A World Of Comics

It’s difficult to imagine a world without comics. However, although early forms of illustrated story-telling exist, it wasn’t until the 1930s that comics as we know them today began to appear in America.

Although comic illustrations, many in the form of satirical cartoons, appeared in that late 1700s, predominantly in France, The earliest popular comics in America were newspaper comic strips. These were reprinted in comic books and then original comics were developed.

Comic Strip

A ‘comic’ is now recognised as a sequence of panels with text boxes and, usually, speech balloons. The name comes from the Greek and Latin and, as it suggests, early comics were mainly humorous in nature. However, as the form developed, writers and illustrators used the medium to tackle a whole range of subjects from political and social comment to horror and ‘true stories’.

Over the years, many comics took on a dark edge to represent the gritty reality of modern life and these are among the most popular comics today.

Low Art?

In the early life of the comic, many critics looked down upon the form as ‘low art’ and others criticised the medium as being harmful to those who read them, especially children.

Happily, a more enlightened view prevails today and most literary circles recognise comics for the high art they represent and, in many cases, the thoughtful and thought-provoking story-lines they tackle.

In France (and, to a lesser degree, elsewhere in Europe) comics are regarded as the Ninth Art, celebrated at international events and have prominent displays in books shops.

Manga

Japanese Manga is the most popular comic form worldwide and is a massive comic culture in the country. Other international comic forms gaining readers in the West include Chinese Manhua and the Korean Manhwa.

Many artists and writers and publishers have been instrumental in the development of the modern comic, far too many to even attempt a brief list. However, modern readers may well be familiar with Alan Moore and Frank Miller. Will Eisner is widely credited with the popularisation of the graphic novel.

Marvel and DC

Publishers such as Marvel and DC Comics are still among the best-known publishers. Marvel produces Spider Man, The Fantastic Four, The X Men, Iron Man, Wolverine, Dr Strange, The Hulk and Daredevil.

DC publishes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and the Flash among other superhero titles.

Superman first appeared in 1938, developed by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. When sales started to flag in the mid 80s, Superman was revamped to make him more relevant to modern audiences and then in the 1990s killed off completely in a long-running series which boosted sales phenomenally. Needless to say, he was later brought back to life.

Between them, Marvel and DC have over 80% of the American comics market.

At the Movies

It’s not surprising, therefore, that many comic characters found their way onto film - Superman, Batman, Spider-man, Wonder Woman, The Hulk, the X-Men and many more. The interest in superhero characters on screen has given an additional boost to the printed comics industry.

Comics are so popular that many Comics Conventions are held throughout the country where fans dress up as their favorite characters.

But comics aren’t all about superheroes although these are undoubtedly the most popular titles. Whatever your taste in storytelling there will almost certainly be a comic to suit you.

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