* Provides background information: Explains the setting, introduces characters, or sets the scene.
* Summarizes events: Provides a quick recap of what happened previously or what's going to happen next.
* Reveals inner thoughts: Shares the thoughts or feelings of a character, even if they are not spoken aloud.
* Sets the mood: Introduces a specific tone or atmosphere to the story.
* Provides commentary: Offers the narrator's opinion or insight on the events happening in the strip.
Here's what makes it distinct:
* Font: Narration boxes usually have a distinct font from dialogue bubbles, often a simpler, bolder, or italicized font.
* Placement: It's usually placed outside the panel borders, often above or below the main action.
* Content: Narration text is generally in the third person and avoids direct quotations.
Think of it like a voiceover in a movie or a narrator in a novel. It gives context and adds depth to the visual story being told in the comic strip.