Have you ever wondered what those bubbles in comic strips that contain dialogue are called? These speech balloons, word balloons, or simply put, comic strip bubbles are an essential element of comic strips.
They help convey the characters’ thoughts and words to the readers. Let’s dive deeper into the different types of comic strip bubbles and their functions.
Speech Balloons
The most common type of comic strip bubble is the speech balloon. It is typically oval-shaped with a tail pointing towards the character speaking.
The tail indicates who is speaking and in which direction they are facing. The speech balloon can be further divided into two subtypes:
Bubble with a Straight Tail
This type of speech balloon has a straight tail that points to the speaker’s mouth. It is used when the character is talking directly to another character.
Example: “Hey, John! How are you doing today?”
Bubble with a Zigzag Tail
This type of speech balloon has a zigzag tail that points towards the speaker’s mouth. It is used when the character is shouting or screaming.
Example: “Ahhhhhh!”
Thought Balloons
Thought balloons are also known as thinking balloons or thought clouds. They are typically shaped like bubbles with cloud-like puffs or dots surrounding them. Thought balloons are used to depict a character’s thoughts without them actually speaking out loud.
Example: “I need to find a way out of here.”
Screamers
Screamers, also known as yellers, scream bubbles, or exclamation bubbles, indicate loud noises such as screams and shouts that don’t involve any actual words spoken by characters.
Example: “AHHHHHH!!!”
Caption Boxes
Caption boxes are rectangular-shaped boxes that contain text and are used to provide additional information about the scene or character. They are usually located at the top or bottom of the panel.
Example: “Meanwhile, at the secret lab..”
Conclusion
Comic strip bubbles are an essential element of comic strips that help convey the characters’ thoughts and words to the readers. Speech balloons, thought balloons, screamers, and caption boxes are some of the most common types of comic strip bubbles. Now that you know what these comic strip bubbles are called and their functions, try incorporating them into your own comics for a visually engaging storytelling experience!