Visual Metaphor and Symbolism

BD has developed a rich vocabulary of visual metaphors that extend beyond simple iconography. While American comics might use stars to indicate impact or lightbulbs for ideas, BD artists employ more sophisticated symbolic systems. Visual metaphors in BD often operate through formal choices rather than inserted symbols.

In "Epileptic," David B. uses visual metamorphosis to represent his brother's seizures, transforming realistic depictions into abstract patterns that convey subjective experience. This technique – using the medium's formal properties metaphorically – appears throughout contemporary BD. Blutch's shape-shifting characters in "Peplum" reflect identity fluidity through visual instability.

The tradition of anthropomorphism in BD, from Blacksad's animal-headed characters to the abstract beings in Trondheim's works, functions metaphorically rather than simply decoratively. These visual choices allow exploration of human conditions through protective distance, similar to how science fiction uses aliens to examine humanity.