| Dumb question of the day: when you read a panel, do you look at the image first or read the dialogue? I have often wondered about this, its stupid but there you go. Explain your method for reading manga. Do you always read the same way or do you mix it up, does it depend on what kind of manga you're reading? 99% of the time I read the speech bubbles before looking at the image, but sometimes when I'm feeling sexy and dangerous I look at the image first then read what characters are rambling about. |
"I'm starting to think mal is run by Xinil generating electricity on a bicycle." - idklol |
| I'm pretty sure that I usually look at the pictures first. Unless the text leads to the next panel sometimes. And I guess it depends on the manga, when there's no action going on, just talking, then you look at the dialogue first, but if it's all action and little talking you're going to be looking at the image. |
| Depends on what's emphasized in the panel. For example, if it's a one page image with a single speech bubble I'd probably notice the picture first. But if it's equal, text first. Not exactly sure why. |
| It takes effort and time to read something, where as a picture can be instantly understood. So I think that I notice the images first. Unless the working leads into the picture, then Id probably read the wording first. |
| I read the text first because I figure it will explain whats going on in the image, give it context. Plus if the dialogue is entertaining or exciting I have to read it immediately. Its like an OCD complex or something, I'm pulled towards the writing, even if like Plate says there's a gigantic image with a single speech bubble. |
"I'm starting to think mal is run by Xinil generating electricity on a bicycle." - idklol |
| I also think it depends. If it is a unique or large layout, the image will draw my attention. Otherwise, I go for text. I think it's hard-wired for me to do so. |
| I usually go for the dialogue first, and then focus on the picture. Like Cihan said, the dialogue gives the picture context and meaning. The only exceptions are those huge drawings with small bubbles. |
| [url]http://gunshowcomic.com/ac/[/url] |
| It really depends on the manga, doesn't it? If the pictures are bland, or if the story is overwhelmingly good, I read the text first. If the images are breathtakingly detailed (see Blame! or Appleseed their beautiful backgrounds), and I take a minute to admire it before I continue. |
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| I don't really know, I sort of take them both in. Although I do linger on some pages if the art is exceptional eg. CLAMP. |
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| I'd say it's definitely about the exposition and the flow of the manga preceding each page. At first I look at the images, but if the dialogue is hefty and broken up into large chunks, I'll read that to get the conversation out of the way and only take a sidelong glance at the words. Or, if the page drops off and dialogue as well as a page-wide image are on the next page (Bleach does this a lot), I'll look at the image first. My eyes will probably instinctively seek the largest, most attention grabbing thing, so naturally images are always registered, but for non-conversational bits, the eye just subconsciously slides past the images. Short answer: pretty pictures come before words :P |
| both in my opinion |
| I definitely read dialogue first; oftentimes I actually find myself (accidentaly) moving so quickly that I skip looking at some pictures altoghter. |
| If there is a lot of text, I immediately start reading it. If there is more emphasis on the art, I study that first. It also depends on the manga in question. I confess I still "read" up on Bleach once ion a while, but I hardly ever read anything there, as there's really nothing worthy of note. |
| My eyes always follow the text first. Its nice when you don't want to spoil the surprise in the adjacent page... kinda. :P |
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| It depends on what language the manga I am reading is in. If it's in English, then I gravitate towards the words first, because I can read them at a glance, then look at the pictures. If it's in Japanese, which takes me longer to read usually, I look at the pictures first, which helps me sometimes to understand the dialog more. |
| Like Shoujo? Visit: Emily's Random Shoujo Manga Page |
| I look at the image first, then the dialogue... don't know why, I just do. |
| What isn't red? What isn't blue? |
| I look at dialogue first, then the image. It would make more sense to go the other way sometimes, but I just can't help it, that's what my eye is drawn to first. |
| I'm not sure, reading a book is so automatic^^ but I think, first I take a short look at the image, then I read the bubble and then I take a closer look at the image |
| Images usually but sometimes at gripping or intresting moment I hardly look at the pictures. |
| depends. if it's a two-paged panel with some huge battle on it and few bubbles of lines, than first comes picture. if it's a page, illustrating dialogue or contains huge amounts of text, than first comes text. depends on what contains necessary information for understanding. |
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| Can't...decide...argh~ *votes for image* I look the pic before the text. XD Manga is good when both image and dialogue work in harmony if you ask me :D |
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| I look at the image first and then the dialogue... |
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shinkeikaku said: I also think it depends. If it is a unique or large layout, the image will draw my attention. Otherwise, I go for text. I think it's hard-wired for me to do so. This.^ |
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| When you're feeling sexy and dangerous? I look at the images and then read what's in the bubbles. The art what attracts me to mangas then the story discription. |
| Depends on the emphasis and the order of layout. Some manga-ka really know how to work those aspects, so it's important to try to follow along with their intentions. And...this is going to sound really weird, but I kind of do both at the same time >__>;; not really sure how to explain it, but I look at the picture while I read. Like a sideways vision sort of thing. Well, I guess technically I read the text first and then look at the picture more closely, but I'm also sort of looking at the picture while reading the text. I dunno. I'm weird. |
| I always read the text first, and then allow myself to interpret the visual scene with the words resonating in my head if I like it. Sometimes I only spare a quick glance at the drawings nothing more. Among other things, this allows me to read manga very quickly. It's unusual for a volume to take me more than ten minutes of reading. |
| More often than not, the pictures and narration. After all, this is what good composition does: draws the reader's eye to the most striking parts of the page. Of course, this isn't solely in the hands of dialogue and pictures: you have narration, too. I find narration in manga, notably the placement, very interesting, especially in contrast to American (and many other western) comics. For instance, some mangaka devote whole pages to one statement, with no other graphics around it, while other times it dances in between the dialogue bubbles and pictures. When done correctly, the story is conveyed in a smooth series of transitions. Take western comics and their narration: it's often stuck in a box at the top the panel; far less intergrated than manga. It's pretty interesting to take a look through your favourite manga and see where you're drawn to first. Or maybe I'm just fascinated by it, since I'm an artist myself. |
| I have to reconsider my previous answer. I've decided to track my way of reading during last few mangas and it seems that text goes first, no matter how big or how small picture is. |
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| interesting question, never really thought about this. probably for me is whatever order you're supposed to look at? in a new panel, if the dialogue is the first thing on top or something, then I would read it first. if the image takes a big part in a panel or the page, then my eyes would be drawn to the image first. how easily you can figure out the intended order would depend on the manga-ka's skills :) |
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| I look at the picture first, to better understand the context of the dialogue. |
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| I usually look at the image first, but if any word catches my eye, then I read the dialogue first. |
| 66.6% of the time I read the text first and take my time to interpret the pictures afterwards. The other 33.4% are the fanservice moments. |
 My kingdom for a bottle of plum juice! |
| Depends on the layout really. However most of the time i think it's the text that gets my initial attention. |
| I think i do it at the same time.. But its probably whatever somes first image or text. |
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| I look at them at the same time (this is what I am consciously saying). Though I probably look at the image first for a split second before I read the words (so fast it doesn't even make a difference). Also it is more logical to view the picture first because then you understand what is happening in the exact moment the words are being spoken and thus are in context. |
| "In the Beginning, the creative energy radiates from within." - No, no. That's Lame. Sounds like something out of a Jodorowsky comic. The Tokusyu Manga Club - Features alternative comics/avant-garde comics/outsider comics/psychdelic comics/surrealistic comics/underground comics + La Nouvelle Manga (part of Alternative). If I'm here, its because I have nothing better to do. |
| I don't pay much attention to the artwork unless it's a fight manga. If it's a shoujo of some sort, I just read the speech bubbles and look at the kiss scenes. |
| i glance to see who the speakers are, but if there's dialogue, I tend to read it first, once I know who the speaker is. I'll also look at new characters first. |
| I always read the dialogue first. idk why... maybe to help me understand whats going on better? |
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