There's more to it than just making "pretty pictures" - Part Two

Back in the mid-80's, when I was still pretty new to drawing comics, I received a script which called for a character to "slowly nod" her head. What? How do you do that? I could imagine a Jack Cole character with speed lines and a strobe effect, nodding vigorously, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out any way to do a slow nod. If you look long and hard enough, you might find examples of characters SHAKING their heads. The two examples below are taken from quiet, dramatic moments and fit the solemn mood without looking unintentionally comical. But could anyone do the same with a head nod? I'm still looking...

Art by Russ Heath for Our Army at War #248

Art by Neal Adams for Green Lantern #87

There's more to it than just making "pretty pictures" - Part One

Drawing a character falling down can be a real challenge. Standing, running, even flying is easy, but a pratfall or a stumble is hard to show clearly in just one panel. So what do you do when a script calls for it? You might start by studying the work of a terrific "Archie" artist named Samm Schwartz.  This five-page story from 1977 has at least five separate examples of Jughead falling flat on the ground. It's also worth noting that Schwartz did his own inking and lettering. I like the way the sound effects are incorporated into the art, not just arbitrarily pasted over the figures. Like his contemporary, Harry Lucey, he was skilled at gestures and body language. The fretting victims in this story show their emotions in every movement. I especially like the motorist in the last panel on page three.