• Translate
ADVENTURES

daily activities

NEXT DAY

Comics Crash Course

Comic Building Blocks

Comics are much more than drawings. Like a bicycle, they have many parts working in harmony. You have seen these parts in comics before, but probably never knew their names. For instance, what do you call those little bubbles that contain the words characters say? Understanding the parts of your comics and how to make them work in harmony will lead to better stories. By the end of the day, you'll be constructing comics like a pro!

DAY 3

what you’ll need

PRINT THIS PAGE

FOR PARENTS

Ask About Today

Can you name all the elements that make up a comic?

Dinner Discussion

What is one type of information that would be better conveyed by a comic than through words alone? (Example: how to make a paper airplane.)

Skip the Ads

Unfortunately, online videos often start with short advertisements. Remind your campers to click the "Skip" button as soon as they can to move ahead to the video.

explore

60-75 minutes

01

Behind the Scenes at DC Headquarters

YouTube thumbnail

Jett and Analei are back, and today they are taking us behind the scenes at DC headquarters to meet real-life comic artists and the people who bring comics to life through collectibles, toys and more.

Remember: Online videos often start with advertisements. (Annoying, we agree!) Click the "Skip" button as soon as you can to move ahead to the video.

02

Into the Gutter!

Ready to get into the "gutter"? Comics have a language all their own. In today's video with Jarrett, you'll learn the terms comic-making professionals use to discuss comics, such as "panel" and "balloon" along with "gutter." Jarrett says the true magic of comics resides in that gutter. Don't you want to know why?

03

Drawing Sound

YouTube thumbnail

Learn to draw sound effects (yup, you heard that right!) with That Other Jarrett. Plus, meet illustrator Shannon Wright and learn how to draw the main characters from her new graphic novel, Twins.

04

Seven Short Comics

Read each of these seven comics by author-illustrator Jarod Roselló, paying special attention to how he uses the various elements of comics to tell his stories (captions, speech balloons, sound effects, emanata, etc.).

05

Dear Justice League

How do superheroes answer the questions they get from kids? Does Aquaman smell... fishy? What was Wonder Woman's favorite subject in school? Find out in this preview of Dear Justice League.

create

45-60 minutes

01

Finish the Comic

Use these "Finish the Comic" sheets to begin to explore comics and comic-making. You can start by writing what you think should go in the blank speech balloons and panels. And when drawing, don't forget to use the drawing tools and techniques from Monday!

Share your work! We'd love to see it. Ask a parent to email a photo to us or share it on Instagram or Twitter by tagging @CampKinda.

02

Captain Caption

Find an old magazine. Flip through the pages and come up with captions, speech balloons, and thought balloons that you could add to the pictures! Here's one of the funniest we've seen.

(Just don't actually draw on any old family photos!)

Share your captions! We'd love to see your best one. Ask a parent to email a photo to us or share it on Instagram or Twitter by tagging @CampKinda.

move

15-30 minutes

01

Chopstick Challenge

People who spend a lot of time drawing have to have strong and nimble fingers and wrists. Grab a pair of pencils and, using the eraser ends like the tips of chopsticks, practice picking things up and carrying them.

You can turn this into a game, as well — set a variety of objects in one spot, and see how quickly you can transport them to another spot using your pencils!

PREVIOUS DAY NEXT DAY