Comic Book

A comic book uses sequential artwork, concise prose, and dialogue and thought balloons to tell a narrative. http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/033comic.html It comes in a myriad of genres - action, science fiction, superhero, graphic novels, manga, educational, adventure, romance, and horror. http://www.comicsresearch.org/genres.html MAUS (Pantheon Books, 1986) was the first graphic novel published by a major book publisher. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546 Marvel Comics and DC Comics are the principal comic book publishers. http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/033comic.html http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=19505&page=article They have dominated the field since the 1960s. http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/033comic.html Other publishers in the top five include Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, and IDW Comics. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=19505&page=article

Many comic books have film adaptations. X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman, and Iron Man are box office successes. http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/033comic.html http://totallytop10.com/entertainment/movies/top-10-best-superhero-movies-of-all-time Comic books ranked third as a top collector's item in the 1990s behind stamps and coins. http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/033comic.html

Some of the comic book industry's transformations are linked to single comic book issues. Famous Funnies #1 (Eastern Color, 1934) was the first comic book sold on newsstands. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546 New Fun #1 (National Allied Publications, 1935) was the first comic book containing entirely original material. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546 Action Comics #1 (National Allied Publications, 1938) introduced Superman. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546 Pep Comics #22 (MLJ Comics, 1941) brought the lives of teenagers into focus. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546 Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics, 1963) marks Spidey's first solo comic book. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546 Youngblood #1 (Image Comics, 1992) started the superhero universe concept. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546 Shonen Jump #1 (Viz Communications, 2002) caused the manga revolution in America. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18546

The foremost American comic book awards are the National Cartoonists Society Award, Alley Awards, Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards, Jack Kirby Awards, Will Eisner Awards, Harvey Kurtzman Awards, Ignatz Awards, Comics Buyers Guide Fan Awards, and Wizard Fan Awards. http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/american.html

1. Magneto (Marvel Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/1.html

2. Joker (DC Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/2.html

3. Doctor Doom (Marvel Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/3.html

4. Lex Luthor (Marvel Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/4.html

5. Galactus (Marvel Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/5.html

6. Darkseid (DC Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/6.html

7. Ra's Al Ghul (DC Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/7.html

8. Loki (Marvel Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/8.html

9. Dark Phoenix (Marvel Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/9.html

10. Kingpin (Marvel Comics) http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/10.html

• Comics and Sequential Art by Will Eisner

• Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative by Will Eisner

• Making Comics by Scott McCloud

• Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud

• Writing for Comics by Peter David