Comic-Book Style
Quick Summary
Comic-Book Style is a term for games applying inked outline borders, cross-hatching shading patterns, and embedded text box elements to create the feeling that the entire game world has stepped out of a Western comic book (Graphic Novel).
Western Graphic Novel influence: 3D block shading simulated through rough cross-hatching ink strokes and bold black outlines.
What is Comic-Book Style?
This is a smaller, edgier sub-branch developed from the Cel-Shading system. Graphic Novel removes the clarity of smooth color surfaces and overlays rough cross-hatching ink strokes on 3D space. Environmental shading is not smooth like natural light, but instead simulated as dark, blotchy black ink print patches.
The strongest characteristic of this style is the exaggeration of roughness. To support the effect, producers also integrate flying speech bubbles and massive onomatopoeia text (BOOM, SLASH) directly onto the screen during combat. Famous games synonymous with this icon are the interactive series The Walking Dead (by Telltale Games) and especially the shooter franchise Borderlands — with its crazy, dusty, heavy-outlined madness.