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Miguel Enrique Manahan MS. Katherine Mendoza Independent Research Essay February 11, 2014

Comic Books: History And Influences Today

For all of those believers out there, keep believing! (Stan Lee 1) Comic books, everyone knows what they are, its every, from movies to video games. But long ago when they were first introduced, it was just meant for kids, it wasnt something serious or people made fun of others for liking it. Parents even thought they were bad examples for children because of the violence. But that was long ago, now comic books are international, its like an unstoppable force that everyone likes now, its even in Hollywood and all over the Internet. Comic books are now spreading to be not just something everyone enjoys; it has become a symbol of hope and something of a great influence throughout the world.

Now lets start from the beginning of comic books, when they were first introduced as short sections in the news papers of jokes and cartoons in 1896 (Yellow kid comics) and 1933 with funnies on parade. Then the first famous crime fighting superhero came during 1935 as Superman, or its original name as, The Superman Of Metropolis. Made by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by the first super hero company of detective comics. Soon other heroes like Batman (1938), wonder woman (1941), The Flash, Green lantern and other super heroes came out with detective comics, making it the first super hero comics. Of course other heroes like Captain America, the Human Torch and others came out as soon as Marvel comics was made,

Manahan 2 Which was another comic book company that came out after detective and in 1959 by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. With all these new comic books being made, this was marked as the Golden Age of comics, which was when they were first, made, but of course was mainly meant for kids.

The interesting thing about these comic books to people was having climactic story telling, unfolding stories over several pages, using lighting, sounds, dynamic framing, different text boxes and vibrant colors. One example of a strategy used to create comics was from common problems or situations reflected in society during that time, which was World War 2 in the early 1940s. Which again they made heroes like Captain America or wonder woman out of these or even making new stories for their heroes.

During the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the new age, the comic book industries began to experience many problems during the early 1950s. This was considered to be the downfall of comics then, when concerned parents began to think that comics were too violent or bad influences for children. They thought that these comics were responsible for children to start trouble and behave differently, so they rebelled against it as sales fell. Soon a Fredric Wertham M.D. wrote Seduction Of The Innocent, which was about the influences of comics on the generations youth. Then when television was first introduced to the public, especially to the children, TV show cartoons came around and kids loved it making less people like comics instead. With problems like these most comic book companies didnt sell and soon were out of business, except for Detective Comics or in short and what is known today as an acronym, D.C comics. So with all these problems, the Comic Code Authority (CCA) in 1954, which had all the rules and limits to what a comic should have and what it shouldnt have in it.

Manahan 3 By the late 1950s, comics soon were back in business as a new dawn of comics came as what is now known as The Silver age began. This was the perfect time for different companies to experiment in the market like having more modern (During that time) art works than the golden age. During this time, a significant player to the comic book company market started to take shape as one of the top competitors in the game. This publishing company was as mentioned Marvel comic during the early 1960s as they began this big role. They created and experimented as well with creating new heroes and comic styles with teams like the Fantastic Four, X-men and Avengers, along with individual comics such as Dare Devil, the Hulk, Spider man and Iron Man.

As these companies explored in new and different ways with new changes, they didnt just have new art or new characters the stories began to make more sense. These stories were beginning to be a bit more different as they conveyed messages to people about different things like simple things such as, being yourself or accepting who you are. This was one reason why Marvel (Stan Lee) made the X-men, which showed on not to judge people for who they are and what they look like. This made a great impact as people, maybe even more than children appealed to the stories more the readers liked these comics. Or in other words these comics conveyed the prevailing social ideology.

But they also made these new characters to make things fair, as another experiment is they would also have some weaknesses or defects. These things that they have like Spiderman, Hulk and other heroes create problems to them making them more realistic, interesting and a better storyline to them. This was like a flavor added to the comic to spice things up a bit and making it more appealing to more readers of comics.

Manahan 4 At 1971, when the silver age ended with characters like Steve Rogers abandoning being Captain America and made way for other comics, this made way for the Bronze Age. This was when improvements were being made for comics; the Academy Of Comic Book Arts was (ACBA) made, and Comics became more famous as they reached the media. Super heroes like Superman had his very first movie, which was ground breaking and revolutionizing in Hollywood and in comic books sales. Soon after other heroes like Batman, wonder woman, the Avengers and others got movies and TV shows. These of course made comic books more recognizable to the public and more famous. When it was the 1980s, the most evolutional age of comics have come, which was now known to be as the Iron Age. At this time, people were beginning to feel as if comics were still the same or too cartoony at a sense or even childish, but until this age came comics were different. In the year 1980, comic books began to break rules of the CCA, making it darker, dramatic and more doltish. Examples like Batman; The Dark Knight Returns brings the capped crusader to his darker and more sinister. Others would be Watchmen, V For Vendetta or others, which bring comics to more of a reality sense and even more heavy on emotions and drama. Which all of this was revolutionary to comics as it was more open to things like these as the rules were laid down, making more people like it and even more adults too. Then at 1987, this until now or present day is considered to be the modern age of comic books as it hit in metaphorical terms as The Jack Pot. Not only did it reach Hollywood as now an international icon with famous movies like The Avengers, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Man Of Steel and others. But comics are now well known and have reached the new generation with no one complaining, hating or making fun of it, its everywhere.

Manahan 5 The Influences of comics have reached around the world, not just with modern art or new stories in it but it has affected everyone I different ways. As said before they have been so famous that it had reached Hollywood to make blockbuster hits that everyone loves. But not just in the movies, TV Shows like agents of shield or cartoons for kids like Batman, the brave and the bold are around the media. Even teens and adults go to Comic book conventions like Comic Con dressed up like their favorite supper hero to compete in something called Coplay. Toys are even in place as collectables or playable things for children (Lego). Even in Video Games comic books have reached its influence like for Batman Arkam City or Injustice, Gods among us. But of course, what people dont really realize is that these comics can be symbols of hope to people. Since its influence is that big, in oppressed places or countries with big problems in their hands, you see in that crowd of people wanting a good life is wearing a superman, batman, Iron man or who ever shirt on. That to people is like a symbol if hope, them believing that a hero like the ones they have heard of to be with them there or at least someone with the same ideas to stand up for those people, like what a real supper hero would.

This goes out for everyone out there who believes, who knows someday there will be someone like a super hero. Now to say that Comics are like an unstoppable force (In a good way), it grows as it influence throughout the world, no one can stop it. This slowly started as a childs pass time in the weekends to an international icon known by many. But this is not a bad thing of course, these comic books is like a symbol or beacon of hope to those in need that some day someone will help like a super hero. Or even be that super hero someday, even if it was a childhood dream. Even if it was just from a sheet of drawn paper, this is still something big. With that something good things will come along, as what a wise man once said, Keep Believing! (Stan Lee 1)

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