Comics and graphic novels have had a major impact on the film industry. Movies based upon comic book characters have had a great success and many fall under the superhero or action genre.
Above is a poster for 'Th Avengers', a film adaptation of the comic series. It was the highest grossing films of 2012 and remains one of the highest grossing films of all time (not adjusted for inflation).
Comics and graphic novels have inspires merchandise such as toys and costumes that relate to the original comic products.
Above is a purchasable clothing item: footwear with Batman comic styled print on the material.
Comics and graphic novels have inspired related mass events like Comic Con where fans can attend to celebrate their favourite comics and characters.
Above is a photo from a Comic Con event showing a Gaurdians of the Galaxy fan posing for a selfie next to a figure of one of the characters. Guardians of the Galxy also inpired a cinematic remake.
Task 1
Comic and graphic novel job roles:
The writer creates the narrative, dialogue and story.
The pencilers design and illustrator.
The letterers choose the type fonts.
The inkers and colourists create atmosphere through illustrations using colour and shading.
EC Comics
EC comics is a subsidiary publishing company owned by DC. Originally called Educational Comics, the company re-branded itself to Entertaining Comics as they wanted to reach a larger audience and felt that by targeting people with entertaining comics rather than educational comics they would a gain a larger audience. This re-brand allowed for more interesting comics and a wider variety of genres. Listed below are five examples of comics published by the company.
1. The Vault of Horror
Title: The Vault of Horror
Product: Graphic novel. Anthology comics.
Writers - Al Feldstien, Bill Gaines, Johnny Craig
Pencilers - Graham Ingels, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Johnny Craig
Letterers - Unknown
Inkers - Graham Ingels, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Johnny Craig
Colourists - Al Feldstien
http://www.comicvine.com/vault-of-horror-19/4000-100704/
Above is the cover for 19th addition of The Vault of Horror. The cover was created by penciler Johnny Craig, who also served as the writer of the lead story. The cover includes dramatic irony, as the woman states she wants Ralph back, unaware that the undead Ralph is behind her.
The Vault of Horror was a collection of comics that would include original and illustrated horror novels. The comics became popular due to their plot twists and supernatural content that influenced the dark and gothic art style.The success of this comic series inspired future comics by EC such as the next two examples listed below. This started the EC horror genre comics. The next two collections of graphic horror novels would include almost identicle styled content, following the same style of dark and often gorey illustrations.
The Vault of Horror soon inspired a full length live-action horror anthology movie of the same name, however none of the stories included in the film originated from the comics; A majority of the stories actually appeared in Tales from the Crypt, a partner comic series. Some call this film a sequel to the original Tales from the Crypt film.
2. Tales From the Crypt
Title: Tales from the Crypt/The Crypt of Terror
Product: Graphic novel. Anthology comics.
Writers - Al Feldstien,
Pencilers - Al Feldstien, Graham Ingels, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Jo Orlando
Letterers - Unknown
Inkers - Al Feldstien, Graham Ingels, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Jo Orlando
Colourists - Al Feldstien
Above is the cover for the 28th addition to the Tales from the Crypt series. The cover was created by penciler Al Feldstien, who also wrote the lead story and worked as an inker. This cover allows for an interesting perspective as it allows the reader to view a scene which takes place both underground and above ground.
Tales from the Crypt was the third instalment to the collection of the dark comic series, yet the name is probably the best recognised comic from the company except for possible Mad magazine.
Tales of the Crypt is probably best known for their infamous mascot, The Crypt Keeper, one of the only reoccuring characters in the series along with The Vault Keeper and The Old Witch, all recognisable from their old and decreped appearance, their constant rivalry with each other, and their dark humoured wordplay.
Tales from the Crypt inspired a full length live-action horror anthology movie of the same name, as well as other horror films based on some of the stories featured in the comics. The comics also inspired three successful TV series, titled 'Tales from the Crypt', 'Tales from the Cryptkeeper' and 'New Tales from the Cryptkeeper '. The comics and the character have camoed in other popular culture, such as a refrence in the film Freaky Friday and parodied by The Simpsons.
3. Haunts of Fear
Title: Haunts of Fear
Product: Graphic novel. Anthology comics.
Writers - Al Feldstien, Gardner Fox
Pencilers - Al Feldstien, Graham Ingels, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Wally Wood
Letterers - Unknown
Inkers - Al Feldstien, Graham Ingels, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Jo Orlando
Colourists - Marie Severin
Above is one of the covers to a copy of The Haunt of Fear illustrated by penciler Al Feldstien, who also wrote the lead story and worked as an inker. This cover, similarly to the Vault of Horror cover, also includes dramatic irony, with the perplexed man unaware that the missing mummy is standing behind him.
The Haunt of Fear served as a sister-comic to The Vault of Horror and Tales from the Crypt, but didn't reach the the same social status as the other two. The reasons why are not apparent.
4. Mad
Title: Mad
Product: Satirical comic.
Penciler: Richard Williams
Inker:Richard Williams
Colourist:Richard Williams
Above is a cover of one of the copies of Mad Magazine illustrated by penciller and inker Richard Williams. The cover comically depicts Superman, (the main protagonist for DC comics), sat reading a copy of Mad magazine with the mascots face on the front, which blends seemlessly onto Supermans body.
Mad magazine was created to include comics that would satire politics and popular culture. Mad became recognised for it's wit, parody and caricature art style.
Mad inspired merchandise such as bobble heads and t-shirts featuring the iconic image of their main character/mascot Alfred. It also inspired an animated TV show of the same name which lasted three years.
Unlike the previous three comic examples, Mad magazine uses comedy rather than being part of the horror genre, appealing to a different type of audience with different interests. This shows that whilst the company found a market with their horror graphic novels, the can also work to different mediums and genres to expand their products to different audiences.
5. Moon Girl
Title: Moon Girl/ Moon Girl and the Prince
Product: Action/superhero graphic novel.
Penciler: Sheldon Moldoff
Inker: Sheldon Moldoff
Above is a cover for Moon Girl illustrated by penciler and inker Sheldon Moldoff, who famously designed some of the original Batman characters for DC.The narrative was written by Gardner Fox
Moon Girl was created to compete with the success of other superhero comics by other publishing companies (In a time now nicknamed 'The Golden Age of Comic Books'), mostly to compete with the newly popular DC character Wonder Woman, in the hopes that a super heroin would attract a larger audience by appealing to both genders and show gender equality in the company. EC no longer hold copyright to Moon Girl as it now under public domain.
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