Minster 1
Burt Minster
Professor Fowler
ENG.250.42
27 July 2020
Shades of Morality in the Colors of Nimona
Graphic novels provide a unique way of storytelling. By combining drawn information
and written information, graphic novels allow for their readers to process larger amounts of
information easily, and allows writers to create dynamics between the drawn and written. A
prime example of this is Nimona. Nimona provides the reader with visual information on 3
levels: character design, the background of the panel, and the setting within the panel. The
information displayed visually provides clear concepts of these characters, but as the reader
delves into the novel, it is revealed that the visual information is misleading. It is at odds with the
written information – how the characters act, what they say, and what they believe in. In creating
this contradictory dynamic between the written and the drawn, Stevenson tells the reader that
looks can be deceiving, and to dive deeper.
In children’s books, characters are historically good or bad, right or wrong, heroic or
villainous. Stevenson utilizes classical understanding of color as well as minor details when
designing the characters to play into the audience’s expectations of characters. The reader is
forced to understand what role each character serves through this visual lense. Goldenlion with
his blond hair, light orange armor and light orange cape is shown as inherently good – the hero.
Minster 2
Blackheart with his black hair, dark grey armor, and dark brown cloak is clearly evil – the villain.
Of course, the characters are much more than blocks of color. Blackheart’s eye scar and
mechanical arm play into his evil image beyond just his character’s palette.
However, as the reader finds out through the novel, this characterization is incorrect. The
reader finds out that Blackheart is ironically good of heart, while Goldenlion is at best morally
ambiguous. The visual information that provides the reader with the initial concept of these
characters and their roles is betrayed when Blackheart acts in a philanthropic manner. This is
revealed through written information throughout the novel. An example of this is Blackheart
acting selflessly when visiting the hospital. He knows it is not in his best interest to go and he
gets captured for it, but he does so anyway to cure the villagers.
