Here's why they're crucial in comics:
* Clarity: In a comic, you're presenting a story visually, but dialogue needs to be clear and distinct. Quotation marks help readers immediately identify what is being said, separating it from the narrative text or thought bubbles.
* Character Voice: Different characters speak differently. Quotation marks help to distinguish between them, particularly when you have multiple characters talking in the same panel.
* Emphasis: Quotation marks can be used to emphasize a word or phrase for dramatic effect. This helps to convey tone and emotion.
* Visual Consistency: Using quotation marks consistently throughout the comic maintains visual clarity and avoids confusion for the reader.
Beyond just basic dialogue, quotation marks can also be used in comics to indicate:
* Thoughts: Some comics use quotation marks within thought bubbles, especially for internal monologue.
* Sound Effects: In some cases, sound effects might be enclosed in quotation marks to emphasize their impact.
In short, quotation marks are vital in comics to ensure readers understand what is being said, by whom, and how.