Comics and Graphic Novels

Question 1

comic

Answer 1

• episodic short story
• use visual art as a medium for storytelling
• you know them when you see them?

Question 2

cartoon

Answer 2

single-panel, short (ie. Far Side)

Question 3

graphic novels

Answer 3

“big, expensive comics”

Question 4

history of graphic forms

Answer 4

• storytelling: began w/cave drawings, mayan codices, tapestry of bayeux, etc.
• panels: Michelangelo’s work on Sistine Chapel ceiling (also told story in a visual medium that illiterate people could understand), “Crazy Cat” later used more sophisticated panels
• parodies/political cartoons: ex. The Rake’s Progress, Poor Richard’s Almanac
• word balloons, printed in newspaper: “The Yellow Kid”, “Crazy Cat”
• continuing the same story every week: “Little Nemo’s adventure in Slumberland”
• manga: inspired by Disney
• superhero comics: inspired by WWII propaganda

Question 5

Golden Age of Comics

Answer 5

• 30’s-50’s
• comics burned due to concern that they were corrupting children
• Comic Code Authority created (made rules like: no horror, villain must get comeuppance, etc.) -> hard to create stakes

Question 6

Silver Age of Comics (the crazy age)

Answer 6

• 50’s-70’s
• superheroes not doing much (annoying each other, playing pranks, going camping, etc.)
• Comic Code Authority starts to break down because the stories suck

Question 7

Bronze Age of Comics

Answer 7

• 70’s-80’s
• superheroes deal with real social issues (ie. alcoholism, drugs)
• people of colour begin to get minimal representation

Question 8

Underground culture

Answer 8

• does exactly what Comic Code Authority tells them not to do (sex, drugs, etc.) -> created from oppression
• can be about important social issues, ie. feminism

Question 9

The Dark Age

Answer 9

• push to market comics to adults

- Comic Code Authority breaks down completely

Question 10

Types of Contemporary Comics (17 types)

Answer 10

1. collected trade paperbacks (Batman, Superman, etc.)
2. Archies
3. Graphic novels
4. Adult comics (ie. Will Eisner)
5. Maus (legitimizes graphic novels)
6. Allan Moore
7. Alternative small press
8. alternative fantasy (ie. Bone)
9. alternative fiction
10. literary realism
11. literary horror fiction
12. magic realism
13. graphic memoirs
14. graphic journalism
15. newspaper comic strips/cartoons (ie. Calvin and Hobbes)
16. Web comics
17. manga

Question 11

Comics in Europe

Answer 11

• complex stories, more for adults than for kids

- ie. Tintin, Asterix and Obelix

Question 12

Comics in Canada (examples)

Answer 12

• Seth, Chester Brown (Louis Real), Guy Delisle, Julie Ducet, etc.
• educational comic books about writing comic books

Question 13

what are comics made of?

Answer 13

• symbols
• images
• panels

Question 14

what are comics made of -> symbols (emanata)

Answer 14

• emanata: any symbol -> used to represent something that can’t be represented in static images (ie. motion lines)
• subjective motion vs. objective motion

Question 15

what are comics made of -> images (the gap, simple expressions, detailed locations)

Answer 15

• the gap: reality -> photograph -> realistic picture -> caricature -> symbol (ie. :-) represents person)
• we identify with characters with simplistic expressions
• simple expressions and detailed locations direct reader’s focus to location (ie. Tintin)

Question 16

what are comics made of -> panels (choice, transitions, tension)

Answer 16

• choice of panels: depict movement (ie. running horse) or fill in narrative (ie. we don’t need the full story to fill in the blanks of what happens between panels)
• transitions between panels: choosing length of time between panels affects story (ie. Batman crawling out of hole slowly vs. quickly)
• can help build tension by zooming in