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Comics 101
Art tips and techniques, reviews and interviews from my studio. Archived here and at World Famous Comics.

Comics 101 Archives

Comics 101 for 06/10/2004
Editorial: How Comic Book Art Has Evolved
Hey Joe,

I'm writing a short article about the history of comic books and I was wondering if you had any information on the history of artwork in general. (More specifically) how has the art changed from a technical point of view?

Andrew
Hi Andrew,

Comic book art has in some ways dramatically changed over the years. I'd say it's definitely more sophisticated in the actual execution of the art and in it's variety of styles compared to what was done thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago.

More artists these days are receiving more involved training whether it's in figure drawing, perspective or just refinement of certain techniques. Even comic book courses are being offered at some schools (like the Comic Book Illustration Course I teach at the Columbus College of Art and Design) which allows young potential creators to analyze, discuss and train while creating the material. Courses like these weren't even offered thirty or forty years ago, mainly since comics weren't considered a viable business for writers and artists in the general public eye. It really wasn't until the Joe Kubert School came along in the late 70's or early 80's did comic artists and creators have a place to come and train to learn about the process of making comic books.

Comic books have always had the mystique of being an underground kind of venture (and in some ways it still does). But recently, with the advent of Hollywood mining comic books for it's next big summer movie blockbusters (something it's actually been doing for years but only until recently have they actually been giving the source material the proper credit) the business of comics and the art in them itself has come more to the forefront and in turn gets just a little more respect than it used to. Of course mainstream America still hasn't necessarily embraced medium as anything more than just a minor facet of popular culture and not a true source or art and expression.

Movies and comics go hand in hand for obvious storytelling reasons but I think the artwork in comics has become more and more cinematic, or maybe even just more realistic looking over the years as well, just furthering this association. Also, comic book readers' (and movie goers') standards and expectations are constantly being raised and they are looking for new and different ways to be entertained. Along with these audience expectations, some publishers have higher stakes in mind when it comes to making or breaking a book with the art. Even the most simplistic art styles, which also tend be some of the most effective, are possibly more refined and implemented more dynamically by today's illustrators.

From a truly technical standpoint, with the rapid growth of technology, artists in the past decade have been able to integrate their artwork digitally for the medium more and more easily using programs like Photoshop, Painter, Freehand and Illustrator and further advance their styles. Comic book companies, whose publishing schedules for comics are usually on a tight month to month basis, really rely on computers and digital programs that allow them to color, letter and produce layouts quickly for the printing for their books.

The process of creating comics with the introduction of computers has definitely advanced the medium in positive ways unquestionably but the introduction of the World Wide Web has opened the floodgates for creators around the world to share their work with fans everywhere which is a truly positive advancement as well. Web comics, online comic books and strips, are themselves a new approach to storytelling for the medium that allows for interaction and innovations not capable in approach even ten years ago.

There is more maturity and refinement in art these days in regards to structure, detail, layout etc. but there is also more experimentation and appreciation of different styles than there ever used to be too. Everything from fine art approaches (like fully painted pages or the use of collage in comic book storytelling) to the heavy influence of 'Manga' which is the Japanese style of drawing. The style is constantly appealing and attractive to artists, not only for it's use of more animated and energetic techniques (which lends well to the fast, lively pacing of American 'action' comics) but also for it's balance of complex detail in the art (especially the backgrounds), it's non-conventional storytelling and pacing and perhaps even it's approach to deeper character development in ways not always found in mainstream American comics.

Nothing is off limits in comics and I think with artists maturing and their horizons and imaginations evolving more rapidly than ever before, along with technology and the tools of creating art improving, then we'll continue to see comic book artwork expanding and evolving continually as well. Let's just hope the medium will eventually command the respect and attention it deserves from the public and comic books as not only an art form but also as a business of telling entertaining stories continues to thrive.

I hope this information and my thoughts help you with your article and see you next week for a new Comics 101 feature!

-Joe

<< 06/03/2004 | 06/10/2004 | 06/17/2004 >>

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