comic

a professional performer who tells jokes and performs comical acts arousing or provoking laughter

"an amusing film with a steady stream of pranks and pratfalls"

"an amusing fellow"

"a comic hat"

"a comical look of surprise"

"funny stories that made everybody laugh"

"a very funny writer"

"it would have been laughable if it hadn't hurt so much"

"a mirthful experience"

"risible courtroom antics" of or relating to or characteristic of comedy

"comic hero"

A comic book is a magazine or book containing the sequential art in the form of a narrative. Comic books are often called comics for short. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. The term "comics" in this context does not refer to comic strips (such as ''Peanuts'' or ''Dilbert''). In the early to mid-21st century, greater acceptance of the comics form among the general reading populace coincided with a greater usage of the term graphic novel, often meant to differentiate a book of comics with a spine from its stapled, pamphlet form, but the difference between the terms seems fuzzy at best as comics become more widespread in libraries, mainstream bookstores and other places.The earliest comic books were simply collections of comic strips that had originally been printed in newspapers. The commercial success of these collections led to work being created specifically for the comic-book form, which fostered specific conventions such as Comics vocabularysplash pages. Long-form comic books, generally with hardcover or trade-paper binding came to be known as graphic novels, but as noted above, the term's definition is especially fluid. Like jazz and a handful of other cultural artifacts, comic books are a rare indigenous American art form, comicon.com disinfotainmenttoday.com though prototypical examples of the form exist.American comic books have become closely associated with the superhero sub-genre. In the U.K., the term comic book is used to refer to American comic books by their readers and collectors, while the general populace would mainly consider a comic book a hardcover book collecting comics stories. The analogous term in the United Kingdom is a British comiccomic, short for comic paper or comic magazine.

The comic book in the United States - mainAmerican comic book Since the invention of the comic book format in the 1930s, the United States has been the leading producer, with only the British comic (during the inter-war period through the 1970s) and Japanese manga as close competitors in terms of quantity. The majority of all comic books in the U.S. are marketed at younger teenagers, though the market also produces work for general as well as more mature audiences.The history of the comic book in the United States is split into several ''ages'' or List of time periodshistorical eras: The Platinum Age, Golden Age of comic booksThe Golden Age, Silver age of comic booksThe Silver Age, The Bronze Age, and Modern Age of Comic BooksThe Modern Age. The exact boundaries of these eras, the terms for which originated in fandom press, is a debatable point among comic book historians. The Golden Age is generally thought as lasting from 1938's introduction of Superman until the early 1950s, during which comic books enjoyed a surge of popularity, the archetype of the superhero was invented and defined, and many of comic books' most popular superheroes debuted. The Silver Age of Comic Books is generally considered to date from the first successful revival of the dormant superhero form — the debut of the Barry Allen Flash in ''Showcase (comics)Showcase'' #4 (Sept.-Oct. 1956) — and last through the early 1970s, during which time Marvel Comics revolutionized the medium with such naturalistic superheroes as the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man.Notable events in the history of the American comic book include the psychiatrist Frederic Wertham's criticisms of the medium in his book ''Seduction of the Innocent'', which saw the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency investigate comic books. In response to this attention from government and the media, the U.S. comic book industry created the Comics Code Authority in 1954 and drafted the Comics Code, a move which saw the particularly targeted Entertaining ComicsEC change its satirical comic book ''Mad MagazineMad'' from comic book to magazine format in order to circumvent the Code.

Underground comics - mainUnderground comics During the late 1960s and early 1970s, a surge of underground comics occurred. These comics were published and distributed independently of the established mainstream, and most reflected the youth counterculture and drug culture of the time. Many were notable for their uninhibited, irreverent style; their frankness in graphic sex, nudity, language and overt politics hadn't been seen in comics outside of their precursors, the pornographic and even more underground "Tijuana bibles". Underground comics were virtually never sold on newsstands but in such youth-oriented outlets as head shops and record stores, and by mail order.The underground-comics movement is often considered to have started with ''Zap Comix'' #1 (1968) by Canadian cartoonist Robert Crumb, a former Cleveland greeting-card artist living in San Francisco. Crumb later created the popular characters Fritz the Cat and Mr. Natural, and published Gilbert Shelton's ''Fabulous Furry Freak BrothersThe Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers''.

Independent and alternative comics - The rise of comic-book specialty stores in the late 1970s created a dedicated market for "independent" or "alternative comics"; two of the first were the anthology series ''Star Reach'', published by comic-book writer Mike Friedrich from 1974-1979, and Harvey Pekar's ''American Splendor'', published from the 1970s through the present day. Some independent comics continued in the tradition of underground comics, though were generally less overtly graphic, and others resembled the output of mainstream publishers in format and genre but were published by smaller artist-owned ventures or by a single artists. A few (notably ''RAW (magazine)RAW'') were experimental attempts to bring comics closer to the world of fine art.The "small press" scene continued to grow and diversify. By the 1980s, several such independent publishers as Eclipse Comics, First Comics, and Fantagraphics were releasing a wide range of styles and formats from color superhero, detective and science fiction comic books to black-and-white magazine-format stories of Latin American magical realism.A number of small publishers in the 1990s changed the format and distribution of their comics to more closely resemble non-comics publishing. The "minicomics" form, an extremely informal version of self-publishing, arose in the 1980s and became increasingly popular among artists in the 1990s, despite reaching an even more limited audience than the small press.

Decline of serial comic-book format - In the early 2000s, sales of standard monthly comic books declined while graphic novels made increasing headway at retail bookstores. Along with the shift toward graphic novels among comics publishers, traditional book publishers such as Pantheon have released several dozen graphic novels, including works originally released by comics publishers with much less publicity.

The comic of Europe -

Franco-Belgian comics - mainFranco-Belgian comics Franco-Belgian comics are comics written in Belgium and France. These two countries have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are called ''BDs'' (from ''Bande Dessinée'') in French languageFrench. Belgian comic books originally written in Dutch languageDutch are influenced by the francophone "Franco-Belgian" comics, but have a different feel. ''La bande dessinée'' is derived from the original description of the artform as "drawn strips". It is not insignificant that the French term contains no indication of subject matter, unlike the American terms "comics" and "funnies," which imply an art form not to be taken seriously. Indeed, the distinction of comics as the "ninth art" is prevalent in Francophone scholarship on the form (''le neuvième art''), as is the concept of comics criticism and scholarship itself. Relative to the respective size of their countries, the innumerable authors in the region publish huge numbers of comic books. In North America, the more serious, Franco-Belgian comics are often seen as equivalent to graphic novels, for various reasons, but whether they are long or short, bound or in magazine format, in Europe there is no need for a more sophisticated term, as the art's name does not itself imply something frivolous.

The British comic - mainBritish comic Originally the same size as the comic book in the United States, although lacking the glossy cover, the British comic has adopted a magazine size, with ''The Beano'' and ''The Dandy'' the last to adopt this size in the 1980s. Although generally referred to as a comic, it can also be referred to as a comic magazine, and has also been known historically as a comic paper.Although ''Ally Sloper's Half Holiday'' (1884), the first comic published in Britain, was marketed at adults, publishers quickly targeted a younger market, which has led to most publications being for children and created an association in the public's mind of comics being somewhat juvenile. Popular titles within the United Kingdom have included ''The Beano'', ''The Dandy'', ''Eagle (comic)The Eagle'', ''2000 AD (comic)2000 AD'' and ''Viz (comic)Viz''. Underground comics and "small press" titles have also been published within the United Kingdom, notably ''Oz (magazine)Oz'' and ''Escape Magazine''.The content of ''Action (comic)Action'', another title aimed at children and launched in the mid 1970s became the subject of discussion in the House of Commons, and although this was on a smaller scale to such similar investigations in the United States, it also led to a moderation of content published within comics, although such moderatiuon was never formalised to the extent of a creation of any code, and nor was it particularly lasting.The United Kingdom has also established a healthy market in the reprinting and repackaging of material, notably material originated within the United States. The lack of reliable supplies of American comic books led to a variety of black and white reprints, including Marvel's 1950s monster comics, Fawcett's Captain Marvel, and some other characters such as Sheena, Mandrake the Magician, The Phantom etc. Several reprint companies were involved in repackaging American material for the British market, notably the importer and distributor Thorpe & Porter.Marvel eventually established a UK office, with DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics also opening offices for periods in the the 1990s. The repackaging of European material has been less frequent, although the Tintin and Asterix serials have been succesfully translated and repackaged in soft cover books.

The comic annual - At Christmas time publishers will repackage and commision material for comic Annual publicationannuals, hardback A4 books. DC Thomson also repackage The Broons and Oor Wullie strips in softcover A4 books for the festive season.

Other European comics - Other European comics, especially Italian comicsItalian ones are strongly influenced by Franco-Belgian comics. Although Switzerland contributes less to the body of work, it is significant that many scholars point to a Francophone Swiss, Rodolphe Töpffer, as the true father of comics. This choice is still controversial, with critics feeling that Töppfer's work is perhaps somewhat unconnected to the genesis of the artform as it is now known in the region.

The graphic novel - mainGraphic novel The term graphic novel was first coined by Richard Kyle in 1964, mainly as an attempt to distinguish the newly translated works from Europe which were then being published from what Kyle saw as the more juvenile publications common in the United States.The term was popularised when Will Eisner used it on the cover of the paeprback edition of his work ''A Contract with GodA Contract with God, and Other Tenement Stories'' (1978). This was a more mature work than many had come to expect from the comics medium, and the critical and commercial success of A Contract with God helped to establish the term "graphic novel" in common usage.

Regional categories -

American comic book

British comics

Indian comics

Manga (Japanese comics)

Manhua (Chinese comics)

Manhwa (Korean comics)

European comics

*Franco-Belgian comics - ''Bande Dessinée, BD''

*Italian comics - ''Fumetti''

Brazilian comics - ''Histórias em Quadrinhos, HQ''

Other Forms -

Tijuana bible (aka 8-pagers)

Underground comics

Alternative comics

Political and religious comics

Genres - Note: As with film and literature, genres are rarely pure and often blend. ''Frankenstein'', for example, is a science fiction/horror fictionhorror novel; ''The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.'' is a Western (genre)Western/comedy TV series. Not all superhero comics are necessarily science fiction; Marvel Comics' ''Daredevil'', for example, despite an initial science-fiction premise, may be more usefully classified as a Crime fictioncrime drama.

Action/adventure comics (of which superhero is a sub-genre)

AdaptationAdaptations of narratives in other media, often movies

Anthromorphic/funny animal comics (see also furry)

Autobiographical comics

Crime fictionCrime comics

DramaDramatic adventure comics

Historical comics

Horror fictionHorror comics

Humor comics

JournalismJournalistic comics

Religious comics

Romance (genre)Romance comics

SatireSatiric comics

Science-fiction comics

War (genre)War comics

Western (genre)Western comics

Some particularly notable comic books -

''2000 AD (comic) 2000 AD'' (United KingdomBritish)

''Acme Novelty Library'' (United States - Fantagraphics Books)

''Akira (film)#MangaAkira'' (Japanese)

''Asterix'' (FranceFrench)

''Batman'' (United States - DC Comics)

''The Beano'' (United KingdomBritish)

''The Dandy'' (United KingdomBritish)

''Donald Duck'' (United States - The Walt Disney CompanyDisney)

''Eightball'' (United States - Fantagraphics Books)

''The Fantastic Four'' (United States - Marvel Comics)

''The Incredible Hulk'' (United States - Marvel Comics)

''Lone Wolf and Cub'' (Japanese)

''Lucky Luke'' (Belgium - Dupuis and Dargaud)

''Monica's Gang'' (''Turma da Mônica'') (Brazilian)

''Mortadelo y Filemón'' (Spain)

''Mickey Mouse'' (United States-The Walt Disney CompanyDisney)

''RAW (magazine)''Raw'''' (United States - Raw Books)

''The Smurfs'' (Belgium - Dupuis)

''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (United States - Marvel Comics)

''The Adventures of Superman'' (United States - DC Comics)

''The Sandman (DC Comics Modern Age)Sandman'' (United States - Vertigo (comics)DC Vertigo Comics, 1988 World Fantasy Award (unique win for a comic-book series)

''Spike and Suzy'' (BelgiumBelgian FlandersFlemish, originally called ''Suske en Wiske'')

''Tintin'' (BelgiumBelgian - Casterman)

''Viz (comic)Viz'' (United KingdomBritish)

''X-Men'' (United States - Marvel Comics)

''Zap Comix'' (United States-underground comix)

See also -

Comics - the sequential art form in general -

Comic strip

Graphic novel

Webcomic

*Sprite comic

Storyboard

Cartoon

*Political cartoon

Comic book awards -

Eisner Awards

Harvey Awards

Ignatz Awards

Kirby Awards

Prix de la critique

Angoulême International Comics FestivalAngoulême International Comics Festival Prizes (aka Alph'arts) and the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême

Tezuka Awards

Miscellaneous -

Cartoonist

Comic book creator

Comic book collecting

Comic-Con International

Lists -

List of comic creators

List of comic books

List of comic book publishing companies

List of cartoon and comic pairsList of comic and cartoon character pairs

List of comic strips

List of cartoonists

cartoon characters named after peopleList of comic and cartoon characters named after people

Comic books in dialects

References - Inge, Thomas M., "Comics as culture" Journal of Popular Culture 12:631, 1979 (not online)

External links -

heritagecomics.com - How To Figure Out How Much Your Comics Are Worth

comics-db.com - The Big Comic Book Database

comicbookgalaxy.com - Comic Book Galaxy

cbr.cc - Comic Book Resources

comics.org - The Grand Comics Database

crimeboss.com - The Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency

gweeb.com - Bronze Age 1970s Comic Book Cover Showcase

toonopedia.com - Don Markstein's Toonopedia

knightmare6.com - Fan Site: Comic Book FAQ

boldcomicsstudio.com - Bold Comic Studios - A site for the independant comic !creatorda:Tegneseriede:Comiceo :Komiksoes:historietafr:Bande? !dessinéehr:Stripja:漫画la:C omicusnl:Stripverhaalsv:Teckna d? serieCategory:Comic books!*Category:ComicsCategory:Magaz inesCategory:Entertainment DEBUG REDIRECT (comic book)

Urban Zombie - Clothing For The Wicked
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Ulfs Art
Tolle Zeichnungen aus Kaufungen von Ulf Ruhland, dem Kreateur von Ulfs POPP
http://www.ulfs-art.de

CiutatOci.com
Information about culture and leisure in Catalonia and Barcelona
http://www.ciutatoci.com/

Legions Of Gotham
The largest Batman fansite on the net, featuring Batman Animation, Film, Comics and Toys
http://www.legionsofgotham.org

BotandCam.com
3 fully 3d rendered weekly webcomic by Sammy 'XyZeR' Janssens & Mike 'Pitboy' Jhonson.
http://www.botandcam.com/

Swift Magic Aerobatic Team
The offical site for the Swift Magic Aerobatic Team
http://www.neurobellum.com/magicteam/

Comedy Branson
Comedy calendar and links to Branson Missouri comedy clubs and venues
http://www.comedybranson.com/

Reed Comics the Online Comic Shop
Reed Comics the Online Comic Shop for all your comics including many titles such as 100 Bullet Comic, 1602 Comic, Agent X Comic, Alan Moore Comic, Alias Comic, Alpha Flight Comic, Amazing Spiderman Comic, Amazing Spider-man Comic, Aquaman Comic, Authority Comic, Avengers Comic, Batman, Batman Comic, Battle of the Planet Comic, Birds of Prey Comic, Black Panther Comic, Bronze Age Comic, Buffy Comic, C.S.I. Comic, Cable Comic, Captain America Comic, Captain Marvel Comic, Catwoman Comic, CGC Comic, Civil War Comic, Comic Book, Comic Online, Crime Scene Investigation Comic, CSI Comic, Cyclops Comic, D.C. Comic, Danger Girl Comic, Daredevil, Daredevil Comic, Dark Horse Comic, Darkness Comic, DC Comic, Deadpool Comic, Domino Comic, Elektra Comic, Emma Frost Comic, Exiles Comic, Fables Comic, Fantastic Four Comic, Fathom Comic, Full Circle Comic, Full Cirkle Comic, G.I. Joe Comic, Gary Frank Art, GI Joe Comic, Graphics Novels, Green Arrow Comic, Green Lantern Comic, Harley Quinn Comic, Harleyquinn Comic, Hellblazer Comic, Hellboy Comic, He-Man Comic, Hulk Comic, Human Target Comic, Human Torch Comic, Incredible Hulk, Incredible Hulk Comic, Iron Fist Comic, Iron Man Comic, JLA Comic, JSA Comic, Judge Dredd Comic, Kingpin Comic, Legaue of Extraordinary Gentlemen Comic, Legaue of Gentlemen Comic, Lobo Comic, Losers Comic, Magdalena Comic, Magneto Comic, Marvel Comic, Marvel Knights Comic, Masters of the Universe Comic, Matrix Comic, Mekanix Comic, Midnight Nation Comic, More Than Meets the Eye Comic, Muties Comic, Mystique Comic, Naymor Comic, New Mutants Comic, New X-Men Comic, Nightwing Comic, Ninja Turtles Comic, NYX Comic, Online Comic Book Store, Online Comic Shop, Original Comic Art, Outsiders Comic, Phoenix Comic, Planetary Comic, Plastic Man Comic, Powers Comic, Punisher Comic, Queen and Country Comic, Red Star Comic, Rising Star Comic, Robin Comic, Robotech Comic, Runaways Comic, Ruse Comic, Sabretooth Comic, Sam and Twitch Comic, Sandman Comic, Secret War Comic, Sentinel Comic, Shrek Comic, Silver Age Comic, Silver Surfer Comic, Simon Bisley Art, Slaine Comic, Smallville Comic, Sojourn Comic, Spawn Comic, Spider-Man, Spiderman Comic, Spider-man Comic, Spiderman Unlimited Comic, Spider-man Unlimited Comic, Star Wars Comic, Street Fighter Comic, Superman, Superman Batman Comic, Superman Birthright Comic, Superman Comic, Supreme Power Comic, Swamp Thing Comic, Teen Titans Comic, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comic, Thanos Comic, Thing Comic, Thor Comic, Thundercats Comic, Tom Strong Comic, Tomb Raider Comic, Toyfare Comic, Transformer Armada Comic, Transformer Comic,, Transformer Energon Comic, Transformer G1 Comic, Transformer Genesis Comic, Transformer Universe Comic, Transformer War Within Comic, Transformers Armada More Than Meets the Eye Comic, Transformers G.I. Joe Comic, Transformers GI Joe Comic, Transformers More Than Meets the Eye Comic, Trouble Comic, Truth Comic, Ultimate Six Comic, Ultimate Spiderman Comic, Ultimate Spider-man Comic, Ultimate War Comic, Ultimates Comic, Uncanny Comic, Venom Comic, Wake the Dead Comic, Walking Dead Comic, Wanted Comic, Wildguard Casting Call Comic, Witchblade Comic, Wizard Comic, Wolverine Comic, Wolverine Origin Comic, Wolverine The End Comic, Wonder Woman Comic, X-Man Comic, X-Men Comic, X-Men Ronin Comic, X-Statix Comic, X-treme X-Men Comic, Y Last Man Comic, Y The Last Man.
http://www.reedcomics.com/

Guty & Simone live music duo
Guty & Simone, live music, musicians, concert, gig, party, wedding music, weddings in Italy, musical evening, marriage, music, italy
http://www.gutyesimone.it/

abe novick
a site dedicated to the writer abe novick
http://www.abenovick.com/

Free Foren and more
Free Foren, CuteCast und Yabb, Free Counter, Free Bannerexchange, Free Bannererstellung, Animierte Gifs, Cliparts, Promotion uvm.. kostenlos für ihre Webseite
http://www.kater-karlo.com/

Tiesto-online.nl
All about Dj Tiësto!
http://www.tiesto-online.nl

Asociación de Dibujantes de Argentina - ADA
ADA - Official site. Through this web page we intend to show our work in the areas of illustration, cartoon, comic, caricature and animation. Gallery and information contact.
http://a-d-a.com.ar/

BirdBreath
Life from a bird's point of view
http://www.birdbreath.com/

Graphic-Novels.Com
DiD Publishing produces a website dedicated to graphic novels and comics. There are free online stories, reviews, interviews, a blog and artist profiles. If you wish to purchase graphic novels you can access thousands from our site. Download original stories from the website.
http://www.graphic-novels.com/

KNÄPPO!
En svensk humorserie av Hans Blom.
http://www.knappo.se/

Wes Tumulka.com
A collection of sites and pages relating to comic books, movies, television shows and anything else that interests Wes
http://www.westumulka.com/

GoNagai.it
All on Go Nagai, Dvd, Comic strips, toys etc.
http://www.gonagai.it/

Gerben den Heeten / Black Eye Pictures
Online portfolio of Dutch commercial artist Gerben den Heeten, who, under the name of Black Eye Pictures, also produces art with a mature content. Take a look at his website, and don't get lost in the 'darkroom'!
http://www.gerb-art.com/

art store-art for millions
The art store is founded 1990 with a very simple concept: to sell original art for low prices. Prices for original paintings as for posters. Its still working and worth to have a look on the website or the real galery, that is sited in Wohlwillstrasse 10 in St Pauli, Hamburg, Germany. Open every thursday, friday and saturday evening.
http://www.artstorestpauli.com/

COMIX35
An international nonprofit ministry teaching the production and effective use of Visually Oriented Literature.
http://www.comix35.org/

www.fortune500comedy.com
Award Winning Comedian and Speaker, Peter The Humorator Fogel can perform or speak at your next corporate event? Sign up for his Humor This! Ezine and receive FREE the e-book Effective Workplace Humor That'll Give Your Company a Strong ROIL (Return of Infectious Laughter)
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Artworks by Emir Yardimci
Digital and traditional art, illustrations, designs & more by Emir Yardimci...
http://www.emirart.com/

Italian comic strips The site
The italian comic strips website, funny comics page on italian newspapers, cartoonists offer their comic panels to press
http://www.lastriscia.net/

Anton Graphics
Illustration, comic art and animation by Australia's Anton Emdin.
http://www.antongraphics.com/

Well of Souls
An art site featuring illustrations and online comics by several artists.
http://www.well-of-souls.com/

Enormous Publications
Website of fantasy / figure artist Brad Simpson
http://www.enormouspublications.com/

Polish Cartoon - Polski Komiks
Polish Cartoon, Polish Cartoonists,
http://cartoon.com.pl/

MON MITIC COMICS MANGA
Store specialized in comic and manga and y everything what its world surrounds and the world by the fantastic collecting. ample I catalogue of products related in the cinema and the CI-FI.
http://www.monmitic.com/

ERDEN The Fantasy Graphic Novel
Fantasy Graphic Novel and online Comics
http://www.erden.ch/

Comics.com
Features comic strips from United Feature Syndicate, Inc. - includes archives.
http://www.comics.com/

User Friendly
Comic strip about the Internet and hi-tech business in general. By Illiad. Includes wallpaper and startup screens to download, character profiles and an archive.
http://www.userfriendly.org/

San Diego Comic-Con International
America's largest comic book and pop culture convention at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA on July 17-20, 2003. Annual event includes the "Cartoon Voices" panel hosted by Mark Evanier (voice director on "Garfield & Friends"), and a number of other cartoon voice actors will be in attendance as well.
http://www.comic-con.org/

Comic Book Resources
News, reviews, columns, message board, and shopping.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/

United Media (Comic Zone)
United Media offers online editions to many comic strips, like Alley Oop, Dilbert, Marmaduke, Nancy, and Peanuts.
http://www.unitedmedia.com