BOBC

Plain Language Summary
Many people now read comics on mobile apps instead of in print. But do the design choices in these apps, such as how the panels are displayed or how readers move through a story, change how people understand and enjoy the comic? This study explores how different comic app designs affect how people read, process, and remember comic stories. We asked 84 people in Taiwan about their comic reading habits and then invited 24 of them to take part in an experiment. They read the same comic stories using three different app formats: full-page layouts (similar to printed comics), single-frame scrolling (one panel at a time), and guided view (where the app controls the reading flow). After reading, participants recalled the story and rated their engagement. We found that the guided view format helped people with lower visual literacy remember the story better and feel more emotionally involved. On the other hand, people with higher visual literacy preferred the full-page format, which gave them more control and a richer view of the artwork. The single-frame format made complex stories easier to understand but was rated lower in terms of visual enjoyment. We also interviewed five experienced comic artists. They said that digital formats require different approaches to storytelling and design. For example, app-based formats can speed up reading or change how time and emotion are felt in the story. This research shows that comic apps are not just a new way to display old comics. They actively shape how stories are told and understood. These findings can help app designers, educators, and artists create better comic reading experiences for all types of readers.