DC -- Library of Congress -- Exhibit (Agile): Comics Yesterday / Comics Today:
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LOCCOM_180510_05.JPG: Comics Yesterday / Comics Today
Today's comic books have a long and varied history going back to nineteenth-century newspaper comic strips leading up to contemporary blockbuster movies. The Library of Congress is not only home to the largest publicly-held comic book collection, but also extensive holdings of newspaper comic strips, original art, and manuscript collections that reflect the history of comic books, as well as music, television, and film materials about and inspired by comic books and comic book characters. In divisions all across the Library interesting materials about comics can be discovered.
LOCCOM_180510_12.JPG: Famous Funnies:
Famous Funnies, considered the earliest American comic book, reprinted popular newspaper comic strips of the time, such as Mutt and Jeff by Bud Fisher and Hairbreadth Harry by C.W. Kahles. Later publications, such as New Fun Comics, included original content.
LOCCOM_180510_17.JPG: Sunday World:
When Joseph Pulitzer began including Sunday color supplements in the New York World in order to boost sales against his rivals, in particular William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal, a new era in comics began. The Yellow Kid became a prototype for later newspaper comic strips, such as Buster Brown, Mutt and Jeff, and others.
LOCCOM_180510_21.JPG: Nancy:
Comic books, such as Sparkler Comics, that reprinted newspaper strips continued into the 1940s despite the rise in popularity of titles like Detective Comics and Action Comics that featured original content.
LOCCOM_180510_29.JPG: Guns Against Gangsters:
The popularity of comics with more adult subjects during the 1940s and 1950s prompted concern over their appropriateness for children. Psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham's publication, Seduction of the Innocent, particularly criticized the content of these comic books. Eventually, the Comics Code Authority was established, fundamentally changing the nature of comic book publishing.
LOCCOM_180510_33.JPG: Fantastic Four and The Black Panther:
Written and drawn by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, Black Panther made his debut in this issue of the Fantastic Four. Since 1966 Black Panther has appeared in a number of series, including the Avengers and Jungle Action, as well as his own titular series, such as the recent 2016 series written by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
LOCCOM_180510_40.JPG: Fredric Wertham, notes on the Seduction of the Innocent (1954), Chapter 14, "The Future of Comic Books."
LOCCOM_180510_53.JPG: Batman:
Since Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics, No. 27 (May 1939), he has long been an inspiration for television, films, and music. From the iconic 1960s television show to the 1989 Tim Burton film starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson featuring music by Prince, Batman's popularity demonstrates the tie between comic books and popular culture.
LOCCOM_180510_56.JPG: "See the New Superheroes"
Films and television shows based on comic books have a long running history. The Library of Congress's Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division collections include copies of many of these shows and films, such as Space Ghost and Superman.
LOCCOM_180510_61.JPG: Nelson Riddle, Batman Theme Original TV Series Version
LOCCOM_180510_64.JPG: Super Mutant Magic Academy:
Multi-award-winning artist Jillian Tamaki created Super Mutant Magic Academy, where teenage angst meets magic. Originally published as a webcomic between 2010 and 2014, Super Mutant Magic Academy was the winner of the 2012 and 2013 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Online Comic. The Library of Congress collects Ignatz Award nominated webcomics through the Small Press Expo Comic and Comic Art Web Archive. This graphic novel edition features a new "Afterschool Special" format.
LOCCOM_180510_71.JPG: Black Panther Poster
Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler, was released on February 16, 2018, almost fifty-two years after the debut of the character in Fantastic Four, no. 52 (July 1966). Shown is the movie poster.
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