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| Superhero
Publishing Explored! - Learn about comic books... |
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INDEX
<Introductions...|Action
and Adventure...>
I
don't pretend to know everything about superhero publishing, but what
I do know I will share with you in this column.
Celebrating
the superhero fiction found in comic books and graphic novels, old and
new, highlighting favourite characters, creators and showing you the beauty
of the form!
So here goes.
Rawle
Austin presents...
Superheroes?
Absolutely!
The
superhero comic book format that you see today originated in America
in the early 20th century and has been adapted worldwide in countries
such as Japan, France, China and the UK to name a few.
It has been used to tell modern myths and stories ever since.
Though comic books can be read and enjoyed by all ages and backgrounds,
here in the UK there is still a tendency to look down on comic books
as throw away or children’s literature.
This
is frustrating as many excellent comic book writers are being denied
a potentially huge audience.
Of course there are comic books written just for children but I
am not addressing those here. I’m
talking about quality stories written for all ages.
Click
here to check out Justice League of America: Worlds Collide v. 6
(JLA) By Dwayne McDuffie and Ed Benes (DC Comics) |
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Sensibly,
comic book publishers have started to include ratings guides on the covers
of comic books so as to advise on content.
This
is widely done for films and computer/console games.
As
I said in my last column there are many badly written comic books out
there because some writers use the ratings guide as a crutch and simply
pen a bland story.
Flat
characterization with a few strong words and images are used rather
than stretching the imagination to create a memorable experience.
For
excellent examples of good comic book writing, look out for anything
by writers Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, Christopher Priest, Brian Michael
Bendis, Geoff Johns, Mark Millar and Dwayne McDuffie.
There
are many more great authors including Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman.
The
first comic book I read, enjoyed and subsequently collected was
a Marvel Comics’ title called The Avengers.
It
was initially created in the early 1960's to have all of Marvel's
most popular superhero characters in one book acting as a team.
Click
here to check out the Astonishing X-Men Volume 1: Gifted TPB by
Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel Comics) |
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I
discovered this title in 1985 and Roger Stern was the author who propelled
the stories to the highest levels.
He
made me believe in those sci-fi and fantasy adventures he crafted.
He
breathed life into the characters and made you care.
The
penciller was the late John Buscema who was truly a master artist.
His
hand drawn characters had real expressions and the scenes contained
pure drama.
The
inker was Tom Palmer who complemented Buscema's work beautifully.
The
issue (number 257) was lettered by Jim Novak and coloured by Christie
Scheele and was the second part of a classic story.
Writers
and artists stay on a title for a certain number of issues, called
a run, before a new creative team takes over.
Stern's
run started from issue number 227 and he was joined by Buscema to
create an extraordinary run which lasted some 30 issues.
Click
here to check out The Essential Avengers: Among Us Walks a Goliath
v. 2 (Marvel Comics) by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Don Heck |
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 This
was from issue numbers 256 to 285 and are a cracking read. Look out for
them.
Ok,
enough talk! Here’s a guide to the forms of comic books you will
come across.
Standard
monthly issues (or monthlies) are usually 22 pages of story and art, not
including advertisements.
Each
issue is usually a chapter of a larger tale told over many issues
or occasionally a complete short story.
They
are famous for their shock; cliffhanger endings and 4 week wait
for the next chapter.
Monthlies
are predominantly ongoing series but there are many, separate limited
series containing 2 to 12 issues.
These
contain stories for new characters or established ones and are mainly
vehicles for the best creative talent.
The
majority of new issues (imports) arrive every Thursday at comic
book stores in the U.K. (Wednesdays in the U.S) delivered mainly
by Diamond Distributors.
The
page count can increase for a special edition. Once
the readers’ main choice, monthlies are slowly being caught
up in popularity by trade paperbacks.
Click
here to check out the Essential Avengers Volume 3 TPB (Marvel Comics)
by Roy Thomas, Don Heck and John Buscema |
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Soft
cover, trade paperbacks (or Trades) are collections of individual comic
book issues (with no advertisements) reprinted and bound in book format.
Sometimes
called graphic novels, they are gaining popularity on single issues.
Containing
a satisfying, complete story, you don’t have to wait between chapters,
it can be stored on a bookshelf and is increasingly available in hard
cover.
The
majority of new issues (imports) arrive every Thursday at comic
book stores in the U.K. (Wednesdays in the U.S) delivered mainly
by Diamond Distributors.
The
page count can increase for a special edition.
Once
the readers’ main choice, they are slowly being caught up
by trade paperbacks.
Soft
cover, trade paperbacks (or Trades) are collections of individual
comic book issues (with no advertisements) reprinted and bound in
book format. Sometimes
called graphic novels, they are gaining popularity on single issues.
Containing
a satisfying, complete story, you don’t have to wait between
chapters, it can be stored on a bookshelf and is increasingly available
in hard cover.
Click
here to check out Invincible: Family Matters v. 1 (Image Comics)
by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker
As
more people discover comic books the world over, the style will
adapt and change for the better. |
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We
have been seeing that in recent years as more Japanese artists are working
on American comic book titles and some artists are blending the Japanese
style to their own.
This
cross-pollination will increase between various different countries for
the benefit of all.
See
you next time for more, on comic books!
<Introductions...|Action
and Adventure...>
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