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Evolution of Comic Books: A Brief History and Impact on Pop Culture

Explore the fascinating evolution of comic books from their humorous origins to the advent of dark themes and superheroes, influencing pop culture through iconic characters like Batman and Superman.

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Evolution of Comic Books: A Brief History and Impact on Pop Culture

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  1. 4th: Tuesday, April 4, 2016 • Put away phones • Get out SSR Book • Journal: My teacher had something important to tell us.

  2. The History of Comic Books • A comic book is a magazine or book of narrative artwork with dialogue and descriptive prose. • originally was humorous • subject matter - often serious and action-oriented. • comics could arguably have begun as sequential cave paintings • comic book – 1930s

  3. Golden Age (1938-1950) – Superhero is born • begins with introduction of Jerry Siegel’s Superman in 1938 • very popular • archetype of superhero invented and defined • most popular superheroes were created • The Funnies – 1929

  4. Silver Age (1950s -1970) – Sci-Fi is born • Superheroes begin to have science-based powers and methods • Flash and Fantastic Four

  5. The Bronze Age (1970-1985) – darker themes • Conan and Green Lantern/Green Arrow • Fantasy and darker themes • Drug use (Green Arrow becomes heroine addict)

  6. The Modern Age (Iron Age) – (1986-present) • Batman: The Dark Knight returns graphic novel • dark themes, epic movies • dark psychological complexity • promotion of the antihero

  7. DC Comics • 1934 as National Allied Publications • Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern and the Justice League • The initials "DC" came from the company's popular series, Detective Comics

  8. Marvel Comics • 1939 • Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, the X-Men

  9. The History of The Batman

  10. History A family outing to the cinema ended in tragedy for young Bruce Wayne. Walking homeward, Bruce, his father, Thomas, and mother, Martha, accidentally ventured into Gotham City’s notorious “Crime Alley” and were accosted by a mugger. Not content merely to rob the wealthy family, the hoodlum – whose identity was “never determined” – shot Dr. Thomas and Martha Wayne dead before fleeing into the darkness. As he knelt beside his parent’s bodies, Bruce swore to avenge them. After the police arrived, Bruce was comforted by Dr. Leslie THompkins. Dr. Thompkins and Alfred Pennyworth helped arrange matters so that Gotham’s Social Services would not take Bruce into care. In this way, both Dr. Thompkins and Alfred enabled Bruce to realize his dream of becoming a crusader against crime.

  11. The Young Bruce Wayne At age 14, Bruce embarked on a journey that took him to every continent as he sought to learn all the skills he would need to keep his vow. He studied criminology, forensics, and criminal psychology, and learned from manhunters and martial artists, mastering every fighting style. In time, Bruce forged himself into a living weapon to wage war on crime and injustice. On his return to Gotham, Bruce stalked street thugs as a plainclothes vigilante. Beaten by the very people he intended to protect, he barely survived his first night out. As he sat bleeding in his study at Wayne Manor Bruce knew that he had to first strike fear in the hearts of his foes. Just then, a bat crashed through the study window, giving Bruce the inspiration he needed.

  12. Batman Begins Establishing a secret headquarters in the caves beneath his mansion, Bruce became Batman, a Dark Knight to protect Gotham and its citizens from vice and villainy. Alfred Pennyworth remained his confidant, tending to injuries and offering sage advice – whether requested or not! Batman became an urban legend, a cautionary tale that sent shivers through the city’s underworld. This Caped Crusader found a friend in Captain James Gordon a Gotham cop who didn’t approve of Batman’s methods, but appreciated the results of his nightly crime fighting. Batman’s Rogues Gallery grew to include a host of bizarre criminals, such as the Joker, Catwoman, Two-Face and the Penguin. As his enemies increased, help arrived in the form of another young boy left parentless by brutal crime.

  13. The History of the JokerThe Red Hood A chemical technician named Jack is forced to accept the role of the Red Hood by a group of criminals who want to rob the chemical plant. Jack’s real love is comedy, and he’d hoped to become a comedian to support his pregnant wife. The gang members murder his wife, and devastated with no other alternatives, he becomes a thief. Once, during a raid in which Batman shows up, Jack jumps into a chemical basin to escape. The chemicals disfigure him, turning his hair green, his skin white, and his lips red. Upon discovering this, he went insane. What really crawled out of that chemical basin so many years ago was the worst criminal mind to walk the earth…. no not Lex Luthor, none other than they psychotic and maniacle Joker

  14. Supporting Characters • Alfred Pennyworth • Batgirl • Catwoman • Robin • Harvey Dent (Two-Face) • The Joker • The Riddler • James Gordon • The Penguin • Mr. Freeze • Poison Ivy • Mr. Clayface

  15. The Batman Comic • Co-created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger • 1st Appearance: DC Comics # 27 – May 1939

  16. Batman: The TV Show • 1966-1968 show on ABC, twice a week • Starring Adam West • More of a comedy, action-adventure than serious plots of the comics • In 2003, a TV movie was made about the show titled BACK TO THE BATCAVE. Both West and Ward appeared in the movie as themselves, with actors portraying the two for the recreations of the filming of the original series.

  17. Batman: Animated Series • BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992-95; 1997-99) • Weekdays on Fox Network • first “serious” animated Batman television series • THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES (1997-1999) • The Kid’s WB • BATMAN BEYOND (1999-2001) • Set in future Gotham (50 years beyond now) • THE BATMAN (2004-2008) • The Kid’s WB on Saturday mornings • The series spun off into other media as well. THE BATMAN STRIKES is a monthly comic book published by DC COMICS set in the continuity of the TV series. THE BATMAN VS. DRACULA is a animated, straight to video movie based on THE BATMAN television program.

  18. Batman on Film • Batman has made it to the big screen eight times • Four Eras of Batman Films • The 40s Serials • The 60s Feature Film • The Warner Bros. Burton/Schumacher Series • The Current Warner Bros

  19. The 40s Serials • BATMAN (1943) • This 15 chapter serial starred Lewis Wilson as The Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin. In fact, The Batman was the first DC Comics character to hit the big screen in serial form. • introduced Alfred the Butler and the Batcave and its grandfather clock entrance into Batman lore - quickly became part of the Batman mythos in the comic books. BATMAN (1943) • BATMAN AND ROBIN(1949) • Sequel. • Two poorly made Bat-flicks. They are so bad and so cheap-looking, that they come off as a comedy! But it was the 40s and how "serious" did anyone take "comic book movies?" However, the significance of both these serials is not the quality of each (or lack thereof), but the fact that they were the first two live-action depictions of The Batman on film. They should not be overlooked when one studies the great history of The Batman.

  20. 60s Feature Film • Premiered July 30, 1966 • Spin-off of tongue-in-cheek TV Show

  21. The Warner Bros. Burton/Schumacher Series • Batman (1989) • Directed by Tim Burton • Starring Michael Keaton as The Batman and Jack Nicholson as The Joker was a huge hit and the highest grossing film of the year ($251 million domestic). The success of the film was the culmination of a decade long effort to bring a serious, dark version of the character to the big screen. • Began Bat-Mania!

  22. BATMAN RETURNS (1992) • Same Director and Cast • Introduces The Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) • RETURNS was much, much darker than BATMAN. It also is viewed by many as an overly strange, morose, and macabre film that has become very divisive among Batman fans. It is without a doubt, a love it or hate it film.

  23. BATMAN FOREVER (1995) • Director: Joel Schumacher • Val Kilmer as Batman • Harvey Dent/Two Face – Tommy Lee Jones • Jim Carey – The Riddler • Robin – Chris O’Donnell • Mixed Reviews

  24. BATMAN AND ROBIN (1997) • Same Director • Batman: George Clooney • Robin: Chris O’Donnell • Catwoman: Alicia Silverstone • Arguably the worst Batman film ever.

  25. Batman Begins • Directed by Christopher Nolen • “my intention was to do a superhero film, but treating it in a realistic fashion.” • Directed by Christopher Nolen Batman: Christian Bale Love Interest Rachel: Katie Holmes Alfred: Michael Caine Jim Gordon: Gary Oldman • Best movie review

  26. The Dark Knight • The best reviews yet • Same cast • Introduction of The Joker (the late Heath Ledger) and Harvey Dent/Two Face (Aaron Eckhart)

  27. Due FRIDAY

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