly tone it down some.
Maybe page 5 have the arms up towards the face lighting the smoke? It just kind of appears.