Evolution of Speech Bubbles

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:44 pm

http://bugpowder.com/andy/e.speechballo ... ution.html

Lots of images.

- Joel Fagin

CJBurgandy · Post by **CJBurgandy** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:54 pm

I like the one with the banner coming out the farting butt. made me giggle.

I guess fart humor has been around since the dawn of time.

Kirb · Post by **Kirb** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:11 pm

I always thought it was funny the way old speech boxes looked like people vomiting endless scrolls of paper.

MaskedLioness · Post by **MaskedLioness** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:23 pm

hmm...there's something very appealing about the scroll style of speech bubble. I might have to try using it some time on another project.

Rock_dash · Post by **Rock_dash** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:35 pm

I like the one with the Knight and Death.

The one with the guy talking out of his ass was pretty good too.

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:38 pm

Yes yes, everyone likes people disgorging dialogue on endless strips of vellum from digestive orifices. But what I really noticed was how in the very earliest examples people's dailouge-ribbons are coming from their hands. As if everyone was carrying around streamers with whatever they wanted to say on them. Or like it's some kind of strange bibliographic party.

**Throws some dialogue about.**

I also thought it odd that the author annotated the picture of the Earl of Moray with "he was assassinated." I guess not everyone knows that, but I'm sure everyone who recognizes the name "Earl of Moray" knows that he was slain along with the famous Lady Mondegreen.

Oh, also, the Knight and Death looks pretty cool but Death has some serious anatomy issues. Like having no kneecaps. Having his tibias and fibias fused together and aparently having a second humerus instead of a radius and unla. Plus he's got huge nasal bones. And his shoulder blades somehow come up and over his shoulders and down to where his clavicles should be.

Phact0rri · Post by **Phact0rri** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:36 pm

quite interesting. I like how the shape develops throughout the ages.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:08 pm

In the right context and with proper execution, farts can be delightfully funny. Of course, that's true of almost anything though.

Blackaby · Post by **Blackaby** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:14 pm

Great link, thanks Joel.

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:19 pm

TRI wrote:But what I really noticed was how in the very earliest examples people's dailouge-ribbons are coming from their hands. As if everyone was carrying around streamers with whatever they wanted to say on them.

I noticed that too. I kinda like that effect; might hav to think up some excuse to use it sometime...

LoneWolfandCub · Post by **LoneWolfandCub** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:05 pm

Wow...that was pretty thorough.

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:21 pm

Kat North wrote:I noticed that too. I kinda like that effect; might hav to think up some excuse to use it sometime...

I already have an excuse but I'm saving it for later.

Ida · Post by **Ida** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:47 am

TRI wrote: But what I really noticed was how in the very earliest examples people's dailouge-ribbons are coming from their hands. As if everyone was carrying around streamers with whatever they wanted to say on them. Or like it's some kind of strange bibliographic party.

Sign language?

Great link, Joel - putting these images in sequence, it really does look like an evolution. I'd never noticed that before.

Swikan · Post by **Swikan** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:56 am

I really enjoyed that link! And reading the conversation in this thread, too. Thanks Joel, et al.

Crazy Chris · Post by **Crazy Chris** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:12 pm

Man, these old comics suck.