Shaun
Tan's uses of storytelling through his drawings are the number one reason why
the comic does not require words. It's obvious to the reader what is going
on throughout the panels because he is so clear with getting his ideas across.
Tan is
brilliant when it comes to focusing on what details are important for advancing
the story, and so even if there are no words to direct what the reader should
be thinking about, the images are straightforward enough that it’s
unmistakable.
Tan’s
use of staging is also an essential reason why words aren’t necessary, he is
basically storyboarding us along with various small panels to lead up to large
establishing frames, which all are well-defined, some with various subtleties.
These panels are all very coherent with such strong visual narratives that they
speak for the characters themselves.
The
acting and emotions shown by the characters is also very telling of what is
happening. Their expressions are drawn so that the reader can always tell what
it is they’re feeling without question, and this something that is just as
significant for storytelling.
Tan’s
story requires not translation; with these elements the reader gets a sense of
the actions that are going on wordlessly. The fact that there is no dialogue in
the first place seems to be mimicking the circumstance that the protagonist
can’t quite communicate with the new people in his surroundings, so the
wordless language in the images are what have to carry the weight, and they do.
