Introduction

Spring Exhibition 2024 has arrived, and I’m thrilled to present my project, “Shadows of the Somme.” This year, our focus was on World War I, and our guiding question was, “How can I create a graphic novel that accurately depicts an event from WWI?” Initially, this seemed like a very difficult task, but through research, planning, and creativity, I managed to bring my vision to life. Here’s a detailed look at how I created “Shadows of the Somme.”

Planning and Research

To start, we researched, and started off by learning about World War I. We watched a movie, videos, and documentaries, read graphic novels, and took detailed notes. This research was crucial in understanding the historical context and significance of the events that our stories were based on.

Understanding the structure of graphic novels was another key step. We studied graphic novels to learn about different panel types, layouts, and dialogue bubbles, which are essential for effective storytelling.

I chose the Battle of the Somme as the focus of my graphic novel because of its historical importance and the role Canadian soldiers played. My story follows Noah, a Canadian soldier dealing with PTSD after the battle. To visualize my ideas, I created a detailed storyboard outlining each scene.

Creating the Graphic Novel

Transforming my storyboard into a complete graphic novel was both challenging and rewarding. The process involved drawing each panel, refining the artwork, and ensuring historical accuracy. Breaking the work into daily tasks helped me manage the workload effectively. I was able to finish the project three days ahead of schedule, and I was very happy and proud with the final result!

The Story: “Shadows of the Somme”

“Shadows of the Somme” centre’s on Noah, a Canadian soldier who returns home from the Battle of the Somme deeply affected by shell shock/PTSD. The graphic novel explores his struggles with nightmares, isolation, flashbacks, and the difficulty of reconnecting with his family and friends. A pivotal moment in the story is when Noah receives a letter from his dead best friend Joe, which encourages him to seek help and start healing.

Exhibition Night

The exhibition night was a good experience. It started out pretty rough as there were a few technical difficulties. Since me and a few of my friends finished our comics early, we had three days to make a realistic trench for the exhibition. The whole point of the trench was to immerse visitors in the setting of World War I. Presenting my graphic novel to the public, and explaining the process behind it was extremely rewarding. Seeing people connect with Noah’s story and appreciate the effort I put into the project was a highlight of this project!

Strengths

One of my strengths in this project was effective time management. Planning ahead and staying organized helped me stay on track. Tools like Procreate for drawing and Things for task management were essential in completing the project on time. With the extra time I had, I used it to my advantage and made a blog post with an explanation of PTSD/Shell Shock, along with facts and more! (Along with the building of the trench).

Challenges

The most significant challenge I faced was developing an effective storyline. Making a compelling narrative that accurately depicted the emotional and historical aspects of the Battle of the Somme was tough. It took a few revisions and a lot of brainstorming and time to finally get it right. Despite the struggle, it was rewarding to see the story come together in the end.

Conclusion

“Shadows of the Somme” is a testament to the power of combining art and history. This project has been a transformative experience, allowing me to develop new skills and deepen my understanding of World War I. Through hard work and creativity, I was able to create a graphic novel that not only tells a compelling story but also honors the memory of those who fought in the Battle of the Somme.

This project taught me a lot about history, storytelling, and self-discipline. I learned the importance of thorough research and the power of visual storytelling. The positive feedback from the exhibition was very inspiring, and overall I loved this project! “Shadows of the Somme” is evidence to the power of combining art and history. This project has been a really great experience, allowing me to develop new skills and deepen my understanding of World War I. Through hard work and creativity, I was able to create a graphic novel that not only tells a compelling story but also honors the memory of those who fought in the Battle of the Somme.