Regarding the genre of comics, there is no single object or particular detail carrying no meaning for the reader. Such an irrelevant, at the first glance, part as a gutter (space between panels) turns out to be an important mean of information delivery. Normally, gutters differ in shape, length and width, either coming in the form of a crack, bow or a straight line. In the case of the work of Moore and Campbell, these elements represent a combination of parallel and perpendicular lines helping to reflect the main principles of panel-to-panel transition more precisely. Thus, McCloud’s concepts of events’ depiction find their reflection in the usage of such methods as movement-to-movement, scene-to-scene, and action-to-action interpretation.
One can track a movement-to-movement transition at the very beginning of chapter five. A scene where a couple makes love to each other is pictured using three sequential panels that contain the same scene, only illustrated in a manner to represent what was happening a few moments later. Straight vertical gutters help to receive information in a set order, without any confusion as to whether one should look up or down to find a logic continuation of the act.
A scene-to-scene method is used to contrast the two figures, representing the two different society levels through the characters of Mary Nicholls and Sir William. Pages 11 to 13 brightly demonstrate how the characters, illustrated on two different panels, accompany each other, though, involved in the events that are totally unrelated. This jumping across space helps the reader to get a full comprehension of the social disparity emphasized by the authors in their work.
Finally, an action-to-action technique is referred to when the authors depict the act of murder. One can clearly track the development of horrifying events through the artists’ manner to illustrate every next step a murderer takes. Again, gutters are added to help the reader to get a full picture of what was happening in between the depicted acts. One cannot see how Netley was passing the knife to Dr. William so that the latter could do what he intended to. Nevertheless, the reader knows that this fact took place and, thus, follows the events as if he/she were watching a movie.