Portal:Comics

Introduction

Comics is 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 single 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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Louis Riel is a historical biography in comics by Canadian cartoonist Chester Brown, published as a book in 2003 after serialization in 1999–2003. The story deals with Métis rebel leader Louis Riel's antagonistic relationship with the newly established Canadian government. It begins shortly before the 1869 Red River Rebellion, and ends with Riel's 1885 hanging for high treason. The book explores Riel's possible schizophrenia—he believed God had named him Prophet of the New World, destined to lead the Métis people to freedom.

The work is noted for its emotional disengagement, its intentionally flat dialogue, and a minimalist drawing style inspired by that of Harold Gray's comic strip Little Orphan Annie. Unusual for comics of the time, it includes a full scholarly apparatus: a foreword, index, bibliography, and end notes. The lengthy, hand-lettered appendix provides insight into Brown's creative process and biases and highlights where he changed historical facts to create a more engaging story, such as incorporating a conspiracy theory not widely accepted by historians. Brown became interested in the issue of property rights while researching the book, which led to a public change in his politics from anarchism to libertarianism.

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Anniversaries for October 1

1902: birth of Gunila Stierngranat, Swedish comic artist who drew Lilla Lena och Jon Blund
1926: birth of Ben Wicks, English-Canadian cartoonist best known for Wicks
1933: debut of The Adventures of Smilin' Jack, American comic strip by Zach Moseley
1937: birth of Bill Spicer, American editor and publisher known for his publication Graphic Story Magazine
1940: birth of Richard Corben, American comic book author best known for Den
1955: birth of Michael Golden, American comic book artist best known for Micronauts
1958: birth of Dave Dorman, American illustrator and comic book artist
1964: birth of Ande Parks, American comic book author best known for his work on Green Arrow
1964: birth of Ron Boyd, American comic book writer
1967: death of Bob Powell, American comic book artist known for his work on Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
1973: first issue of Cutie Honey, Japanese manga by Go Nagai
1977: birth of Rod Reis, American comic book artist
2001: last publication of Angelic Layer, Japanese manga by CLAMP
2001: launch of Achewood, American webcomic by Chris Onstad
2003: debut of Karin, Japanese manga by Yuna Kagesaki

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General images

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

Image 1Todd Gloria with representatives of Comic-Con International 2026 during an announcement that the event is staying in San Diego through 2030. (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 2Japanese wood block illustration from 19th century (from History of manga)
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 4The San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con in 2013 (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 5Hokusai Manga (early 19th century) (from History of manga)
Image 6Chōjū-giga (12th century), traditionally attributed to a monk-artist Kakuyū (Toba Sōjo) (from History of manga)
Image 7A page by Rodolphe Töpffer, whose work is considered influential in shaping the comics form. (from History of comics)
Image 8BD artist Mœbius (2008), who achieved international fame through Métal Hurlant (from Bande dessinée)
Image 9Convention crowd outside of Golden Hall in 1982 (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 10Comic-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 11Comic Con crowds in 2011 as seen from a helicopter (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 12Close Hergé-collaborator and magazine contributor Bob de Moor (from Bande dessinée)
Image 13Sequential depictions on Trajan's Column in Rome, Italy (from History of comics)
Image 14The French comic Les Pieds Nickelés (1954 book cover): an early 20th-century forerunner of the modern Franco-Belgian comic (from Bande dessinée)
Image 15Bryan Cranston & Aaron Paul at the 2013 Comic-Con International, with Cranston holding his realistic Walter White mask. (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 16Cover 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 17A 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 18Cover to 27 December 1884 edition of Ally Sloper's Half Holiday. (from British comics)
Image 19Phoenix Fan Fusion's 2017 convention in Phoenix (from Comic book convention)
Image 20Image of bathers from the Hokusai manga (from History of manga)
Image 21A Fallout Cosplayer photographed at a Comic Con in a Fallout Themed area (from Comic book convention)

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

... that Maystorm, a character from Ultimate X-Men, was initially created for a variant cover for the comic X-Men?
... that the Cook Opera House transitioned from opera to vaudeville to cinema before ending as a venue for strippers and dirty comics?
... that pages of Lewis Hancox's graphic novel were displayed in The Cartoon Museum of London?
... that a 1948 U.S. Supreme Court decision helped to protect comic books from government regulation and censorship?
... that a popular Marvel villain appeared in the Transformers and Doctor Who franchises before joining the Marvel Universe?
... that Steve Englehart wrote the Captain America comic book storyline "Secret Empire" as an allegory for the Watergate scandal?
... that, after the US government asked Marvel Comics to make a comic about how drugs are dangerous, the Comics Code Authority refused to approve it because it was about drugs?
... that a teacher of medieval literature and comic books writes the blog Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle?

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Credit: He.Who.Wanders

The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin. Created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the character first appeared in Batman #1 (Spring 1940).

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More did you know...

...that Jeff Hawke, a science fiction comic strip, almost perfectly predicted the date of the first human moon landing more than ten years before?

...that Thrud the Barbarian, a comic character parodying Arnold Schwarzenegger's depiction of Conan the Barbarian, (pictured) has the intelligence of a garden snail?

...that E. Normus Johnson is a fictional advertising mascot depicted in comic art on Big Johnson T-shirts that use double entendres?

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Bob Kane had an idea for a character called "Batman", and he'd like me to see the drawings. I went over to Kane's, and he had drawn a character who looked very much like Superman with kind of ... reddish tights, I believe, with boots ... no gloves, no gauntlets ... with a small domino mask, swinging on a rope. He had two stiff wings that were sticking out, looking like bat wings. And under it was a big sign ... BATMAN.

— Bill Finger

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