“An image is worth a thousand words. Why can’t you draw me that picture? Or create a five-minute video to replace those manuals?”
I have heard similar sentences over the years. Although a good image may make me think of a thousand words, I could never take a thousand words from a manual and create an image that expressed the same detail. And, as a technical communicator and engineer, the challenge is not to do it once, but to do it repeatedly.
However, I have used comics in three different situations to inspire students, buyers, and partners. The comics did not replace the training or manuals, but they provided a fun and inspiring overview of the products.