Lawrence Lindell: Blackward

Above is Page 15 from Blackward, Lawrence Lindell’s award-winning graphic novel out with Drawn and Quarterly.

Panel Breakdown

Panel 1: Everything is normal and the character (Lika) is enjoying her time texting with friends. The colors are all standard.

Panel 2: Lika is surprised by something she sees. The color starts to leave her face.

Panel 3: Lika’s Blackness is in question.

Panel 4: Lika is completely sucked of her melanin.

Panel 5: Lika is blue and the background is completely consumed by darkness.

Cartoonist’s thought process.

Lawrence: When I was working on this page, I knew I wanted color/the absence of color to play a huge role in the storytelling. In panel 2, Lika is already losing her melanin before anything is said because she has encountered these bullies before and knows what is about to come. In panel 3, the word balloons have teeth because the things they are saying to her bite. I also push the cartooning a bit to make the moment feel immature. Lika is drawn in a simpler style and the bullies are turned into monsters you might see a kid draw. Panel four is when the color shines through. Not only does the presence of blue indicate sadness and defeat, but the lack of color on Lika’s skin and clothes shows that something is missing or even has been taken away. In the last panel, Lika is completely blue and the panel background is in complete darkness.