Unit 9 Prep - Comics and Graphic Novel Story Telling : An Intro to comics

Unit 9 - Comics and Graphic Novel Story Telling

Purposes of comics

Formats

Comic book - The comic book is a soft cover magazine of sequential artwork (a number of pictures in colour) and words that when used together tell a story.
Comic Strip - This is what you would find in a newspaper such as Garfield, and what was originally referred to with the term, "comic".
Graphic Novel - A thicker, and glue bound book. This format has been used by some publishers to distinguish the content from comics with more mature content and content matter. They tend to include complete narratives and cover a wide array of genres.
Web Comics - This term is used to describe both comic strips and comic books that can be found on the internet

Marvel - Absolute Carnage

Constant use of red colour - colour of the antagonist, as well as connoting evil and menace
Different page layouts - full page, double page, panel split
Range of panel designs - range of numbers and sizes depending on whats happening in each scene

Comic Book Burning

In the 1940s, comic book burnings were happening in the US to eliminate the perceived dangers of the "new" graphic comic books
Many soldiers were returning home from seeing the same activities in Germany
Although comics were associated primarily with very young readers, 25% of printed materials going to military camps in World War II were comics.
Narratives within comics started causing hysteria and moral panic in society, due to their realistic, violent and gruesome nature. People thought back!

Comics Code Authority (CCA) - 1954

The CCA was voluntary, although a lot of companies and retailers found it reassuring. It was not a government regulator.
It was created by the comic book publishers to prevent backlash from the comic book community.

Excessive violence wasn’t allowed to be featured, neither were zombies, vampires or any other character of that kind
Divorce wasn’t allowed to feature within comics
Prohibited the presentation of "policemen, judges, government officials, and respected institutions in such a way as to create disrespect for established authority.”
Comics could not use the words horror or terror in their titles. The use of the word crime was subject to numerous restrictions.
It discouraged "instances of law enforcement officers dying as a result of a criminal's activities."
”…in every instance good shall triumph over evil"

History of Comics

Golden Era (late 30’s – early 50’s)

Americans saved from depression by superheroes!
Development of stereotypical ‘superhero’ motif – secret identities, strengths, weaknesses
Comic style art – simplistic, basic colours, heroes associated with specific symbols
Heroes: justice, honour, traditional virtues
Villains: greed, power, chaos, insanity
WW2 patriotism & propaganda: Superman, Batman, Captain America, Wonder Woman

Silver Era (1956 – 1970)

Bronze Era (approx. 70’s – early 85’s)

Much darker plot themes – drug use, alcoholism
Experimental/alternative art – brighter and darker frames, vibrant colour palettes, intricate panel details
Deeper exploration of team elements – minority superheroes (Storm from X-Men)
Development of non-hero comics – birth of Graphic Novel

Modern Era (approx. 1985 – Present )

Psychologically complex characters
Appearance of the anti-hero – protagonists questionable morality, hero to vigilantism
Publishing developments with independent publishers
Transition to graphic novel form – very detailed high quality panels, negative shading (Frank Miller), unconventional art forms and innovative storytelling
Big budget film adaptations

Unit 4 and 9 Prep