Harder They Come is another example of a more narrative approach to Comic Book Poems. Looking at the images without the text presents a story. This was the approach to writing The Harder They Come. I fully illustrated the Comic before I began to write the text. I developed the story of a character bring stalked, trying to escape, but eventually being consumed.
This approach allowed the words to form in a structure and method that was a slave to the story and page layout. I knew each page had 9 panels and the text would have to fit into the panels. I also knew that the words would have to reflect the story. I suppose this was similar to the Marvel Method of writing comics.
I find this approach works well when a basis for the story present and I be leave that this works well with ‘The Harder They Come’. Whether or not the words work without the text is another thing. The poem by itself can be read below.
Harder They Come
Walking
Eyes down
Mind somewhere
And I wished
that the waiting
was not the hardest part
But you know that it is
In this lonely mind
As it all creeps behind my back
Leave
Stop stalking
Go elsewhere
But you know, focus
Focus on the world
One of your parallel places
The one where you are famous
Famous for being good.
But you’re not funny
Do it
It’s dreaming
All in your head
Your head or mine?
Just sick of this conversation
Are you to old for this?
Am I to old for it?
Blending in
Falling out again.
