Origins and Evolution.
The Early Precursors of Comic Books.
The idea of combining images and text to tell stories is not new. In fact, it
can be traced back to ancient times, when people used various forms of visual
communication to record events, express ideas, and entertain audiences. Some
of the early examples of this include:
- Trajan's Column¹, a monumental sculpture in Rome that depicts the military campaigns of Emperor Trajan in 113 AD. The column is covered with a continuous spiral relief that shows scenes of battles, ceremonies, and landscapes.
- Egyptian hieroglyphs¹, a system of writing that used symbols and pictures to represent words and sounds. The hieroglyphs were often used to decorate tombs, temples, and monuments, where they told stories of gods, kings, and life in ancient Egypt.
- The Bayeux Tapestry¹, a long embroidered cloth that narrates the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The tapestry shows various characters, animals, and objects, along with captions in Latin that explain the action.
These early forms of Comics were not meant to be read as books, but rather as
public displays or artworks. They were also not very accessible to the common
people, who often could not read or understand the languages or symbols used.
However, they laid the foundation for the development of comics as a popular
and democratic medium.
The Rise of Newspaper Comics.
The first comic books as we know them today were born in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, thanks to the development of mass print media and the
rise of sensationalist journalism. Newspapers competed for readership by
publishing colorful and humorous cartoons that served as further
entertainment and commentary for the masses. Some of the pioneers of this
form of comics include:
- Rodolphe Töpffer², a Swiss teacher and artist who is considered the father of modern comics. He created several comic strips that featured whimsical characters, satirical humor, and sequential panels with captions. His most famous work is The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck (1837), which was the first comic book to be published in America.
- Richard F. Outcault³, an American cartoonist who created two of the most popular and influential newspaper comics of all time: The Yellow Kid (1895) and Buster Brown (1902). The Yellow Kid was a bald, ragged street urchin who spoke in a slang-filled speech balloon. He was also the first comic character to be merchandised and used for advertising. Buster Brown was a mischievous boy who always got into trouble with his dog Tige. He was also the inspiration for a famous shoe brand.
- Winsor McCay³, an American cartoonist and animator who created some of the most imaginative and artistic comics ever made. His most famous work is Little Nemo in Slumberland (1905), which depicted the fantastical dreams of a young boy named Nemo. The comic featured stunning visuals, elaborate layouts, and surreal adventures.
These newspaper comics were not only entertaining, but also influential.
They introduced many of the conventions and techniques that are still used
in comics today, such as speech balloons, panel borders, sequential
storytelling, and character development. They also reflected the social and
cultural issues of their time, such as immigration, urbanization, class
conflict, and consumerism.
The Golden Age of Comic Books.
The 1930s marked the beginning of the Golden Age of comic books, when comics
became an autonomous art medium and an integral part of American culture.
This was also the era that introduced the archetype of the superhero, a new
genre that revolutionized the industry and captured the imagination of
millions of readers. Some of the milestones of this era include:
- Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics⁴, the first comic book to be sold on newsstands in 1933. It was a collection of reprinted newspaper comic strips, such as Mutt and Jeff, Joe Palooka, and Reg'lar Fellers. It was published by Eastern Color Printing, a company that pioneered the use of color printing and cheap paper for comics.
- Action Comics #1⁴, the first comic book to feature Superman, the first and most iconic superhero, in 1938. It was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two young writers and artists who sold their character to DC Comics for $130. Superman was a huge success, selling millions of copies and spawning a franchise that included radio shows, movies, toys, and more.
- Detective Comics #27⁴, the first comic book to feature Batman, another influential superhero, in 1939. It was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, who were inspired by pulp fiction heroes like Zorro and The Shadow. Batman was a dark and mysterious vigilante who fought crime in Gotham City with his gadgets, skills, and sidekick Robin.
- Marvel Comics #1⁴, the first comic book to feature characters from Marvel Comics, a rival company to DC Comics, in 1939. It was created by Martin Goodman, who hired talented writers and artists like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko. Marvel Comics introduced characters like Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, Captain America, and Spider-Man, who were more relatable and flawed than their DC counterparts.
These comic books were not only entertaining, but also influential. They
reflected the hopes and fears of their time, such as the Great Depression,
World War II, and the Cold War. They also inspired generations of creators
and fans who shaped the culture and history of comics.
The Modern Age of Comics.
The 1960s marked the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the Modern
Age of comics, which continues to this day. This was the era that saw the
diversification and experimentation of comics, as well as the emergence of
new genres, formats, and markets. Some of the trends and innovations of this
era include:
- The Silver Age¹, a period from the late 1950s to the early 1970s that revived and reinvented many of the classic superheroes from the Golden Age, such as Flash, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. It also introduced new characters like Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Iron Man, who had more complex personalities and backgrounds. The Silver Age also featured more sci-fi and fantasy elements, as well as social commentary and realism.
- The Underground Comix¹, a movement from the late 1960s to the early 1980s that challenged the mainstream comics industry and its censorship code. It was influenced by the counterculture, psychedelic art, and alternative press. It produced comics that were more adult-oriented, satirical, political, and experimental. Some of the pioneers of this movement include Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton, and Art Spiegelman.
- The Graphic Novel¹, a term that refers to comics that are longer, more sophisticated, and more literary than traditional comic books. It was popularized by works like Will Eisner's A Contract with God (1978), Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen (1986), and Art Spiegelman's Maus (1986). The graphic novel expanded the audience and recognition of comics as a serious art form.
- The Manga and Anime Boom¹, a phenomenon that started in the 1980s and exploded in the 1990s and 2000s, thanks to the globalization of media and culture. It refers to the popularity and influence of Japanese comics (manga) and animation (anime) in the Western world. Manga and anime introduced new styles, genres, themes, and storytelling techniques to comics. Some of the most famous examples include Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball, Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, and Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto.
These are just some of the highlights of the history of comics, a rich and
diverse medium that has evolved over time and across cultures. Comics have
entertained, informed, inspired, and challenged millions of people around
the world. They have also shaped and reflected our society, history, and
identity. Comics are not just for kids or nerds; they are for everyone who
loves stories.
Thank you for reading this blog post. I hope you enjoyed it and learned
something new. Until next time, happy
reading!
Source:
(1) History of comics - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_comics.
(2) History of comics - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_comics.
(3) History of American comics - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_American_comics.
(4) The Colorful History of Comic Books and Newspaper Cartoon Strips.
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-comic-books-1991480.
(5) The History of Comics: Decade by decade | The Artifice.
https://the-artifice.com/history-of-comics/.
Image Attribution: Chester from Toronto, Canada, The Big Bang Theory, Comic Book Store "The Comic Center of Pasadena" (6196384919), CC BY 2.0
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