The last page of, The Killing Joke, written by Alan Moore and Illustrated by Brian Bolland

The last page of Alan Moore’s, The Killing Joke is an excellent portrayal of how points and lines can serve to not only add to the depth of field, but they can also demonstrate volume, sound, and mood. The last three panels demonstrate the complex images simple point and lines can create.

The lines angling downward are an indication of rain. As readers, we know the rain is falling downwards because the artist intentionally added a heavier point to the end of the line. Concentric circles roll out from these points to indicate the splatter of rain upon the city’s streets. These concentric circles appear to be larger and more concentrated near the bottom of the page as opposed to the circles near the top. This technique places the falling rain on a plane which further adds to the image’s depth of field. 

The circles also indicate the volume of the rain and the coinciding sounds and moods which accompany it. For example, rather than adding more lines to panels to indicate more rain, the illustrator clever portrayed the water as pooling up enough to make visible drips further adding to this story’s poignant ending.