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 +[[Image:Little Nemo.JPG|thumb|right|200px|This page '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is part of the [[comics]] series.<br>
 +<small>Illustration: [[Little Nemo]] sitting upright in [[bed]]</small>]]
{{Template}} {{Template}}
-:''[[Horror comics in the United States, 1947–1954]]'' 
-:[[European comics]] and [[adult comics]] since the [[1960s]] are the main focus of this wiki. 
A '''comic book''' is a [[magazine]] or [[book]] containing [[sequential art]] in the form of a [[narrative]]. Comic books are often called '''[[comics]]''' for short. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. [[American comic book]]s have become closely associated with the [[superhero]] tradition. A '''comic book''' is a [[magazine]] or [[book]] containing [[sequential art]] in the form of a [[narrative]]. Comic books are often called '''[[comics]]''' for short. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. [[American comic book]]s have become closely associated with the [[superhero]] tradition.
 +[[European comics]] and [[adult comics]] since the [[1960s]] are the main focus of this encyclopedia.
== Canonized == == Canonized ==
In the last quarter of the twentieth century, greater acceptance of the comics form among the general reading public coincided with a greater usage of the term [[graphic novel]], often meant to differentiate a book of comics with a spine from its saddle-stitched form, but the difference between the terms is ambiguous, as comics have become increasingly available in libraries and mainstream book stores. In the last quarter of the twentieth century, greater acceptance of the comics form among the general reading public coincided with a greater usage of the term [[graphic novel]], often meant to differentiate a book of comics with a spine from its saddle-stitched form, but the difference between the terms is ambiguous, as comics have become increasingly available in libraries and mainstream book stores.
 +==History==
 +:''[[History of comics]]''
 +An example of an early precursor to print comics is [[Trajan's Column]]. Rome's [[Trajan's Column]], dedicated in 113 AD, is an early surviving example of a narrative told through sequential pictures, while [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]], [[Greeks|Greek]] [[friezes]], medieval tapestries such as the [[Bayeux Tapestry]] and illustrated [[manuscript]]s also combine sequential images and words to tell a story. [[Biblia pauperum|Versions of the Bible relying primarily on images]] rather than text were widely distributed in Europe in order to bring the teachings of [[Christianity]] to the illiterate. In medieval paintings, many sequential scenes of the same story (usually a Biblical one) appear simultaneously in the same painting.
-==American comics==+The invention of the [[printing press]], allowing [[movable type]], established a separation between images and words, the two requiring different methods in order to be reproduced. Early printed material concentrated on [[religion|religious subjects]], but through the 17th and 18th centuries, they began to tackle aspects of [[politics|political]] and [[society|social life]], and also started to [[satire|satirize]] and [[caricature]]. It was also during this period that the [[speech bubble]] was developed as a means of attributing dialogue.
-Since the introduction of the comic book format in 1934 with the publication of ''[[Famous Funnies]]'', the [[United States]] has been the leading producer, with only the [[British comic]] and Japanese [[manga]] as close competitors in terms of quantity of titles. The majority of all comic books in the U.S. are marketed to young adult readers, though they also produce titles for young children as well as adult audiences.+The [[speech balloon]] also evolved during this period, from the medieval origins of the ''phylacter'', a label, usually in the form of a scroll, which identified a character either through naming them or using a short text to explain their purpose. Artists such as [[George Cruikshank]] helped codify such ''phylacters'' as ''balloons'' rather than ''scrolls'', though at this time they were still called ''labels''. They now represented narrative, but for identification purposes rather than dialogue within the work, and artists soon discarded them in favour of running dialogue underneath the panels. Speech balloons weren't reintroduced to the form until [[Richard F. Outcault]] used them for dialogue.
-Cultural historians divide the career of the comic book in the U.S. into several ''ages'' or [[List of time periods|historical eras]]: the [[Golden Age of comic books|Golden Age]], the [[Silver age of comic books|Silver Age]], the [[Bronze Age of Comic Books|Bronze Age]], and the [[Modern Age of Comic Books|Modern Age]]. The exact boundaries of these eras, the terms for which originated in the [[fandom]] [[publishing|press]], is a debatable point among comic book historians.+[[Rodolphe Töpffer]], a Francophone Swiss artist, was a key figure in the early part of the 19th century. Though speech balloons fell from favour during the middle 19th century, Töpffer's sequentially illustrated stories, with text compartmentalized below images, were reprinted throughout Europe and the United States. The lack of [[Copyright|copyright laws]] at the time meant that [[Copyright infringement|pirated editions]] proliferated, and translated versions created a market on both continents for similar works.
-[[Image:AdventuresIntoDarkness1001.jpg|thumb|''Adventures into Darkness'', [[Horror fiction|horror]] stories]]+
-The Golden Age is generally thought as lasting from the introduction of [[Jerry Siegel]] and [[Joe Shuster]]'s [[Superman]] in 1938 until the late 1940s or early 1950s. During this time, comic books enjoyed considerable popularity; the archetype of the superhero was invented and defined, and many of the most popular superheroes were created. While [[comics]] as an art form could theoretically extend as far back in history as sequential cave paintings, comic ''books'' are dependent on printing, and the starting point for them in book form is generally considered to be the [[tabloid]]-sized ''The Funnies'' begun in 1929, or the smaller-sized ''Funnies on Parade'' begun in 1933. Both of these were simply reprints of newspaper strips.+
-The Silver Age of Comic Books is generally considered to date from the first successful revival of the dormant superhero form — the debut of [[Robert Kanigher]] and [[Carmine Infantino]]'s [[Flash (comics)|Flash]] in ''[[Showcase (comics)|Showcase]]'' #4 (September-October 1956) — and lasts through the early 1970s, during which time [[Marvel Comics]] revolutionized the medium with such [[naturalism (literature)|naturalistic]] superheroes as [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]]'s [[Fantastic Four]] and Stan Lee and [[Steve Ditko]]'s [[Spider-Man]]. There is less agreement on the beginnings of the Bronze and Modern ages. Some suggest that the Bronze Age is still taking place. Starting points that have been suggested for the Bronze Age of comics are [[Roy Thomas]] and [[Barry Windsor-Smith]]'s [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]] #1 (October 1970), [[Denny O'Neil]] and [[Neal Adams]]' [[Green Lantern]]/[[Green Arrow]] #76 (April 1970) or Stan Lee and [[Gil Kane]]'s [[Amazing Spider-Man]] #96 (May 1971) (the non-[[Comics Code]] issue). The start of the Modern Age (occasionally referred to as the Iron Age) has even more potential starting points, but is generally agreed to be the publication of [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]]'s [[Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]] [[graphic novel]] and [[Alan Moore]]'s [[Watchmen]] by [[DC Comics]] in 1986, as well as the publication of DC's [[Crisis on Infinite Earths]], with [[Marv Wolfman]] as writer and [[George Pérez]] on the pencils.+In the United States, [[Richard F. Outcault|R.F. Outcault's]] work in combining speech balloons and images on ''[[The Yellow Kid|Hogan's Alley]]'' and [[The Yellow Kid]] has been credited as establishing the form and conventions of the comic strip, though academics have uncovered earlier works that combine speech bubbles and a multi image narrative. However, the popularity of Outcalt's work and the position of the strip in a newspaper retains credit as a driving force of the form.
- +
-Comics published after [[World War II]] in 1945 are sometimes referred to as being from the Atomic Age (referring to the dropping of the [[atomic bomb]]), while titles published after November 1961 are sometimes referred to as being from the Marvel Age (referring to the advent of [[Marvel Comics]]). However, these eras are referred to far less frequently than the aforementioned designations.+
-Notable events in the history of the American comic book include the psychiatrist [[Fredric Wertham]]'s criticisms of the medium in his book ''[[Seduction of the Innocent]]'', which prompted the [[Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency]] to investigate comic books. In response to this attention from both the government and the media, the US comic book industry created the [[Comics Code Authority]] in 1954 and drafted the [[Comics Code]].+The 1920s and 1930s saw further booms within the industry. The market for comic anthologies in Britain turned to targeting children through juvenile humor, with ''[[The Dandy]]'' and ''[[The Beano]]''. In Belgium, [[Hergé]] created the ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'' newspaper strip for [[Le Petit Vingtième|a comic supplement]]; this was successfully collected in a bound album and created a market for further such works. The same period in the United States had seen newspaper strips expand their subject matter beyond humour, with action, adventure and mystery strips launched. The collection of such material also began, with ''[[The Funnies]]'', a reprint collection of newspaper strips, published in tabloid size in 1929.
-===Underground comics===+During the latter half of the 20th century comics have become a very popular [[Comic book collecting|item for collectors]] and from the 1970s American comics publishers have actively encouraged collecting and shifted a large portion of comics publishing and production to appeal directly to the collector's community.
-In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a surge of creativity evidenced in what came to be called [[underground comics]]. These comics were published and distributed independently of the established comics industry, and most titles reflected the youth [[counter-culture]] and [[drug culture]] of the time. Many were notable for their uninhibited, often irreverent style; the frankness of their depictions of nudity, sex, profanity, and politics had not been seen in comics outside of their precursors, the pornographic <!-- this reads like a value judgement --> and even more obscure "[[Tijuana bibles]]." Underground comics were almost never sold at news stands, but rather in such youth-oriented outlets as [[head shops]] and record stores, as well as by [[mail order]].+In the 1980s, comics scholarship started to blossom in the U.S., and a resurgence in the popularity of comics was seen, with [[Alan Moore]] and [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]] producing notable superhero works.
-The underground comics movement is often considered to have started with ''[[Zap Comix]]'' #1 (1968) by [[cartoonist]] [[Robert Crumb]], a former greeting-card artist from [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] who had moved to [[San Francisco]]. Crumb later created the characters [[Fritz the Cat]] and [[Mr. Natural (comics)|Mr. Natural]], and published [[Gilbert Shelton]]'s ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers|The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]].''+==American comics==
 +:''[[American comics]]''
 +An '''American comic book''' is a small [[magazine]] originating in the [[United States]] containing a [[narrative]] in the [[comics]] form. The standard dimensions are 6 ⅝" × 10 ¼[[inch|"]].
-===Alternative comics===+Since the invention of the [[comic book]] format in the 1930s, the United States has been the leading producer with only the [[British comic]] books (during the inter-war period and up until the 1970s) and the Japanese [[manga]] as close competitors in terms of quantity.
-The rise of comic book speciality stores in the late 1970s created a dedicated market for "independent" or "[[alternative comics]]" in the United States. Two of the first were the anthology series ''[[Star Reach]]'', published by comic book writer [[Mike Friedrich]] from 1974 to 1979, and [[Harvey Pekar]]'s ''[[American Splendor]]'', which continued sporadic publication into the 21st century and was adapted into a film in 2005. Some independent comics continued in the tradition of underground comics, though their content was generally less explicit, and others resembled the output of mainstream publishers in format and genre but were published by smaller artist-owned companies or by single artists. A few (notably ''[[RAW (magazine)|RAW]]'') were experimental attempts to bring comics closer to the status of [[fine art]].+Comic book sales declined with the spread of [[television]] and [[mass market paperback]] books after [[World War II]], but regained popularity in the late 1950s and the 1960s as comic books' audience expanded to include [[college]] students who favored the [[naturalistic]], "[[superhero]]es in the real world" trend initiated by [[Stan Lee]] at [[Marvel Comics]]. The 1960s also saw the advent of the [[underground comix|underground comics]]. Later, the influence of [[Japan]]ese [[manga]] and the recognition of the comic medium among academics, [[literary critic]]s and [[art museum]]s helped solidify comics as a serious [[art]]form with established [[traditions]], stylistic [[conventions]], and artistic evolution. [[American comic book]]s have become closely associated with the [[superhero]] tradition.
- +
-During the 1970s the "small press" culture grew and diversified. By the 1980s, several such independent publishers as [[Pacific Comics|Pacific]], [[Eclipse Comics|Eclipse]], [[First Comics|First]], [[Comico]] and [[Fantagraphics]] were releasing a wide range of styles and formats from color [[superhero]], [[detective]] and [[science fiction]] comic books to black-and-white [[magazine]]-format stories of [[Latin American]] [[magical realism]].+
- +
-A number of small publishers in the 1990s changed the format and distribution of their comics to more closely resemble non-comics publishing. The "[[minicomic]]s" form, an extremely informal version of self-publishing, arose in the 1980s and became increasingly popular among artists in the 1990s, despite reaching an even more limited audience than the small press.+
- +
-Small publishers regularly releasing titles today include [[Avatar Comics]], [[Hyperwerks]], [[Raytoons]], and [[Terminal Press]], buoyed by such advances in printing technology as digital [[print on demand]].+
- +
-===Graphic novels===+
-The term "graphic novel" was first coined by Richard Kyle in 1964, mainly as an attempt to distinguish the newly translated works from Europe which were then being published from what Kyle perceived as the more juvenile subject matter that was so common in the United States.+
- +
-The term was popularized when [[Will Eisner]] used it on the cover of the paperback edition of his work ''[[A Contract with God|A Contract with God, and Other Tenement Stories]]'' in 1978. This was a more thematically mature work than many had come to expect from the [[comics]] medium, and the critical and commercial success of ''A Contract with God'' helped to bring the term in common usage.+
- +
-[[Warren Ellis]], in his ''Come in Alone'' columns at ComicbookResources.com, suggested that the term "graphic novel" should include collected editions of serialized storylines. To differentiate these from original comic book publications, he proposed the term "original graphic novel." These terms are still used as first suggested, although "original graphic novel" is not a popular term, particularly because so few are produced. Collected editions are more popularly known by the publishing industry term "[[trade paperback]]."+
- +
-===Rarest American comic books===+
-The rarest comic books in existence include copies of the unreleased ''[[Motion Picture Funnies Weekly]]'' #1 from 1939. Eight copies, plus one without a cover, were discovered in the estate of the deceased publisher in 1974.+
- +
-Before [[Fawcett Comics]] introduced [[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]] in ''[[Whiz Comics]]'' #2, there was an earlier [[ashcan edition]] featuring virtually the same story, with the notable exception that "Captain Marvel" was named "Captain Thunder." This issue was never distributed.<ref>[http://members.tripod.com/originalvigilante/captainthunder.htm Captain Thunder!] (fan site)</ref>+
- +
-In June 1978, DC Comics cancelled several of its titles. For copyright purposes, the unpublished original art for these titles was [[photocopied]], bound, and published as ''[[Cancelled Comics Cavalcade]]'' #1-2. Only 35 copies were made. +
- +
-Misprints, promotional comic-dealer incentive printings, and similar issues with extremely low distribution are usually the most scarce. The rarest modern comic books include the [[The_League_of_Extraordinary_Gentlemen#Issue_5_recall|original press run]] of ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'' #5, ordered by DC executive [[Paul Levitz]] to be recalled and pulped over the appearance of a vintage [[Victorian era]] advertisement for "Marvel [[Douche]]," which the publisher considered offensive; only 100-200 copies are thought to exist, many of which have been [[Comics Guaranty LLC|CGC]] graded. (See [[Recalled comics]] for more pulped, recalled and erroneous comics).+
- +
-===Comic Book Cover Trick===+
-Some publishers have been known to take an image out of context, and place it on the cover in an attempt to mislead potential buyers into believing that the hero is performing an evil deed. The unwitting purchaser then realizes upon reading the entire story, the dishonest scene depicted is fully explained inside the comic and reveals that the hero was, in fact, committing yet another heroic activity.+
- +
-Geoff of [[Somacow]] gives an example of this during episode #333. He states that if a cover showed [[Batman]] poking a [[puppy]] with a stick on the cover, fans would be compelled to purchase the comic in order to discover what possible events could have led to such a nefarious act. Once the reader reaches the point in the story which is shown on the cover, they determine that it is actually [[The_Joker]] inside a puppy suit and Batman is simply trying to defeat him as usual.+
- +
-The practice has been coined by the internet radio personality as "Batman Poking A Puppy With A Stick" Syndrome.+
==European comics== ==European comics==
- +:''[[European comics]]''
[[France]] and [[Belgium]] have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are called ''[[Franco-Belgian comics|BDs]]'' (an abbreviation of ''Bande Dessinée'') in [[French language|French]] and ''strips'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. Belgian comic books originally written in [[Dutch language|Dutch]] are influenced by the Francophone "Franco-Belgian" comics, but have their own distinct style. [[France]] and [[Belgium]] have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are called ''[[Franco-Belgian comics|BDs]]'' (an abbreviation of ''Bande Dessinée'') in [[French language|French]] and ''strips'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. Belgian comic books originally written in [[Dutch language|Dutch]] are influenced by the Francophone "Franco-Belgian" comics, but have their own distinct style.
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===British comics=== ===British comics===
 +:''[[British comics]]''
 +A '''British comic''' is a periodical published in the [[United Kingdom]] that contains comic strips. It is generally referred to as a '''comic''' or a '''comic magazine''', and historically as a '''comic paper'''.
-Originally the same size as a usual comic book in the United States (although lacking the glossy cover) the British comic has adopted a magazine size, with ''[[The Beano]]'' and ''[[The Dandy]]'' the last to adopt this size in the 1980s. Although generally referred to as a comic, it can also be referred to as a comic magazine, and has also been known historically as a comic paper. Some comics, such as ''[[Judge Dredd]]'' and other ''[[2000 AD (comic)|2000 AD]]'' titles, have been published in a [[tabloid]] form.+British comics are usually [[Comics anthology|comics anthologies]] which are typically aimed at children, and are published weekly, although some are also published on a fortnightly or monthly schedule. The top three longest-running comics in the world, ''[[The Dandy]]'', ''[[The Beano]]'' and ''[[Comic Cuts]]'' are all British, although in modern times British comics have been largely superseded by [[American comic book]]s and Japanese [[manga]].
- +
-Although ''[[Ally Sloper's Half Holiday]]'' (1884), the first comic published in Britain, aimed at an adult market, publishers quickly targeted a younger market, which has led to most publications being for children and created an association in the public's mind of comics as somewhat juvenile. +
- +
-Popular titles within the UK have included ''[[The Beano]]'', ''[[The Dandy]]'', ''[[Eagle (comic)|The Eagle]]'', ''[[2000 AD (comic)|2000 AD]]'' and ''[[Viz (comics)|Viz]]''. Underground comics and "[[British small press comics|small press]]" titles have also been published within the United Kingdom, notably ''[[Oz (magazine)|Oz]]'' and ''[[Escape Magazine]]''.+
- +
-The content of ''[[Action (comic)|Action]]'', another title aimed at children and launched in the mid 1970s, became the subject of discussion in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Although on a smaller scale than similar investigations in the [[United States]], such concerns led to a moderation of content published within British comics. Such moderation was never formalized to the extent of a creation of any code, and nor was it particularly lasting.+
- +
-The UK has also established a healthy market in the reprinting and repackaging of material, notably material originated within the [[United States]]. The lack of reliable supplies of [[American comic books]] led to a variety of black-and-white reprints, including Marvel's monster comics of the 1950s, Fawcett's [[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]], and other characters such as [[Sheena, Queen of the Jungle|Sheena]], [[Mandrake the Magician]], and [[the Phantom]]. Several reprint companies were involved in repackaging American material for the British market, notably the importer and distributor Thorpe & Porter.+
- +
-Marvel Comics established a UK office in 1972. [[DC Comics]] and [[Dark Horse Comics]] also opened offices in the 1990s. The repackaging of European material has occurred less frequently, although the [[The Adventures of Tintin|Tintin]] and [[Asterix]] serials have been successfully translated and repackaged in soft cover books.+
- +
-At [[Christmas]] time, publishers repackage and commission material for comic [[Annual publication|annuals]], printed and bound as hardcover [[ISO 216|A4]]-size books: [[Rupert Bear|Rupert]] supplies a famous example of the British comic annual. [[DC Thomson]] also repackage [[The Broons]] and [[Oor Wullie]] strips in softcover [[ISO 216|A4]]-size books for the holiday season.+
===Italian comics=== ===Italian comics===
- +:''[[Italian comics]]''
In [[Italy]], comics (known in Italian as ''fumetti'') made their debut as humorous strips at the end of the nineteenth century, and later evolved into adventure stories inspired by those coming from the US. After [[World War II]], however, artists like [[Hugo Pratt]] and [[Guido Crepax]] exposed Italian comics to an international audience. "Author" comics contain often strong erotic contents. Best sellers remain popular comic books [[Diabolik]] or the [[Sergio Bonelli Editore|Bonelli]] line, namely [[Tex Willer]] or [[Dylan Dog]]. In [[Italy]], comics (known in Italian as ''fumetti'') made their debut as humorous strips at the end of the nineteenth century, and later evolved into adventure stories inspired by those coming from the US. After [[World War II]], however, artists like [[Hugo Pratt]] and [[Guido Crepax]] exposed Italian comics to an international audience. "Author" comics contain often strong erotic contents. Best sellers remain popular comic books [[Diabolik]] or the [[Sergio Bonelli Editore|Bonelli]] line, namely [[Tex Willer]] or [[Dylan Dog]].
Line 98: Line 61:
==Japanese comics== ==Japanese comics==
 +:''[[Japanese comics]]''
 +The first comic books in [[Japan]] appeared during the 18th century in the form of woodblock- printed booklets containing short stories drawn from folk tales, legends, and historical accounts, told in a simple visual-verbal idiom. Known as "red books", "black books", and "blue books", these were written primarily for less literate readers. However, with the publication in 1775 of [[Koikawa Harumachi]]'s comic book ''Master Flashgold's Splendiferous Dream'', an adult form of comic book originated, which required greater literacy and cultural sophistication. This was known as the ''yellow cover''. Published in thousands (possibly tens of thousands) of copies, the ''kibyōshi'' may have been the earliest fully realized comic book for adults in world literary history. Approximately 2000 titles remain [[extant]].
-The first comic books in [[Japan]] appeared during the 18th century in the form of woodblock- printed booklets containing short stories drawn from folk tales, legends, and historical accounts, told in a simple visual-verbal idiom. Known as {{nihongo|"red books"|赤本|akahon}}, {{nihongo|"black books"|黒本|kurobon}}, and {{nihongo|"blue books"|青本|aohon}}, these were written primarily for less literate readers. However, with the publication in 1775 of [[Koikawa Harumachi]]'s comic book {{nihongo|''Master Flashgold's Splendiferous Dream''|金々先生栄花の夢|Kinkin sensei eiga no yume}}, an adult form of comic book originated, which required greater literacy and cultural sophistication. This was known as the {{nihongo3|lit. ''yellow cover''|黄表紙|[[kibyōshi]]}}. Published in thousands (possibly tens of thousands) of copies, the ''kibyōshi'' may have been the earliest fully realized comic book for adults in world literary history. Approximately 2000 titles remain [[extant]].+Modern comic books in Japan developed from a mixture of these earlier comic books and woodblock prints ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' with Western styles of drawing. They took their form shortly after [[World War II]]. They are usually published in black and white, except for the covers, which are usually printed in four colors, although occasionally, the first few pages may also be printed in full color. The term ''manga'' means "random (or whimsical) pictures", and first came into common usage in the late eighteenth century with the publication of such works as [[Santō Kyōden|Santō Kyōden's]] picturebook 'Shiji no yukikai'' (1798) and Aikawa Minwa's ''Comic Sketches of a Hundred Women'' (1798).
- +
-Modern comic books in Japan developed from a mixture of these earlier comic books and woodblock prints {{nihongo|''[[ukiyo-e]]''|浮世絵|}} with Western styles of drawing. They took their {{as of | 2009 | alt = current}} form shortly after [[World War II]]. They are usually published in black and white, except for the covers, which are usually printed in four colors, although occasionally, the first few pages may also be printed in full color. The term ''manga'' means "random (or whimsical) pictures", and first came into common usage in the late eighteenth century with the publication of such works as [[Santō Kyōden|Santō Kyōden's]] picturebook {{nihongo|''Shiji no yukikai''|四時交加|}} (1798) and Aikawa Minwa's ''Comic Sketches of a Hundred Women'' (1798). +
- +
-Development of this form occurred as a result of Japan's attempts to modernize itself, a desire awakened by trade with the United States{{Fact|date=March 2009}}. Western artists were brought over to teach their students such concepts as line, form, and color, things which had not been regarded as conceptually important in ''ukiyo-e'', as the idea behind the picture was of paramount importance. Manga at this time was referred to as ''Ponchi-e'' (Punch-picture) and, like its British counterpart [[Punch (magazine)|Punch]] magazine, mainly depicted humour and political satire in short one- or [[Yonkoma|four-picture format]].+
- +
-Dr. [[Osamu Tezuka]] (1928-1989), widely acknowledged{{By whom|date=March 2009}} as the father of narrative manga, further developed this form. Tezuka was inspired to become a comic artist upon seeing an [[animated|animation]] [[World War II|war]] [[propaganda]] film, titled {{nihongo|''[[Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors]]''|桃太郎 海の神兵|''Momotarō Umi no Shinpei''}}. Tezuka introduced episodic storytelling and character development in comic format, in which each story is part of larger story arc. The only text in Tezuka's comics was the characters' dialogue and this further lent his comics a cinematic quality. Inspired by the work of [[Walt Disney]], Tezuka also adopted a style of drawing facial features in which a character's [[eyes]], [[nose]], and [[mouth]] are drawn in an extremely exaggerated manner. This style created immediately recognizable expressions using very few lines, and the simplicity of this style allowed Tezuka to be prolific. Tezuka’s work generated new interest in the ukiyo-e tradition, in which the image is a representation of an idea, rather than a depiction of reality. +
- +
-Though a close equivalent to the [[American comic book]], manga has historically held a more important place in Japanese culture than comics have in American culture. Japanese society shows a wide respect for manga: both as an art form and as a form of popular literature. Many manga become [[television|TV]] shows or shorter movies. As with its American counterpart, some manga has been criticized for its sexuality and violence, although in the absence of official or even industry restrictions on content, artists have been free to create manga for every age group and for every topic.+
- +
-Manga magazines — also known as "anthologies", or colloquially, "phone books"{{Fact|date=March 2009}} — often run several series concurrently, with approximately 20 to 40 pages allocated to each series per issue. These magazines are usually printed on low-quality newsprint and range from 200 to more than 850 pages each. Manga magazines also contain [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot comics]] and a variety of four-panel [[yonkoma]] (equivalent to [[comic strips]]). Manga series may continue for many years if they are successful, with stories often collected and reprinted in book-sized volumes called {{nihongo3|lit. ''stand-alone book''|単行本|[[tankōbon]]}}, the equivalent of the American [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperbacks]]. These volumes use higher-quality paper and are useful to readers who want to be brought up to date with a series, or to readers who find the cost of the weekly or monthly publications to be prohibitive. Deluxe versions are printed, as commemorative or collectible editions. Conversely, old manga titles are also reprinted using lower-quality paper and sold for 120 [[yen|¥]] (approximately $1 USD) each.+
- +
-===Genres of manga===+
-Manga titles are primarily classified{{By whom|date=March 2009}} by the [[demographics]] of their intended audience. The most popular forms of manga target the markets of young boys ([[shōnen manga]]) and young girls ([[shōjo manga]]). Other categories include adult comics ([[seinen manga]]) and "businessman" comics. All of these receive their own shelves in most Japanese bookstores. Comics with adult content ([[ero manga]]) are usually sold in ''doujinshi'' stores rather than normal bookstores.+
- +
==See also== ==See also==
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*[[Cartoon]] *[[Cartoon]]
*[[Comics vocabulary]] *[[Comics vocabulary]]
 +*[[Comics and pop art]]
 +*[[Paraliterature]]
*[[Underground comics]] *[[Underground comics]]
-*[[Webcomic]]+*''[[Horror comics in the United States, 1947–1954]]
- +*''[[Our Gods Wear Spandex]] '' (2007) by Christopher Knowles
{{GFDL}} {{GFDL}}

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A comic book is a magazine or book containing sequential art in the form of a narrative. Comic books are often called comics for short. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. American comic books have become closely associated with the superhero tradition.

European comics and adult comics since the 1960s are the main focus of this encyclopedia.

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Canonized

In the last quarter of the twentieth century, greater acceptance of the comics form among the general reading public coincided with a greater usage of the term graphic novel, often meant to differentiate a book of comics with a spine from its saddle-stitched form, but the difference between the terms is ambiguous, as comics have become increasingly available in libraries and mainstream book stores.

History

History of comics

An example of an early precursor to print comics is Trajan's Column. Rome's Trajan's Column, dedicated in 113 AD, is an early surviving example of a narrative told through sequential pictures, while Egyptian hieroglyphs, Greek friezes, medieval tapestries such as the Bayeux Tapestry and illustrated manuscripts also combine sequential images and words to tell a story. Versions of the Bible relying primarily on images rather than text were widely distributed in Europe in order to bring the teachings of Christianity to the illiterate. In medieval paintings, many sequential scenes of the same story (usually a Biblical one) appear simultaneously in the same painting.

The invention of the printing press, allowing movable type, established a separation between images and words, the two requiring different methods in order to be reproduced. Early printed material concentrated on religious subjects, but through the 17th and 18th centuries, they began to tackle aspects of political and social life, and also started to satirize and caricature. It was also during this period that the speech bubble was developed as a means of attributing dialogue.

The speech balloon also evolved during this period, from the medieval origins of the phylacter, a label, usually in the form of a scroll, which identified a character either through naming them or using a short text to explain their purpose. Artists such as George Cruikshank helped codify such phylacters as balloons rather than scrolls, though at this time they were still called labels. They now represented narrative, but for identification purposes rather than dialogue within the work, and artists soon discarded them in favour of running dialogue underneath the panels. Speech balloons weren't reintroduced to the form until Richard F. Outcault used them for dialogue.

Rodolphe Töpffer, a Francophone Swiss artist, was a key figure in the early part of the 19th century. Though speech balloons fell from favour during the middle 19th century, Töpffer's sequentially illustrated stories, with text compartmentalized below images, were reprinted throughout Europe and the United States. The lack of copyright laws at the time meant that pirated editions proliferated, and translated versions created a market on both continents for similar works.

In the United States, R.F. Outcault's work in combining speech balloons and images on Hogan's Alley and The Yellow Kid has been credited as establishing the form and conventions of the comic strip, though academics have uncovered earlier works that combine speech bubbles and a multi image narrative. However, the popularity of Outcalt's work and the position of the strip in a newspaper retains credit as a driving force of the form.

The 1920s and 1930s saw further booms within the industry. The market for comic anthologies in Britain turned to targeting children through juvenile humor, with The Dandy and The Beano. In Belgium, Hergé created the The Adventures of Tintin newspaper strip for a comic supplement; this was successfully collected in a bound album and created a market for further such works. The same period in the United States had seen newspaper strips expand their subject matter beyond humour, with action, adventure and mystery strips launched. The collection of such material also began, with The Funnies, a reprint collection of newspaper strips, published in tabloid size in 1929.

During the latter half of the 20th century comics have become a very popular item for collectors and from the 1970s American comics publishers have actively encouraged collecting and shifted a large portion of comics publishing and production to appeal directly to the collector's community.

In the 1980s, comics scholarship started to blossom in the U.S., and a resurgence in the popularity of comics was seen, with Alan Moore and Frank Miller producing notable superhero works.

American comics

American comics

An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States containing a narrative in the comics form. The standard dimensions are 6 ⅝" × 10 ¼".

Since the invention of the comic book format in the 1930s, the United States has been the leading producer with only the British comic books (during the inter-war period and up until the 1970s) and the Japanese manga as close competitors in terms of quantity.

Comic book sales declined with the spread of television and mass market paperback books after World War II, but regained popularity in the late 1950s and the 1960s as comic books' audience expanded to include college students who favored the naturalistic, "superheroes in the real world" trend initiated by Stan Lee at Marvel Comics. The 1960s also saw the advent of the underground comics. Later, the influence of Japanese manga and the recognition of the comic medium among academics, literary critics and art museums helped solidify comics as a serious artform with established traditions, stylistic conventions, and artistic evolution. American comic books have become closely associated with the superhero tradition.

European comics

European comics

France and Belgium have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are called BDs (an abbreviation of Bande Dessinée) in French and strips in Dutch. Belgian comic books originally written in Dutch are influenced by the Francophone "Franco-Belgian" comics, but have their own distinct style.

The name la bande dessinée derives from the original description of the art form as drawn strips (the phrase is literally translated as the drawn strip), analogous to the sequence of images in a film strip. As in its English equivalent, the word "bande" can be applied to both film and comics. It is not insignificant that the French term contains no indication of subject matter, unlike the American terms "comics" and "funnies", which imply an art form not to be taken seriously. The distinction of comics as le neuvième art (literally, "the ninth art") is prevalent in French scholarship on the form, as is the concept of comics criticism and scholarship itself. Relative to the respective size of their populations, the innumerable authors in France and Belgium publish a high volume of comic books. In North America, the more serious Franco-Belgian comics are often seen as equivalent to graphic novels, but whether they are long or short, bound or in magazine format, in Europe there is no need for a more sophisticated term, as the art's name does not itself imply something frivolous.

In France, authors control the publication of most comics. The author works within a self-appointed time-frame, and it is common for readers to wait six months or as long as two years between installments. Most books are first published as a hard cover book, typically with 48, 56 or 64 pages.

British comics

British comics

A British comic is a periodical published in the United Kingdom that contains comic strips. It is generally referred to as a comic or a comic magazine, and historically as a comic paper.

British comics are usually comics anthologies which are typically aimed at children, and are published weekly, although some are also published on a fortnightly or monthly schedule. The top three longest-running comics in the world, The Dandy, The Beano and Comic Cuts are all British, although in modern times British comics have been largely superseded by American comic books and Japanese manga.

Italian comics

Italian comics

In Italy, comics (known in Italian as fumetti) made their debut as humorous strips at the end of the nineteenth century, and later evolved into adventure stories inspired by those coming from the US. After World War II, however, artists like Hugo Pratt and Guido Crepax exposed Italian comics to an international audience. "Author" comics contain often strong erotic contents. Best sellers remain popular comic books Diabolik or the Bonelli line, namely Tex Willer or Dylan Dog.

Mainstream comics are usually published on a monthly basis, in a black-and-white digest size format, with approximately 100 to 132 pages. Collections of classic material for the most famous characters, usually with more than 200 pages, are also common. Author comics are published in the French BD format, with an example being Pratt's Corto Maltese.

Italian cartoonists show the influence of comics from other countries, including France, Belgium, Spain, and Argentina. Italy is also famous for being one of the foremost producers of Walt Disney comic stories outside the US. Donald Duck's superhero alter ego, Paperinik, known in English as Superduck, was created in Italy.

Other European comics

Although Switzerland has made relatively few contributions to European comics, many scholars point to a Francophone Swiss, Rodolphe Töpffer, as the true father of comics. However, this assertion is still controversial, with critics noting that Töpffer's work is not necessarily connected to the creation of the artform as it is now known in the region.

Japanese comics

Japanese comics

The first comic books in Japan appeared during the 18th century in the form of woodblock- printed booklets containing short stories drawn from folk tales, legends, and historical accounts, told in a simple visual-verbal idiom. Known as "red books", "black books", and "blue books", these were written primarily for less literate readers. However, with the publication in 1775 of Koikawa Harumachi's comic book Master Flashgold's Splendiferous Dream, an adult form of comic book originated, which required greater literacy and cultural sophistication. This was known as the yellow cover. Published in thousands (possibly tens of thousands) of copies, the kibyōshi may have been the earliest fully realized comic book for adults in world literary history. Approximately 2000 titles remain extant.

Modern comic books in Japan developed from a mixture of these earlier comic books and woodblock prints ukiyo-e with Western styles of drawing. They took their form shortly after World War II. They are usually published in black and white, except for the covers, which are usually printed in four colors, although occasionally, the first few pages may also be printed in full color. The term manga means "random (or whimsical) pictures", and first came into common usage in the late eighteenth century with the publication of such works as Santō Kyōden's picturebook 'Shiji no yukikai (1798) and Aikawa Minwa's Comic Sketches of a Hundred Women (1798).

See also




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