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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The Rocketeer is a 1991 American period superhero adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and based on the character of the same name created by comic book writer/artist Dave Stevens. Directed by Joe Johnston, the film stars Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino and Tiny Ron Taylor. Set in 1938 Los Angeles, California, The Rocketeer tells the story of stunt pilot Cliff Secord who discovers a jet pack that enables him to fly. His heroic deeds attract the attention of Howard Hughes and the FBI, as well as sadistic Nazi operatives. Development for The Rocketeer started as far back as 1983, when Stevens sold the film rights. Steve Miner and William Dear considered directing The Rocketeer before Johnston, a fan of the comic book, signed on. Screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo had creative differences with Disney, which caused the film to languish in development hell. The studio also intended to change the trademark helmet design; Disney President Michael Eisner wanted a straight NASA-type helmet but Johnston convinced the studio otherwise. Johnston also had to convince Disney to let him cast unknown actor Billy Campbell in the lead role. Filming for The Rocketeer lasted from September 19, 1990 to January 22, 1991. The visual effects sequences were created and designed by Industrial Light & Magic. The film was released on June 21, 1991 and received generally favorable reviews from critics. Plans for Rocketeer sequels were abandoned after a poor box office performance.

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Anniversaries for October 27

1930: birth of Leo Baxendale, British comics creator best known for The Bash Street Kids
1935: birth of Mauricio de Sousa, Brazilian comic strip creator best known for Monica's Gang
1943: birth of Les Daniels, American author and comic book historian
1948: birth of Bernie Wrightson, American comic book artist best known as creator of Swamp Thing
1954: birth of Jan Duursema, comics artist best known for her work on Star Wars comics
1990: last issue of Whizzer and Chips, British comic which ran since 1969
1992: birth of Evan Stanley, American comics artist and writer
2012: death of Bill White, American animator, and a comic book writer, penciller, and inker

More October anniversaries / All Anniversaries...

General images

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

Image 1A Fallout Cosplayer photographed at a Comic Con in a Fallout Themed area (from Comic book convention)
Image 2BD artist Mœbius (2008), who achieved international fame through Métal Hurlant (from Bande dessinée)
Image 3Bryan Cranston & Aaron Paul at the 2013 Comic-Con International, with Cranston holding his realistic Walter White mask. (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 4Comic Con crowds in 2011 as seen from a helicopter (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 5Todd 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 6During 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 7Comic-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 8Cover 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 9The French comic Les Pieds Nickelés (1954 book cover): an early 20th-century forerunner of the modern Franco-Belgian comic (from Bande dessinée)
Image 10A page by Rodolphe Töpffer, whose work is considered influential in shaping the comics form. (from History of comics)
Image 11Hokusai Manga (early 19th century) (from History of manga)
Image 12Convention crowd outside of Golden Hall in 1982 (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 13Chōjū-giga (12th century), traditionally attributed to a monk-artist Kakuyū (Toba Sōjo) (from History of manga)
Image 14The San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con in 2013 (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 15Close Hergé-collaborator and magazine contributor Bob de Moor (from Bande dessinée)
Image 16Sequential depictions on Trajan's Column in Rome, Italy (from History of comics)
Image 17Cover to 27 December 1884 edition of Ally Sloper's Half Holiday. (from British comics)
Image 18Phoenix Fan Fusion's 2017 convention in Phoenix (from Comic book convention)
Image 19Japanese wood block illustration from 19th century (from History of manga)
Image 20Illegal building wraps on and around Petco Park in during Comic-Con 2024. (from San Diego Comic-Con)
Image 21Image of bathers from the Hokusai manga (from History of manga)
Image 22Gas Lamp Quarter signage in San Diego, California (from San Diego Comic-Con)

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 1992 comic book storyline "Man and Wolf", in which Captain America is transformed into a werewolf, has been described as "one of the most bizarre moments of the core Marvel Universe"?
... that Tina Leung dressed as her comic book alter ego when accepting an award for the House of Slay?
... that the Cook Opera House transitioned from opera to vaudeville to cinema before ending as a venue for strippers and dirty comics?
... that the comic book Nietzsche, se créer liberté tries to express Friedrich Nietzsche's personality visually?
... that a 1948 U.S. Supreme Court decision helped to protect comic books from government regulation and censorship?
... that Steve Englehart wrote the Captain America comic book storyline "Secret Empire" as an allegory for the Watergate scandal?
... that a popular Marvel villain appeared in the Transformers and Doctor Who franchises before joining the Marvel Universe?

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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 the Super Friends had two sets of sidekicks: Wendy & Marvin, and then the Wonder Twins?

...that during World War II, the Czech comics illustrator Kája Saudek was imprisoned in a German concentration camp?

...that Marvel Studios considered making stand-alone short films‍—‌known as Marvel One-Shots‍—‌for Loki, Black Panther, and Damage Control?

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A couple of months after I published this story, it occurred to me that a Superman as a hero rather than as a villain might make a great comic strip character in the vein of Tarzan, only more super and sensational than that great character. Joe and I drew it up as a comic book.

— Jerry Siegel

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