Origin of Comics

In 1837, "The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck" was published by Rudolphe Töpffer and it is considered the earliest known comic book.

Origin of Comics

The 1895 "Yellow Kid" created by Richard Outcault has often been cited as being the first comic strip. It debuted in the New York City newspaper "The World".

“the funnies”

Where have you heard this term?

In 1900, “the funnies” began to be called “comics” or “comic strips”

Mickey Mouse's Debut

In 1930, Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse was born as a comic strip.

Dick Tracy

A new character arrived in 1931, a trench coat wearing detective.

This comic was a continuous story, not a “funny”.

Action based Forerunner of the

graphic novel

You know these!

Graphic Novels:

Superman

Batman

Green Beret

Captain America

Green Lantern

Impact of Comics

What do people do to take their minds off of things?

What historical events were happening from the 30's to the 50's?

Take a look at some of these covers again. Do you see any signs of these events?

Propaganda Satire

1. Information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

1.The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices

It goes both ways...

Germany used such methods as well →

How is propaganda used?

How is satire used?

Satire

Basic Elements to Comics

Word balloon: A bordered shape containing dialogue, usually with a tail that points to the speaker.

Basic Elements to Comics

Thought balloon: A bordered shape containing a character’s unspoken thoughts. Thought balloons almost always have bumpy, cloud-like borders and tails that look like trails of bubbles.

Basic Elements to Comics

Caption: A tool often used for narration, transitional text (“Meanwhile...”), or off-panel dialogue.

Basic Elements to Comics

Sound effects (SFX): Stylized lettering that represents noises within a scene.

(onomatopoeias)

Basic Elements to Comics

Panel: Typically a comic book page is made up of individual panels that, when put together, tell a story in a sequential order.

(panel=scene)

Comic Strip Requirements

1. Must use elements: thought & word balloons, caption, sound effects, effective panel layout.

2. Must create a story or ”funny”

3. Use class time appropriately.

4. BE CREATIVE. NO COPYING.

5. Content must be school appropriate and non-offensive

6. Lines/drawings neat, no smudges

7. Must have at least 6 panels.

(You may do this in color or b&w. You may add satire if you like.)