Contemporary comic zines

I decided to look at some visual research for the zine comic as it would allow me to explore what contemporary comic design looks like and how I can use different illustrative styles. 

Caroline Paquita - Womanimal World

Womaninmal world is a comic zine series that investigates themes of femininity; I really like how the comics visuals are very much focused on imagery and a lack of captions. This absence of traditional comic book aspects links to my intentions for my final outcome, as I want to play on the idea of removing elements to link back to the absence of Garfield. 

Benjamin Wright

I really liked how this comic in particular is a spoof of an existing cartoon - in this case, the Simpsons. I think its an interesting concept to transform cartoons into your own illustrative style, which links to the idea of printed matter being much more personal; it showcases an intimate twist on an iconic design. I think I want to add my own style to the Garfield comics as well, as it will explore this idea of exclusivity.

Anna Degnbol 

I looked at the comic designs by Anna Degnbol as they used a very visually alternative layout to traditional comic layout; playing with the idea of overlapping and experimental figure ground relationships. They investigate how contemporary comic design has evolved to be more creative to the individual, which I could play with in my own design. 

Bryan West 

Bryan West uses his contemporary comic design to represent individual artists, through focusing on subjects such as police brutality. I think the concept of using zines as a platform for voices and discussing issues is very poignant in current graphic design, as it links to the idea that zines can serve as a platform for individuality. In a sense, Garfield Minus Garfield explores the breakdown of the American dream, and mental conflicts in everyday life - which I could choose to interpret as a focal point of the zine. 

Simon Landrein

I really like the visuals behind these simple comic strips, as they give a fun twist on pop art design through using primary colours and dotted textures. This simplistic/ minimalist approach to cartoon design would work nicely in the context of my own zine; I want to make it interactive, e.g. stickers/ colour in, so negative space is crucial.