Science fiction comics
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| Science fiction comics | |
|---|---|
 Planet Comics, 1946 |
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| This topic covers comics that fall under the Science fiction genre. | |
| Publications | Flash Gordon Dan Dare 2000 AD |
| Creators | Jack Kirby Jim Starlin Keith Giffen |
| Sub genres | |
| This type of comics can be brokendown into: Biopunk comics Cyberpunk comics Military science fiction comics Post-apocalyptic comics |
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| Related articles | |
| Science fiction magazine | |
Science fiction comics began as early as the 1930s in US newspapers. They have since spread to many countries around the world, with the two largest publishers of this comic genre today arguably being the United States and Japan.
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[edit] Early history
There have been science fiction comics since comic books began in 1938 when newspaper comic strips of Superman were published in collected form. Since then there have been comics based on science fiction of many styles including superheroes with a science fiction angle, comics featuring the space travels of Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Dan Dare and others.
In the 1950s, EC Comics had great success and popularity publishing science fiction comics of increasing sophistication, but were almost driven out of business by the wave of anti-comics feeling stirred-up among parents and educators by Dr. Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent.
In spite of opposition, science fiction in comics continued through the 1960s with stories for children and adolescents. It began to return to the adult market again in the late 60s with the wave of hippy underground comics.
[edit] International spread
Science-fiction comics have also been published in European and non-western countries.
The publication of Eagle gave a platform for the launch of Dan Dare in 1950. Starting in the mid-sixties The Trigan Empire was featured in Look and Learn drawn by Don Lawrence, who would go on to create Storm. In the 1970s, publications such as 2000 AD featured a selection of regular stories either putting a science fiction spin on popular themes[1] like sports and war and also introduced characters like Judge Dredd. Its success spawned a number of spin-offs an imitators like Tornado, Starlord and Crisis none of which lasted more than a few years, with the earlier titles being merged back into 2000 AD.
Japanese manga also featured science fiction elements very early. In the 1950s, Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy was one of the first major science fiction manga.
Other examples include the Polish comic Funky Koval.
[edit] Current developments
With the advent of the Internet, a number of notable science fiction comics have been published primarily online. Among the earliest science fiction webcomic was Polymer City Chronicles, which first appeared in 1994. Other notable comics include Schlock Mercenary, Starslip Crisis, and Fans!.
There are numerous science fiction Japanese manga being published. Examples from the 90's on include Neon Genesis Evangelion, Code Geass, and Cowboy Bebop.
[edit] Notable science fiction comic creators
- Enki Bilal (e.g. The Nikopol Trilogy)
- Juan Gimenez
- Leiji Matsumoto (e.g. Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999)
- Moebius
- Joe Orlando
- Katsuhiro Otomo (e.g. Akira)
- J. Michael Straczynski (e.g. Babylon 5)
- Osamu Tezuka (e.g. Astro Boy)
[edit] See also
- Science fiction graphic novel
- Category:Science fiction anime and manga
- Category:Science fiction webcomics
[edit] Notes
- ^ Gravett, Paul (2005). "Great British Comics: Nostalgia Ain't What It Used To Be". Comics International. http://www.paulgravett.com/articles/064_nostalgia/064_nostalgia.htm. Retrieved 04-06-2009. "Action's topicality and extreme images sparked a media furore and distributor crackdown, but from its ashes arose 2000AD, the same themes transposed into the 'fantasy' future of science fiction but as dark and disturbing as ever."
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