The document provides an overview of the history and evolution of comics, highlighting key comic artists from different eras. It discusses how comics progressed from early simplistic newspaper strips to more complex graphic novels. Important Golden Age artists included Will Eisner and Osamu Tezuka, while Gil Kane, Jim Lee, and Frank Miller made significant contributions during the Silver and Bronze Ages, developing new styles and pushing creative boundaries.

1. COMICS! By: Paolo Fortini Matthew Atzori

2. What Defines A Comic? Comics are a sequence of images that tell a narrative Comics tend to display everyday life lessons

3. There is a dominance of images over text Text is represented in word or thought bubbles Spiderman Comic

4. Why People Read Comics Allow people to dream and fantasize escaping hardships of everyday life Short stories allow people who are visual learners to easily become engaged in the story

5. People can relate to the situations found in comics Captain America . 1941 Ex. World War II

6. The Significance of Comics Comics provide society with ideals: Superman as an icon reflects the stereotypical hero (cape, boots, muscular) Alex Ross. Superman

7. Displays the classic battle of Good vs. Evil (good side is always victorious) Jack Kirby. Avengers.

8. History of Comics The earliest form of a narrative told through sequential pictures include: Greek friezes Athena and Alcyoneus , (frieze) Greece 180 BCE

9. Eqyptian hieroglyphs Roman Columns Trajan’s Column, (Column) Rome, Italy 113 CE (Heiroglyphic ) Dendera, Eqypt

10. Began as simplistic Sunday strips and as they grew in popularity they became daily strips In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s comics were introduced in America and Europe The Upside -Downs. Sunday Press. 1903-1905

11. Today comics can be found in newspaper, magazines, comic books, graphical novels and on the internet Comics established itself as an art form in the late 19 th and early 20 th century Comic book Newspaper Internet comic

12. Basic Art Styles Found in Comics Freestyle (Cartoony) : uses a variety of line widths Adventure style (realistic): Uses a more literal or realistic interpretation of the human anatomy Characters have a rounded simplified anatomy Alex Ross. Joker tintin

13. Carl Barks. Walt Disneys Comics, (Dell) 1948 Wayne Boring. Action Comics , 1954 Freestyle Adventure Style

14. Steps To Creating A Comic Idea : -can result from a question -based on a character -concept (ex .time travel) Wonder Woman

15. Writer: -a group of people create story and dialogue for comic

16. Penciler: -uses only pencil to create comic -responsible for overall look to comic -pencil used to make future changes Sketch of Spiderman

17. Inker: -takes penciled art and goes over in ink to make final -ink adds a 3D look -by inking easier to copy and colour Spiderman

18. Colourist: -adds colour, lighting and shading -important because the colour needs to remain consistent -brings life and creates a look Todd McFarlane. Amazing Spiderman

19. Progression of Comics Throughout the Ages The progression of comics can be classified into three ages: Golden Age Captain America . 1941 Silver Age Stan Lee. Fantastic Four . 1966 Bronze Age Todd McFarlane. Spawn

20. Very simplistic cartooning style The archetype of a superhero was defined and created (ex. Superman , Batman, Captain America) Golden Age (1930’s- 1950’s) Fred Ray. Superman . 1942

21. 1954- Comics Code Authority was created to regulate content in comic books Silver Age (1956- 1970) Superheroes were re-introduced Comics were blamed for the rise of juvenile crime Gil Kane. Green Lantern

22. More mature themes ( drug use/ alcohol/sex) Bronze Age (1970- 1985) Minority heroes were introduced (ex. Luke Cage) Realism Darker plot elements were introduced Luke Cage

23. GOLDEN AGE: Comic Artists

24. Will Eisner Will Eisner As a boy sold newspapers and read the comics called pulps found in the papers Inspired by movies, the pulps, and New York environment He enjoyed comics and wanted a more mature expression so he created the graphic novel: the Father of the Graphic Novel Born Brooklyn, New York (1917- 2005)

25. He is also know as the creator of The Spirit (popular in 1940s) Will Eisner, The Spirit. 1947 He was recognized for his ability to create captivating atmospheres ex. night sky, fuming sewers

26. Recognized for style (splash-pages) - one picture filling the page like a movie poster with the lettering fully integrated into the image

27. The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award- given to artists who show great creativity in American comic books Eisner Award

28. Osamu Tezuka Japanese artist inspired by the Western World –primarily Disney Osamu Tezuka Born Osaka, Japan (1928-1989)

29. He is the Father of Manga Manga is a Japanese comic book or graphic novel Photos by Paolo

30. Osamu Tezuka, Astro boy . 1952 Kazuki Takahashi, Yu Gi Oh . 1998 His art style was also Disney inspired- known for his large saucer eyes which has become a staple in manga Walt Disney. Mickey Mouse David Mc Kay. Philedalphia 1931

31. Tezuka is a pioneer to creating the cinematic feel to manga which is continued today His composition and assortment of images and close-ups and perspectives created this feel The use of these many frames creates a mood Large eyes Osamu Tezuka, JUNGLE TAITEI . 1997

32. Osamu Tezuka. Kimba the White Lion. (Anime, Mushi Prodcutions) America 1965 Don Hahn. The Lion King , (film, Walt Disney Studios) Florida 1994

33. Bob Kane Bob Kane Born New York City, New York (1916 – 1998) He is credited for the creation of Batman Bill Finger (salesperson who dreamed of becoming a writer) helped design Batmans costume Bill Finger

34. Bob made Batman a super-hero vigilante and Finger made him a scientific detective DC wanted more heroes to match the popularity of Superman, in response he created Batman Bob Kane. The Batman. DC comics 1939

35. His inspiration for Batman came from several places: Zorro Zorro Bob Kane. Batman

36. Da Vincis flying (machine ornithopter) Sketch by Bob Da Vinci´s orthinopter Bob Kane Batman

37. 1926 film Bat Bob Kane. Batman Bat

38. Batman was an immediate hit because he was different Bob Kane. Comic book. Batman . 1940 He was unique in the 1940s because he did not have any powers- regular human

39. Batman's success has led to several comic books, a newspaper strip version, movies, and several television series Bob Kane and Batman

40. SILVER AGE: Comic Artists

41. Gil Kane Born Riga, Latvia (1926-2000) Gil Kane He is recognized for his emotionally charged characters and innovative staged fights He was a thoughtful spokesperson for the comic industry and helped it get the attention it deserved Gil Kane later years

42. Primarily worked on westerns, science fiction Gil Kane. All Star Western. June 6 1958 Gil Kane. Strange Adventrues . 1950s Science fiction Western

43. Greatest contribution is that he redesigned the look of many super hero characters (costumes) Gil Kane. Green Lantern . 1959. Shledon Moldoff. Green Lantern. 1940.

44. Al Pratt. The Atom. 1940 Gil Kane. The Atom . 1950

45. Kane also challenged the Comics Code and had it re-vamped for his work on the Amazing Spiderman issues 96-98 Issue very controversial because mention of drugs is forbidden (character overdoses on LSD)

46. Jim Lee Born in Seoul, South Korea (1964) Jim Lee 2007 San Diego He went to Princeton University and obtained a degree in Medicine As a child he always loved art. After his degree he decided to take an art course and decided to go into comics

47. Jim Lee. cover art. X-Men (late 1980s early 90 His work on X-Men with Marvel gave him great success having sales of 8 million copies in the first issue He is well known for his work on X-Men

48. Lee designed new costumes for many X-Men characters which led to his popularity. He defined the look of X-Men for years to come. Jack Kirby. Cyclops Jim Lee

49. Art style: crisply hatched line rigid idealized anatomical forms Jim Lee. The DC Comics and Wildstorm Art of Jim Lee. 2010

50. He established a new stylistic standard for super hero comic book illustration, (idealized anatomy) he also introduced penned inking instead of brushed inking Bob Kane. Batman . 1940 Jim Lee. Batman

51. Jean Giraud Born Val-de-Marne, France (1938) Jean Giraud He reached fame with his real name and fictitious Moebius Influential french artist who brought comics to an adult audience

52. Ligne Claire: -Clear line -Uses clear strong lines to outline things of importance -Cartoonish characters on a realistic background Tin Tin

53. Giraud used extreme realism in beginning of career working on Westerns Jean Giraud . Adventures of Lieutenant Blueberry

54. Moebius used for science fiction and fantasy work Moebius/ Stan Lee. Silver Surfer. 1988

55. Metal Hurlant (Screaming Metal) One of first expressions of adult oriented comics Horror and science fiction stories

56. Censored Moebius. Metal Hurlant.

57. Moebius. The Horny Goof . Dark Horse. 1990

58. BRONZE AGE: Comic Artists

59. Frank Miller Frank Miller Born Maryland, U.S. (1957) The nature of his works appear dark and mature Inspiration often came from his environment: New York´s Hells Kitchen influenced: Daredevil, Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again Los Angeles influenced: Sin City

60. Weegee. Hells Kitchen -Influential photographer -No police -At night -Dangerous

61. The comic industry was in need of change and Miller expanded the relationship between adults and comics Darker plot elements More realistic stories Mature: sex, profanities Frank Miller. Sin city

62. Batman The Dark Knight Returns and Batman Year One have had the greatest impact on modern comics Batman is redefined in these comics Frank Miller . Batman The Dark Knight Returns. 1986 Frank Miller. Batman Year One . 1987

63. Miller created a darker Batman filled with corruption, politics, and conflicts of the human spirit Batman The Dark Knight Returns Complex characters, more realistic resembling common street dwellers with a thirst for killing

64. Shows a very aggressive and angry batman Miller wanted to bring out the dark and tortured side of Batman in these works Batman Year One

65. Sin City directed at the adult audience Sexually graphic novel involving strip clubs and various sex scenes More adults began reading comics Sin City

66. Film- noir style Used heavily in Sin City to create a dark mature effect

67. Sex scene Fight scene

68. Frank Miller. Hell and Back Frank miller. That Yellow Bastard Several volumes of Sin City. Uses different colour to draw attention to an area or character. Not always red!

69. Older heroes come out of retirement to fight crime in the 80´s Referred to as heroes but none actually have powers except Doctor Manhattan Watchmen Alan Moore. Watchmen.

70. Watchmen´s heroes are said to stray from tradition (ex. sexually motivated) Alan Moore. Watchmen. Very mature, dark (violent)

71. This series deconstructed the concept of a hero by building up its heroes with gadgets, costumes, secret identities to let that concept collapse on itself showing that super heroes are impossible and aren´t needed Dave Gibbons. Watchmen

72. Watchmen deconstructs the hero by developing its heroes . . . to the point where the reader comes to understand that these fantasies, realized, become nightmares.“ - Ian Thomas (Deconstructing the Hero)

73. Watchmen proposes a question: Would the world be better off without heroes? YES!

74. Todd McFarlane Born Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1961) Is a writer, artist, manufacturer, and media entrepreneur Unique art style and controversial story telling led to his success Todd McFarlane

75. Todd McFarlane. Spiderman . 1990 Todd McFarlane. Hulk . 1990

76. He left Marvel to form Image Comics were he created Spawn Spawn became 90´s most popular hero Todd McFarlane. Spawn . 1991

77. Todd created the occult anti- hero Style: Big, glowing eye, often sharp teeth Some relation to death

78. Spawn featured profanities and as an anti hero he gained popularity

79. 1994 He founded McFarlane Toys creating Spawn action figures and then branched out to sports, animation, video games Spawn Football Player Elvis

80. Alex Ross Alex Ross Born Portland, U.S (1970) A painter known for his photorealism He has brought realism to classic comic heroes Inspired by his mother who was a commercial artist and after seeing Spider-man for the first time he was in love with the idea of colourful characters performing good deeds Spiderman. Television series. 1967

81. Sketch by Andrew Loomis Alex Ross. Painting.Batman He was influenced by the realism of Andrew Loomis which led him to his realistic style

82. He often uses photo references, and hires models or uses friends and family to pose so that he can get specific poses, proper lighting, and the creases in the clothing Alex Ross. Superman Peace on Earth . 1999

83. He does more covers and posters because of the time needed to make a picture. Alex Ross. Justice . 2005 Alex Ross. Green Hornet.

84. Alex Ross. Poster

85. Alex Ross. Iron man Poster.

86. Comparison Gold Silver Bronze A hero has been redefined, becoming more realistic. Bob Kane. Batman . 1939 Jim Lee. Batman Frank Miller. Batman The Dark Knight Returns

87. Golden Age Heroes Fred Ray. Superman. 1942 Jim Simon. Jack Kirby. Captain America

88. Silver Age Heroes Spiderman. 1973

89. Bob Layton. Invincible Iron Man . 1979

90. Bronze Age Heroes Alex Ross. Superman Peace on Earth . 1999 Frank Miller. Jim Lee. Batman and Robin The Boy Wonder

91. http://abovethestore.blogspot.com/2009/02/rewinding-watchmen.html Works Cited http://comicssilverage.org/ http://lambiek.net/artists/m/miller.htm http://superherouniverse.com/wiki/Jim_Lee/index.html http://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kane.htm http://www.willeisner.com/biography/index.html Sabin, Roger. Comics, Comix and Graphic Novels A History of Comic Art. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1996. http://bing.search.sympatico.ca/?q=Bob%20kane&mkt=en-ca&setLang=en-CA

92. http://tezukainenglish.com/ http://tezukasite.tripod.com/ http://comicbooks.about.com/od/creatingcomicbooks/tp/process.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_comics#History http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Ross