Wikipedia

Comic book

(Redirected fromComic books)
This article is about periodicals containing comics. For the comics art medium, seeComics.

Acomic book,comic-magazineor simply 'comic',is a publication that consists ofcomicsart in the form of sequential juxtaposedpanelsthat represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and written narrative, usually dialogue contained inword balloonsemblematic of the comics art form.

Comic books on display at a museum, depicting how they would have been displayed at a rail station store in the first half of the 20th century
A common comic-book cover format displays the issue number, date, price and publisher along with an illustration and cover copy which may include a story's title.

Comic Cutswas a British comic published from 1890 to 1953. It was preceded byAlly Sloper's Half Holiday(1884), which is notable for its use of sequential cartoons to unfold narrative. These British comics existed alongside the popular lurid "penny dreadfuls"(such asSpring-heeled Jack), boys' "story papers"and the humorousPunchmagazine, which was the first to use the term "cartoon" in its modern sense of a humorous drawing.

The first modernAmerican-style comic book,Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics,was released in the U.S. in 1933 and was a reprinting of earlier newspaper humorcomic strips,which had established many of the story-telling devices used in comics.[1]The termcomic bookderives fromAmerican comic booksonce being a compilation of comic strips of a humorous tone; however, this practice was replaced by featuring stories of all genres, usually not humorous in tone.

The largest comic book market is Japan. By 1995, themangamarket in Japan was valued at¥586.4 billion($6–7 billion),[2]with annual sales of 1.9billion manga books (tankōbonvolumes andmanga magazines) in Japan, equivalent to 15issues per person.[3]In 2020 the manga market in Japan reached a new record value of ¥612.5 billion due to a fast growth of digital manga sales as well as an increase in print sales.[4][5]The comic book market in theUnited StatesandCanadawas valued at$1.09 billionin 2016.[6]As of 2017,the largest comic book publisher in the United States is manga distributorViz Media,followed byDC ComicsandMarvel Comicsfeaturingsuperhero comicsfranchises such asSuperman,Batman,Wonder Woman,Spider-Man,the Incredible Hulkandthe X-Men.[7]The best-selling comic book categories in the US as of 2019are juvenilechildren's fictionat 41%, manga at 28% and superhero comics at 10% of the market.[8]Another major comic book market isFrance,whereFranco-Belgian comicsand Japanese manga each represent 40% of the market, followed by American comics at 10% market share.[9]

Structure

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Main article:Comics § Terminology
Page 76 of agraphic noveladaptation ofTristram Shandy,drawn by the British cartoonistMartin Rowson

Comic books heavily rely on their organization and visual presentation. Authors dedicate significant attention to aspects like page layout, size, orientation, and the positioning of panels. These characteristics are crucial for effectively conveying the content and messages within the comic book. Key components of comic books encompass panels, speech bubbles (also known as balloons), text lines, and characters. Speech balloons generally take the form of convex containers that hold character dialogue and are connected to the character via a tail element. The tail comprises an origin, path, tip, and directional point. The creation of comic books involves several essential steps: writing, drawing, and coloring. Various technological tools and methods are employed to craft comic books, incorporating concepts such as directions, axes, data, and metrics. Following these formatting guidelines, the process unfolds with writing, drawing, and coloring.[10]In the United States, the term "comic book", is generally used for comicsperiodicalsandtrade paperbackswhile "graphic novel"is the term used for standalone books.[11][12]

American comic books

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Main article:American comic book

Comics as a print medium have existed in the United States since the printing ofThe Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuckin 1842 in hardcover,[13]making it the first known American prototype comic book. Proto-comics periodicals began appearing early in the 20th century, with the first comic standard-sized comic beingFunnies on Parade.Funnies on Paradeswas the first book that established the size, duration, and format of the modern comic book. Following this was,Dell Publishing's 36-pageFamous Funnies: A Carnival of Comicsas the first true newsstand American comic book; Goulart, for example, calls it "the cornerstone for one of the most lucrative branches of magazine publishing".[14]In 1905 G.W. Dillingham Company published 24 select strips by the cartoonistGustave Verbeekin an anthology book called 'The Incredible Upside-Downs of Little Lady Lovekins and Old Man Muffaroo'.[15]The introduction ofJerry SiegelandJoe Shuster'sSupermanin 1938 turned comic books into a major industry[16]and ushered in theGolden Age of Comic Books.The Golden Age originated thearchetypeof thesuperhero.According to historianMichael A. Amundson,appealing comic-book characters helped ease young readers' fear of nuclear war and neutralize anxiety about the questions posed by atomic power.[17]

Historians generally divide the timeline of the American comic book into eras. TheGolden Age of Comic Booksbegan in 1938, with the debut of Superman in Action Comics #1, published by Detective Comics (predecessor of DC Comics), which is generally considered the beginning of the modern comic book as it is known today.[18]TheSilver Age of Comic Booksis generally considered to date from the first successful revival of the then-dormant superhero form, with the debut of theFlashinShowcase#4 (Oct. 1956).[19][20]The Silver Age lasted through the late 1960s or early 1970s, during which timeMarvel Comicsrevolutionized the medium with suchnaturalisticsuperheroes asStan LeeandJack Kirby'sFantastic Fourand Lee andSteve Ditko'sSpider-Man.The demarcation between the Silver Age and the following era, theBronze Age of Comic Books,is less well-defined, with the Bronze Age running from the very early 1970s through the mid-1980s.[21]TheModern Age of Comic Booksruns from the mid-1980s to the present day.[22]

A significant event in the timeline of American comic books occurred when psychiatristFredric Werthamvoiced his criticisms of the medium through his bookSeduction of the Innocent(1954). This critique led to the involvement of the AmericanSenate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency,which launched an investigation into comic books. Wertham argued that comic books were accountable for a surge in juvenile delinquency and posed a potential impact on a child's sexuality and moral values.[23]In response to attention from the government and from the media, the US comic book industry set up the Comics Magazine Association of America.[24]The CMAA instilled theComics Code Authorityin 1954 and drafted the self-censorship Comics Code that year, which required all comic books to go through a process of approval. It was not until the 1970s that comic books could be published without passing through the inspection of the CMAA.[25]The Code was made formally defunct in November 2011.

Underground comic books

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Main article:Underground comix

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a surge of creativity emerged in what became known asunderground comix.Published and distributed independently of the established comics industry, most of such comics reflected the youthcountercultureanddrug cultureof the time. Underground comix "reflected and commented on the social divisions and tensions of American society".[attribution needed][26]Many had an uninhibited, often irreverent style; their frank depictions of nudity, sex, profanity, and politics had no parallel outside their precursors, the pornographic and even more obscure "Tijuana bibles".Underground comics were almost never sold at newsstands, but rather in such youth-oriented outlets ashead shopsand record stores, as well as bymail order.The underground comics encouraged creators to publish their work independently so that they would have full ownership rights to their characters.[26]

Frank Stack'sThe Adventures of Jesus,published under the name Foolbert Sturgeon,[27][28]has been credited as the first underground comix;[27][28]whileR. Crumband the crew of cartoonists who worked onZap Comixpopularized the form.

Alternative comics

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Main article:Alternative comics

The rise of comic bookspecialty storesin the late 1970s created and paralleled a dedicated market for "independent" or "alternative comics"in the US. The first such comics included the anthology seriesStar Reach,published by comic book writerMike Friedrichfrom 1974 to 1979, andHarvey Pekar'sAmerican Splendor,which continued sporadic publication into the 21st century and whichShari Springer BermanandRobert Pulciniadapted into a2003 film.Some independent comics continued in the tradition of underground comics. While their content generally remained less explicit, 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 (notablyRAW) represented experimental attempts to bring comics closer to the status offine art.

During the 1970s the "small press"culture grew and diversified. By the 1980s, several independent publishers – such asPacific,Eclipse,First,Comico,andFantagraphics– had started releasing a wide range of styles and formats—from color-superhero,detective,and science-fiction comic books to black-and-white magazine-format stories ofLatin Americanmagical 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 "minicomics"form, an extremely informal version ofself-publishing,arose in the 1980s and became increasingly popular among artists in the 1990s,[29]despite reaching an even more limited audience than the small press.

Small publishers regularly releasing titles includeAvatar Press,Hyperwerks,Raytoons, andTerminal Press,buoyed by such advances in printing technology as digitalprint-on-demand.

Graphic novels

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TheCenters for Disease Control and Preventionpublished this instructional graphic novel in 2018 to teach youth to stop spreading infectious diseases.
Main article:Graphic novel

In 1964, Richard Kyle coined the term "graphic novel".[30]

Precursors of the form existed by the 1920s, which saw a revival of themedievalwoodcuttradition by BelgianFrans Masereel,[31]AmericanLynd Wardand others, including Stan Lee.

In 1947,Fawcett Publicationspublished "Comics Novel No. 1", as the first in an intended series of these "comics novels". The story in the first issue was "Anarcho, Dictator of Death", a five chapter spy genre tale written byOtto Binderand drawn by Al Carreno. It is readable online in theDigital Comic Museum.[32]The magazine never reached a second issue.

In 1950,St. John Publicationsproduced thedigest-sized,adult-oriented "picture novel"It Rhymes with Lust,a 128-page digest bypseudonymouswriter "Drake Waller" (Arnold DrakeandLeslie Waller), pencilerMatt Bakerand inkerRay Osrin,touted as "an original full-length novel" on its cover. "It Rhymes with Lust" is also available to read online in the Digital Comic Museum.[33]

In 1971, writer-artistGil Kaneand collaborators applied a paperback format to their "comics novel"Blackmark.Will Eisnerpopularized the term "graphic novel" when he used it on the cover of the paperback edition of his workA Contract with God, and Other Tenement Storiesin 1978 and, subsequently, the usage of the term began to increase.

Digital comics

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See also:Digital comic

Market size

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In 2017, the comic book market size for North America was just over $1 billion with digital sales being flat, book stores having a 1 percent decline, and comic book stores having a 10 percent decline over 2016.[34]The global comic book market saw a substantial 12% growth in 2020, reaching a total worth of US$8.49 billion. This positive trajectory continued in 2021, with the market's annual valuation surging to US$9.21 billion. The rising popularity of comic books can be attributed to heightened global interest, driven significantly by collaborative efforts among diverse brands. These collaborations are geared towards producing more engaging and appealing comic content, contributing to the industry's continued growth.[35]

Comic book collecting

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Main article:Comic book collecting

The 1970s saw the advent of specialtycomic book stores.Initially, comic books were marketed by publishers to children because comic books were perceived as children's entertainment. However, with increasing recognition of comics as an art form and the growing pop culture presence ofcomic book conventions,they are now embraced by many adults.[24]

Comic book collectors often exhibit a lifelong passion for the stories within comics, often focusing on specific superheroes and striving to gather a complete collection of a particular series. Comics are assigned sequential numbers, and the initial issue of a long-lasting comic book series tends to be both the scarcest and the most coveted among collectors. The introduction of a new character might occur within an existing title. For instance, the first appearance ofSpider-Mantook place inAmazing Fantasy#15. New characters were frequently introduced in this manner, waiting for an established audience before launching their own titles. Consequently, comics featuring the debut appearance of a significant character can sometimes be even more challenging to locate than the inaugural issue of that character's standalone series.

Some rare comic books include copies of the unreleasedMotion Picture Funnies Weekly#1 from 1939. Eight copies, plus one without a cover, emerged in the estate of the deceased publisher in 1974. The "Pay Copy" of this book sold for $43,125 in a 2005Heritageauction.[36]

The most valuable American comics have combined rarity and quality with the first appearances of popular and enduring characters. Four comic books have sold for over US$1 million as of December 2010,including two examples ofAction Comics#1, the first appearance ofSuperman,[37][38]both sold privately through online dealer ComicConnect in 2010, andDetective Comics#27, the first appearance ofBatman,via public auction.

Updating the above price obtained forAction Comics#1, the first appearance ofSuperman,the highest sale on record for this book is $3.2 million, for a 9.0 copy.[39]

Misprints, promotional comic-dealer incentive printings, and issues with exceptionally low distribution tend to possess scarcity value in the comic book market. The rarest modern comic books include theoriginal press runofThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen#5, which DC executivePaul Levitzrecalled and pulped due to the appearance of a vintageVictorian eraadvertisement for "MarvelDouche",which the publisher considered offensive;[40]only 100 copies exist, most of which have beenCGCgraded. (SeeRecalled comicsfor more pulped, recalled, and erroneous comics.)

In 2000, a company namedComics Guaranty(CGC) initiated the practice of "slabbing" comics, which involves encasing them within thick plastic cases and assigning them a numerical grade. This approach inspired the emergence ofComic Book Certification Service.Given the significance of condition in determining the value of rare comics, the concept ofgradingby an impartial company, one that does not engage in buying or selling comics, seemed promising. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate regarding whether the relatively high cost of this grading service is justified and whether it serves the interests of collectors or mainly caters to speculators seeking rapid profits, akin to trading in stocks or fine art. Comic grading has played a role in establishing standards for valuation, which online price guides such as GoCollect and GPAnalysis utilize to provide real-time market value information.

Collectors also seek out the original artwork pages from comic books, which are perhaps the most rarefied items in the realm of comic book collecting. These pages hold unparalleled scarcity due to the fact that there exists only one unique page of artwork for every page that was printed and published.

The creation of these original artwork pages involves a collaborative effort: a writer crafts the story, a pencil artist designs the sequential panels on the page, an ink artist goes over the pencil with pen and ink, a letterer provides the dialogue and narration through hand-lettering, and finally, a colorist adds color as the final touch before the pages are sent to the printer.

When the printer returns the original artwork pages, they are typically returned to the artists themselves. These artists sometimes opt to sell these pages at comic book conventions, in galleries, and at art shows centered around comic book art. The original pages from DC and Marvel, featuring the debut appearances of iconic characters such as Superman, Batman,Wonder Woman,the Flash,Captain Marvel,Spider-Man,the Incredible Hulk,Iron Man,Captain Americaandthe Mighty Thorare regarded as priceless treasures within the comic book world.

History of race in U.S. comic books

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Many early iterations of black characters in comics "became variations on the 'single stereotypical image of Sambo'."[41]Sambo was closely related to the coon stereotype but had some subtle differences. They are both a derogatory way of portraying black characters. "The name itself, an abbreviation of raccoon, is dehumanizing. As with Sambo, the coon was portrayed as a lazy, easily frightened, chronically idle, inarticulate, buffoon."[42]This portrayal "was of course another attempt to solidify the intellectual inferiority of the black race through popular culture."[41]However, in the 1940s there was a change in portrayal of black characters. "A cursory glance...might give the impression that situations had improved for African Americans in comics."[41]In many comics being produced in this time there was a major push for tolerance between races. "These equality minded heroes began to spring to action just as African Americans were being asked to participate in the war effort."[41]

During this time, a government ran program, the Writers' War Board, became heavily involved in what would be published in comics. "The Writers' War Board used comic books to shape popular perceptions of race and ethnicity..."[43]Not only were they using comic books as a means of recruiting all Americans, they were also using it as propaganda to "[construct] a justification for race-based hatred of America's foreign enemies."[43]The Writers' War Board created comics books that were meant to "[promote] domestic racial harmony".[43]However, "these pro-tolerance narratives struggled to overcome the popular and widely understood negative tropes used for decades in American mass culture...".[43]However, they were not accomplishing this agenda within all of their comics.

In the comic seriesCaptain Marvel Adventures,there was a character named Steamboat who embodied a collection of highly negative stereotypes prevalent during that period. The Writers' War Board did not request any alterations to this character despite the problematic portrayal. The removal of Steamboat from the series only came about due to the persistent advocacy of a black youth group based in New York City. "[43]Originally their request was refused by individuals working on the comic stating, "Captain Marvel Adventuresincluded many kinds of caricatures 'for the sake of humor'. "[43]The black youth group responded with "this is not the Negro race, but your one-and-a-half millions readers will think it so."[43]Afterwards, Steamboat disappeared from the comics all together. There was a comic created about the 99th Squadron, also known as theTuskegee Airmen,an all-black air force unit. Instead of making the comic about their story, the comic was about Hop Harrigan. A white pilot who captures a Nazi, shows him videos of the 99th Squadron defeating his men and then reveals to the Nazi that his men were defeated by African Americans which infuriated him as he sees them as a less superior race and cannot believe they bested his men. "The Tuskegee Airmen, and images of black aviators appear in just three of the fifty three panels... the pilots of the 99th Squadron have no dialogue and interact with neither Hop Harrigan nor his Nazi captive."[43]During this time, they also used black characters in comic books as a means to invalidate the militant black groups that were fighting for equality within the U.S. "Spider-Man 'made it clear that militant black power was not the remedy for racial injustice'."[41]"The Falcon openly criticized black behavior stating' maybe it's important fo [sic] us to cool things down-so we can protect the rights we been fightin' for'. "[41]This portrayal and character development of black characters can be partially blamed on the fact that, during this time, "there had rarely been a black artist or writer allowed in a major comics company."[41]

Asian characters within comic books encountered similar prejudiced treatment as black characters did. They were subjected to dehumanizing depictions, with narratives often portraying them as "incompetent and subhuman."[43]In a 1944 edition of the publicationUnited States Marines,there was a story titledThe Smell of the Monkeymen.This narrative portrayed Japanese soldiers as brutish simians, and it depicted their concealed positions being betrayed by their repugnant body odor.[43]Chinese characters received the same treatment. "By the time the United States entered WWII, negative perceptions of Chinese were an established part of mass culture...."[43]However, concerned that the Japanese could use America's anti-Chinese material as propaganda they began "to present a more positive image of America's Chinese allies..."[43]Just as they tried to show better representation for Black people in comics they did the same for Asian people. However, "Japanese and Filipino characters were visually indistinguishable. Both groups have grotesque buckteeth, tattered clothing, and bright yellow skin."[43]"Publishers depicted America's Asian allies through derogatory images and language honed over the preceding decades."[43]Asian characters were previously portrayed as, "ghastly yellow demons".[41]During WWII, "[every] major superhero worth his spandex devoted himself to the eradication of Asian invaders."[41]There was "a constant relay race in which one Asian culture merely handed off the baton of hatred to another with no perceptible changes in the manner in which the characters would be portrayed."[41]

"The only specific depiction of a Hispanic superhero[dubious–discuss]did not end well. In 1975, Marvel gave us Hector Ayala (a.k.a. The White Tiger). "[41]"Although he fought for several years alongside the likes of much more popular heroes such as Spider-Man and Daredevil, he only lasted six years before sales of comics featuring him got so bad that Marvel had him retire.[41]The most famous Hispanic character is Bane, a villain from Batman. "[41]

The Native American representation in comic books "can be summed up in the noble savage stereotype"[41]"a recurring theme...urged American indians to abandon their traditional hostility towards the United States. They were the ones painted as intolerant and disrespectful of the dominant concerns of white America".[41]

East Asian comics

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Japanese manga

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Main article:Manga

Manga( truyện tranh ) are comic books orgraphic novelsoriginating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, though the art form has a long prehistory in earlierJapanese art.The termmangais used in Japan to refer to both comics andcartooningin general. Outside Japan, the word is typically used to refer to comics originally published in the country.

Dōjinshi

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Main article:Dōjinshi

Dōjinshi(Đồng nghiệp chí,fan magazine),fan-madeJapanese comics, operate in a far larger market in Japan than the American "underground comix" market; the largest dōjinshi fair,Comiket,attracts 500,000 visitors twice a year.[44]

Korean manhwa

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Main article:Manhwa

Manhwa(만화) are comic books or graphic novels originating fromSouth Korea.The termmanhwais used in South Korea to refer to both comics and cartooning in general. Outside South Korea, the term usually refers to comics originally published in the country. Manhwa is greatly influenced by Japanese Manga comics though it differs from manga andmanhuawith its own distinct features.

Webtoons

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Main article:Webtoons

Webtoons have become popular in South Korea as a new way to read comics. Thanks in part to different censorship rules, color and unique visual effects, and optimization for easier reading on smartphones and computers. Moremanhwahave made the switch from traditional print manhwa to online webtoons thanks to better pay and more freedom than traditional print manhwa. The webtoon format has also expanded to other countries outside of Korea like China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Western countries. Major webtoon distributors includeLezhin,Naver,andKakao.

Chinese manhua

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Main article:Manhua

Vietnamese truyện tranh

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Main article:Truyện tranh

European comics

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Main article:European comics

Franco-Belgian comics

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Main article:Bande dessinée
René Goscinny(1926–1977), writer of theAstérixcomic book series

France and Belgium have a long tradition in comics and comic books, often calledBDs(an abbreviation ofbandes dessinées,meaning literally "drawn strips" )[45]in French, andstripsinDutchorFlemish.Belgian comic books originally written in Dutch show the influence of theFrancophone"Franco-Belgian" comics but have their own distinct style.[citation needed]

British comics

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Main article:British comics
Cover to 27 December 1884 edition ofAlly Sloper's Half Holiday.Ally Sloperis regarded as the first recurring character in comics.[46]

AlthoughAlly Sloper's Half Holiday(1884) was aimed at an adult market, publishers quickly targeted a younger demographic, which has led to most publications being for children and has created an association in the public's mind of comics as somewhat juvenile.The Guardianrefers toAlly Sloperas "one of the world's first iconic cartoon characters", and "as famous in Victorian Britain asDennis the Menacewould be a century later. "[47]British comics in the early 20th century typically evolved from illustratedpenny dreadfulsof the Victorian era (featuringSweeney Todd,Dick TurpinandVarney the Vampire).[48]First published in the 1830s, penny dreadfuls were "Britain's first taste of mass-produced popular culture for the young."[49]

Statue ofMinnie the Minx,a character fromThe Beano,in Dundee, Scotland. Launched in 1938,The Beanois known for its anarchic humour, withDennis the Menaceappearing on the cover.

The two most popular British comic books,The BeanoandThe Dandy,were first published byDC Thomsonin the 1930s. By 1950 the weekly circulation of both reached two million.[50][51]Explaining the enormous popularity of comics in the UK during this period, Anita O'Brien, director curator at London's Cartoon Museum, states: "When comics like the Beano and Dandy were invented back in the 1930s – and through really to the 1950s and 60s – these comics were almost the only entertainment available to children."[50]Dennis the Menacewas created in the 1950s, which saw sales forThe Beanosoar.[52]He features in the cover ofThe Beano,with the BBC referring to him as the "definitive naughty boy of the comic world."[52]

In 1954,Tigercomics introducedRoy of the Rovers,the hugely popular football based strip recounting the life ofRoy Raceand the team he played for,Melchester Rovers.The stock media phrase "real 'Roy of the Rovers' stuff" is often used by football writers, commentators and fans when describing displays of great skill, or surprising results that go against the odds, in reference to the dramatic storylines that were the strip's trademark.[53]Other comic books such asEagle,Valiant,Warrior,Vizand2000 ADalso flourished. Some comics, such asJudge Dreddand other2000 ADtitles, have been published in atabloidform. Underground comics and"small press"titles have also appeared in the UK, notablyOzandEscape Magazine.

The content ofAction,another title aimed at children and launched in the mid-1970s, became the subject of discussion in theHouse of Commons.Although on a smaller scale than similar investigations in the US, such concerns led to a moderation of content published within British comics. Such moderation never became formalized to the extent of promulgating a code, nor did it last long. The UK has also established a healthy market in the reprinting and repackaging of material, notably material originating in the US. 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'sCaptain Marvel,and other characters such asSheena,Mandrake the Magician,andthe Phantom.Several reprint companies became involved in repackaging American material for the British market, notably the importer and distributorThorpe & Porter.Marvel Comics established a UK officein 1972. DC Comics andDark Horse Comicsalso opened offices in the 1990s. The repackaging of European material has occurred less frequently, althoughThe Adventures of TintinandAsterixserials have been successfully translated and repackaged in softcover books. The number of European comics available in the UK has increased in the last two decades. The British companyCinebook,founded in 2005, has released English translated versions of many European series.

In the 1980s, a resurgence of British writers and artists gained prominence in mainstream comic books, which was dubbed the "British Invasion"in comic book history.[54]These writers and artists brought with them their own mature themes and philosophy such as anarchy, controversy and politics common in British media. These elements would pave the way for mature and "darker and edgier" comic books and jump start theModern Age of Comics.[55]Writers includedAlan Moore,famous for hisV for Vendetta,From Hell,Watchmen,Marvelman,andThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen;[56]Neil GaimanwithThe Sandmanmythos andBooks of Magic;Warren Ellis,creator ofTransmetropolitanandPlanetary;and others such asMark Millar,creator ofWantedandKick-Ass.The comic book seriesJohn Constantine, Hellblazer,which is largely set in Britain and starring the magicianJohn Constantine,paved the way for British writers such asJamie Delano.[57]

The English musicianPeter Gabrielissued in 2000The Story of OVOwhich was released in a CD-booklet-shaped comic book as part of the CD edition with the title "OVO The Millennium Show".The 2000Millennium Dome Showbased on it.[58]

At Christmas, publishers repackage and commission material for comicannuals,printed and bound as hardcoverA4-size books;"Rupert"supplies a famous example of the British comic annual.DC Thomsonalso repackagesThe BroonsandOor Wulliestrips in softcover A4-size books for the holiday season.

On 19 March 2012, the British postal service, theRoyal Mail,released a set of stamps depicting British comic book characters and series.[59]The collection featuredThe Beano,The Dandy,Eagle,The Topper,Roy of the Rovers,Bunty,Buster,Valiant,Twinkleand2000 AD.[59]

Spanish comics

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Main article:Spanish comics

It has been stated that the 13th centuryCantigas de Santa Maríacould be considered as the firstSpanish"comic", although comic books (also known inSpainashistorietasortebeos) made their debut around 1857. The magazineTBOwas influential in popularizing the medium. After theSpanish Civil War,theFrancoregime imposed strict censorship in all media:superherocomics were forbidden and as a result, comic heroes were based onhistorical fiction(in 1944 the medieval heroEl Guerrero del Antifazwas created by Manuel Gago and another popular medieval hero,Capitán Trueno,was created in 1956 byVíctor MoraandMiguel Ambrosio Zaragoza). Two publishing houses —Editorial BrugueraandEditorial Valenciana— dominated the Spanish comics market during its golden age (1950–1970). The most popular comics showed a recognizable style ofslapstick humor(influenced by Franco-Belgian authors such asFranquin):Escobar'sCarpantaandZipi y Zape,Vázquez'sLas hermanas GildaandAnacleto,Ibáñez'sMortadelo y Filemónand13. Rue del PercebeorJan'sSuperlópez.After the end of theFrancoist period,there was an increased interest in adult comics with magazines such asTotem,El Jueves,1984,andEl Víbora,and works such asParacuellosbyCarlos Giménez.

Spanishartists have traditionally worked in other markets finding great success, either in the American (e.g.,Eisner Award winnersSergio Aragonés,Salvador Larroca,Gabriel Hernández Walta,Marcos MartínorDavid Aja), the British (e.g.,Carlos Ezquerra,co-creator ofJudge Dredd) or the Franco-Belgian one (e.g.,Fauve d'Or winnerJulio RiberaorBlacksadauthorsJuan Díaz CanalesandJuanjo Guarnido).

Italian comics

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Main article:Italian comics
Hugo Pratt(1927–1995), author of theCorto Maltesecomic book series

InItaly,comics (known in Italian asfumetti) made their debut as humor strips at the end of the 19th century, and later evolved into adventure stories. After World War II, however, artists likeHugo PrattandGuido Crepaxexposed Italian comics to an international audience. Popular comic books such asDiabolikor theBonelliline—namelyTex WillerorDylan Dog—remain best-sellers.[60]

Mainstream comics are usually published on a monthly basis, in a black-and-whitedigest sizeformat, 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'sCorto Maltese.

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

Comics in other countries

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See also:List of comics by country

Distribution

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The comic book industry has struggled with distribution issues throughout its history, as numerous mainstream retailers have been hesitant to stock substantial quantities of the most engaging and sought-after comics. Thesmartphoneand thetablethave turned out to be an ideal medium for online distribution.[61]

Digital distribution

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On 13 November 2007,Marvel ComicslaunchedMarvel Digital Comics Unlimited,a subscription service allowing readers to read manycomicsfrom Marvel's history online. The service also includes periodic release new comics not available elsewhere. With the release ofAvenging Spider-Man#1, Marvel also became the first publisher to provide free digital copies as part of the print copy of the comic book.[62]

With the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets, many major publishers have begun releasing titles in digital form. The most popular platform iscomiXology.Some platforms, such asGraphicly,have shut down.

Comic collections in libraries

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Numerous libraries house extensive collections of comics in the form of graphic novels. This serves as a convenient means for the general public to become acquainted with the medium.[63]

Guinness World Records

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In 2015, the Japanesemanga artistEiichiro Odawas awarded theGuinness World Recordstitle for having the "Most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author". His manga seriesOne Piece,which he writes and illustrates, has been serialized in the Japanese magazineWeekly Shōnen Jumpsince December 1997, and by 2015, 77collected volumeshad been released.Guinness World Recordsreported in their announcement that the collected volumes of the series had sold a total of 320,866,000 units.One Piecealso holds theGuinness World Recordstitle for "Most copies published for the same manga series".[64]

On 5 August 2018, theGuinness World Recordstitle for the "Largest comic book ever published" was awarded to the Brazilian comic bookTurma da Mônica— O Maior Gibi do Mundo!,published byPanini Comics BrasilandMauricio de Sousa Produções.The comic book measures 69.9 by 99.8 centimetres (2 feet 3.5 inches by 3 feet 3.3 inches). The 18-page comic book had a print run of 120 copies.[65]

With the July 2021 publication of the 201st collected volume of his manga seriesGolgo 13,Japanese manga artistTakao Saitowas awarded theGuinness World Recordstitle for "Most volumes published for a single manga series."[66]Golgo 13has been continuously serialized in the Japanese magazineBig Comicsince October 1968, which also makes it the oldest manga still in publication.[67][68]

See also

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References

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Further reading

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