Portal:Comics

Introduction

Comics are a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically takes the form of a sequence of panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, captions, and onomatopoeia can indicate dialogue, narration, sound effects, or other information. There is no consensus among theorists and historians on a definition of comics; some emphasize the combination of images and text, some sequentiality or other image relations, and others historical aspects such as mass reproduction or the use of recurring characters. Cartooning and other forms of illustration are the most common means of image-making in comics. Photo comics are a form that uses photographic images. Common forms include comic strips, editorial and gag cartoons, and comic books. Since the late 20th century, bound volumes such as graphic novels and comic albums have become increasingly common, along with webcomics.

The English term comics is used as a singular noun when it refers to the medium itself (e.g. "Comics is a visual art form."), but as a plural when referring to works collectively (e.g. "Comics are popular reading material."). (Full article...)

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Batman is a 1989 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton (pictured) in the title role, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, and Jack Palance. The film, in which Batman deals with the rise of a costumed criminal known as "The Joker", is the first installment of Warner Bros.' Batman film series. Numerous A-list actors were considered for the role of Batman. Nicholson accepted the role of the Joker under strict conditions that dictated a high salary, a portion of the box office profits, and his shooting schedule. Batman was a critical and financial success, earning over $400 million in box office totals. The film received several Saturn Award nominations and a Golden Globe nomination, and won an Academy Award. It also inspired the Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series, paving the way for the DC Animated Universe, and has influenced Hollywood's modern marketing and development techniques of the superhero film genre.

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Anniversaries for March 19

1923: birth of Benito Jacovitti, Italian comics artist best known for Cocco Bill
1952: birth of Willie Schubert, American comic book letterer
1953: birth of Laurie S. Sutton, American writer of comic books and children's books
1962: birth of Michael Jantze, American cartoonist and humorous illustrator, best known for the comic strip The Norm
1967: death of Gil Turner, American animator, comic book artist, and producer
1968: birth of Steve Scott (comics), American comic book artist
2006: debut of Watch Your Head, American comic strip created by Cory Thomas
2012: the Royal Mail release a set of stamps depicting British comic-book series, featuring The Beano, The Dandy, Eagle, The Topper, Roy of the Rovers, Bunty, Buster, Valiant, Twinkle and 2000 AD

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General images

The following are images from various comics-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Japanese wood block illustration from 19th century (from History of manga)
Image 2BD artist Mœbius (2008), who achieved international renown through Métal Hurlant (from Bande dessinée)
Image 3During panels at comic book conventions, the audience is sometimes invited to line up and ask questions using a dedicated microphone. (from Comic book convention)
Image 4A page by Rodolphe Töpffer, whose work is considered influential in shaping the comics form. (from History of comics)
Image 5Cover to 27 December 1884 edition of Ally Sloper's Half Holiday. (from British comics)
Image 6A statue of The Rose of Versailles. This is a statue of Oscar and André at the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka, Hyōgo, which is the musical of the work. (from History of manga)
Image 7Chōjū-giga (12th century), traditionally attributed to a monk-artist Kakuyū (Toba Sōjo) (from History of manga)
Image 8Close Hergé collaborator and magazine contributor Bob de Moor (from Bande dessinée)
Image 9Cover of Illustrated Chips in 1896 featuring the first appearance of the long-running comic strip of the tramps Weary Willie and Tired Tim. (from British comics)
Image 10Sequential depictions on Trajan's Column in Rome, Italy (from History of comics)
Image 11Comic-Con crowd inside the second floor of the convention center in 2011 waiting for the exhibition hall to open (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 12Convention crowd outside of Golden Hall in 1982 (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 13Comic Con crowds in 2011 as seen from a helicopter (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 14A Fallout Cosplayer photographed at a Comic Con in a Fallout Themed area (from Comic book convention)
Image 15Phoenix Fan Fusion's 2017 convention in Phoenix (from Comic book convention)
Image 16Image of bathers from the Hokusai manga (from History of manga)
Image 17The San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con in 2013 (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 18Hokusai Manga (early 19th century) (from History of manga)
Image 19The French comic Les Pieds Nickelés (1954 book cover): an early 20th-century forerunner of the modern Franco-Belgian comic (from Bande dessinée)

Did you know (auto-generated) - load new batch

... that the 2003 series Trouble frequently appears on lists of the worst or most controversial Spider-Man storylines?
... that The Steranko History of Comics has been described as the first piece of cultural analysis on American comic books?
... that pages of Lewis Hancox's graphic novel were displayed in The Cartoon Museum of London?
... that the 2003 graphic novel The Life Eaters, presenting an occult-driven, hypothetical Axis victory in World War II, has been discussed in the context of its portrayal of The Holocaust?
... that a teacher of medieval literature and comic books writes the blog Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle?
... that the author of the comic book Timeless Voyage was the leader of a UFO religion?
... that Fabrizio Dori wants his comic book Il dio vagabondo to bring attention to an ancient Greek view of death?
... that John Byrne retold the origin of Superman in the 1986 comic book limited series The Man of Steel, 48 years after the character was created?

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Credit: Fox Feature Syndicate

Samson was a fictional superhero that appeared in comic books published by Fox Feature Syndicate. He first appeared in Fantastic Comics #1 (Dec. 1939). The writer was uncredited, but is believed to be Will Eisner; the artist was Alex Blum, using the pseudonym "Alex Boon".

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More did you know...

...that Milt Gross, (pictured) writer of comics that used Yiddish-inflected English, also wrote a 1930 "silent" graphic novel He Done Her Wrong: The Great American Novel and Not a Word in It — No Music, Too?

...that the DC comic book Batman: The Last Arkham drew on the influences of psychology and biology books such as "Superstition in the Common Pigeon"?

...that the Young Justice episode "Independence Day" introduces a younger version of the DC Universe?

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You know, I distrust people who 'read' comics ... you don't read a comic book. You look at a comic book. While you're looking at a comic, sure, you read the words; as well, you learn to look at the panels in a certain order, in a certain way ... if you start out to 'read' a comic book, you're starting out with the wrong mind-set.

— Samuel R. Delany

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