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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Tintin in Tibet is the twentieth volume of The Adventures of Tintin, the comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The cartoonist considered it his favourite Tintin adventure and an emotional effort, as he created it while suffering from traumatic nightmares and a personal conflict while deciding to leave his wife of three decades for a younger woman. The comic, serialised from 1958–59 in Tintin magazine, tells of the young reporter Tintin in search of his friend Chang Chong-Chen, whom the authorities claim has died in a plane crash in the Himalayas. Convinced that Chang has survived, Tintin leads his companions across the Himalayas to the plateau of Tibet, along the way encountering the mysterious Yeti. Themes in Hergé's story include extrasensory perception, the mysticism of Tibetan Buddhism (Tibetan monastery pictured), and friendship. Tintin in Tibet has been translated into 32 languages, is highly regarded by critics, and has been praised by the Dalai Lama, who awarded it the Light of Truth Award. The story was a commercial success and was published in book form in 1960; the series itself became a defining part of the Franco-Belgian comics tradition.

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Anniversaries for November 14

1877: birth of Myer Marcus, American cartoonist who also worked under the pen name Billy Liverpool
1907: birth of William Steig, American cartoonist, illustrator, and writer of children's books, best known for the picture book Shrek!
1911: birth of Clarence Gray, American comic strip artist best known for Brick Bradford
1915: birth of Ken Hultgren, American animator and illustrator, best known in comics for comic adaptation of Disney stories
1923: birth of Alberto Giolitti, Italian comics artist known for his work with Western Publishing and Dell Publishing
1941: birth of Caza, French comics artist, known for work such as Scènes de la vie de banlieue, Arkhê and Laïlah
1950: birth of Elliot S. Maggin, American comics writer best known for his work on Superman
1961: birth of Carlos Pacheco, Spanish comics artist best known for his work on Fantastic Four
1972: birth of Jack Jadson, American comic book artist and inker
1972: birth of J. T. Krul, American comic book writer best known for Fathom
1979: birth of Chris Samnee, American comic book artist
2002: death of Rejabhad, Malaysian comics artist known for Periwira Mat Gila
2005: debut of Dog eat Doug, American comic strip by Brian Anderson

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General images

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

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

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

... that the anthropomorphic skunk Sabrina has been called "one of the most famous furry comics stars"?
... that the Cook Opera House transitioned from opera to vaudeville to cinema before ending as a venue for strippers and dirty comics?
... that a graphic novel for teens was among the 10 most challenged books in the United States in 2023?
... that a teacher of medieval literature and comic books writes the blog Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle?
... that Tina Leung dressed as her comic book alter ego when accepting an award for the House of Slay?
... that a story in I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama was published as a script because there were not enough pages or time to include it as a full comic?
... that a rights dispute meant that two different actors played Quicksilver in two competing film franchises at the same time?
... that Steve Englehart wrote the Captain America comic book storyline "Secret Empire" as an allegory for the Watergate scandal?

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Credit: United States Department of Defense

Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (cover-dated March 1941), from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

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More did you know...

...that the fictional goat Koziołek Matołek has been a popular Polish children's literature character since first appearing in 1933?

...that Michigan State University Libraries has the largest catalogued collection of comic books in the world, with over 150,000 items?

...that as part of the DC Universe reboot, Justice League Dark has been launched featuring some of DC Comics' more bizarre and supernatural characters?

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[t]he standards of comics include inventiveness, originality, and consistency. The best comics really are great artworks — great by the intrinsic standards of that art form.

— David Carrier

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