This document provides guidance on creating an effective graphic novel cover page. It discusses key elements that make a great cover such as engaging the audience, showing part of the story through the protagonist, and creating intrigue. It also describes typical cover styles like depicting a good vs. evil confrontation, showing the heroic protagonist in action, or portraying the protagonist in an unusual situation. Finally, it outlines criteria for a good cover such as involving the audience, telling a story through composition and design, arousing curiosity through an intriguing situation, depicting some element of conflict, and immediately conveying the basis of the story through impact.

1. Creating a graphic
novel front page

2. Learning Aims
• MUST be able to create cover art for your graphic novel
• SHOULD be able to create a cover that reflects your story
• COULD create a professional cover

3. What makes a great cover? Discuss
• Should engage the audience
• Should tell part of the story
• Protagonist on the cover
• Creates intrigue
• Great typography
It sells the comic to the audience.

4. Typical Graphic novel / comic book front pages
Good Versus Evil Heroic Pose Unusual Situation

5. Good Versus Evil
• A single powerful image of protagonist
Vs antagonist
• Very typical and often seen, possibly
easiest to hint as the purpose of your
graphic novel.
• Usually takes place in an interesting
location

6. Heroic Pose
• The main character is posed with some
attitude
• Often leaping towards the audience, or
standing with strength
• Another typical comic cover but less
effective for selling the story of the comic.
• Great for returning audiences who might
want to read about the character.

7. Unusual situation
• The hero is shown in some unlikely
situation
• The aim to stimulate the customers
curiosity
• This could be a threatening situation, a
comedy situation, etc.

8. Mood Covers
Threatening Pinup
Nove
lty
MontageNovelty

9. Criteria for a good cover?
• It has to make the audience want to pick up the graphic novel

10. Involvement
• The audience must feel like they are part of
the action.
• The use of composition lighting and colour
can help focus the reader on certain parts of
the cover.

11. Design
• The design must be immediately intriguing
• You should tell a story in one image
• This could be told through character poses
and actions, dialogue (although not
typically on a cover), the location and
background, or a facial expression.

12. Curiosity
• The situation should pose a
question in the customers mind
• It should encourage them to read
more and resolve their questions by
reading the graphic novel.

13. Conflict
• The essence of drama is in conflict
• Your cover should pose some element of
conflict from your story.

14. Danger
• Danger might not be the same as conflict,
it can be mortal or social.
• The hero might be hanging from a ledge
or about to have his secrets revealed.

15. Impact
• The reader should understand the
basis of the story instantly from the
cover.
• The impact is lost if the audience have
to wade through 75 pages to find out
what is going on..

16. Cover line
• A great cover doesn’t need a cover line
but it can help intrigue your audience.
• A terrific and appropriate phrase can
enhance your cover.