Superman in Sixties and Pop Art - Research Paper Example

Superman in Sixties and Pop Art Superman in the Sixties was a paperback released as a series. It was publishedin 1999 as a volume companion to “Batman in the Sixties and Batman in the Seventies”. The series collection not only give the stories of the decade, but also reveals the various artists, writers, themes, and styles existed in that era. Pop art, on the other hand, is a creativity that depicts scenes and objects from the day-to -day life and uses the techniques of commercial art and popular illustrations (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 22). Superman in Sixties qualifies as a work of art. It has images and texts that influence the way viewers react to the art. In the book Comics verses Art, Scott McCloud defines comic as; ‘Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in pictorial sequence, intended to convey information and/ or to produce an aesthetic response to the viewer’ (Beaty 34). The definition is basic since other characteristics of the comic books like ballooning are not included. Even though the definition is shallow; it accommodates Superman in Sixties as work of art. However, Superman in Sixties has gained a more aesthetic response over the years. A lot of people have ranked it the best comic ever published. Superman in the Sixties has got both pictures and texts that accompany the pictures. This has made it akin to the “… narrative literary texts” (Beaty 44). This has been one of the factors that made it popular within young and old aged people. The use of both images and texts make the comic to elaborate the happening efficiently and effectively. Superman in the Sixties is a form of comic that narrates a story to the audience. There is an interconnection of the images and the word in the book (Beaty 45). The Superman in the Sixties as a series showcases the work of several artists in the book. The artists identified include the pencillers and the inkers (Molotiu) and offers comparison elements with other works. The comic employs the use of speech balloon, caption, thought balloons, tier of panels, balloon tail, and sound effects among others. Furthermore, the readers can see them from the beginning to the end of the comic book. In addition, there is also use of cartooning in the book to pass the information. The authors use cartooning to give the information in relation to the characters: Jonathan and Martha, Clark, and Lana Lang among others. This made it possible to include non- diegitic symbols. There is also use of caricature in the comic book, for example, the authors describe Superman as someone with huge chest (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 14) as a symbol of his strength. The comic also promotes the use of feathering in some parts (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 14). The book also entails the use of various inflicted lines in different areas of the book. There is also use of emanate in the comic book. For example the use of the light bulb to depict that Clark had an idea (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 17). The comic book also uses the style of composition where pictures are distributed to the panel of the page (Molotiu). When Superman is using his eye powers to melt objects, one can identify the ‘point of view framing’. There is also use of a dominant image where the whole of the comic book is covered with images to show the activities that take place. Interdependence is a form of word image- juxtaposition that is also exploited in the formation of the comic. The sequence is experienced in the better part of the book as the narration continues. The comic book is divided into sections such as “The Story of Supermans Life!"; "The Last Days of Ma and Pa Ken”; "Supermans Return to Krypton!" and "The Lair of Brainiac!" (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 106). These stories are arranged in the form of categories that can be understood in the form of classic tales, cast, mythology, and lighthearted fun and relevant to bring into picture the themes of strength and love. There is the use of the element of cubism in several parts of the comic book. For instance, when there is an elaboration of the speed of Superman or Clark in conducting activities (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 121). Cubism is a pop art since it begun in the twentieth century. The use of cubism has made the comic book able to elaborate the speed of Superman by placing him in several places, in drawing and some lines behind. The use of cubism makes the comic book interesting as it makes it possible to express some sense of humor in the same time . This develops some sense of excitement as it separates the common art of the past with the present art. The alteration that is done on the characters Clark when he turns to be Superman is used to depict his strength and thus expression in an artistic mode. The drawings and paintings allow the altering of the character’s body parts to pass the information to the audience. This is what has been done by Jerry, Joe and Mark in the comic. The order of the comic is a learned composition, to enable the images communicate a point to the readers in a more understandable manner as opposed to just paintings and drawings (Decarlos). It is a form of story narration using images, voices, pictures and action thus reducing the element of boredom. This has made the comic to be common and be seen as the best of commercial arts. The quality of work that is done in the comic is of great benefit since it ensures that as the actions change, the image of the characters doesn’t change (Decarlos). The comic has images that are very well drawn thus developing a passion in reading. The comic is interesting and is consistent in terms of coloring and clearly makes sense in terms of telling the story. The comic does not have the exact feature like humans at a given point and, therefore, reduces the absurdity, making it more creative. One can compare the comic “Superman in Sixties” to the work of Vaughn- James through its paintings and illustrations. The design of the painting and illustrations of the comic gives a good story online. The authors gave the comic book, the title “Superman in Sixties” but the fact is that it was done in the early sixties (1960- 1964) apart from one of the stories. The exceptional story is the one with Neal Adams- that titled the “World Finest” that was done in 1968. The comic was one of the introducers of the today’s notion of graphic novels. Through the comic, “Superman in Sixties” books that function as the graphic novels gained popularity in the 1970s. This made the likes of Vaughn- James to take the open opportunity of the works of that time. This saw to it that artwork like The Cage (1975), Elephant (1970), The Park (1972) and The projector (1971). The Superman in Sixties is an ambitious book of comics ranked high among the self-conscious graphic novels. It entails both the visual and textual language in it. The comic book also makes use of the set texts so as to bring the element of the today’s actual novels into the picture. The comic books show the improvement from the misnomer comics that were used before. It brings to the audience the element of a combination of the movies and books. One can feel the elements of the movie and the books as he or she reads through the comic. The comic ‘Superman of Sixties’ also entails the visual part of the senses making it more interesting and attracting. It has several stories illustrated in a series format, making it a creative genre. The comic reason for greatness is that it entails both the cutting edge level of fiction and the same time the graphic element. This has made much interest to be directed onto it as it is being seen to be the start of the latest creativity in the comic field (Spurgeon). According to Sean in the analysis of The Cage, the work of Martin Vaughn- James, several things can be learnt on the comic Superman in the Sixties. The comic Superman in Sixties illustrates the use of colored photos and drawing and the same time written in prose that later could be compared with the work of Michael Ondaatje. This made the book Superman in Sixties not easy to summarize. With the labyrinthine structure that it has, the book is more than often considered in a spatial format as opposed to narrative terms. It is more like an adventure with more expected to explore rather than a story to follow. The language used in the comic entails verbal motifs and rhythm that come with more of the music than literature itself. The difference between Superman in Sixties and other comics is the drawings that are made in large scales and appear on each page of the book (FinaA428). Each of the pages in the book showing a given time in the narration and all the images is accompanied by the typeset captions. This makes the comic book be in the format of a series of images that are hand- drawn depicting the difference in time and space. This is combined with the texts that ensure that the work brings clearly the meaning. The Superman in Sixties is an artwork that is based on the euphemistic values that is imprimatur. The comic book shows the interest that was made in the 1960s that saw to it that comic is embraced. Jerry Siegel and his counterparts are the early adopters that saw the importance the art of comics. The comic is extraordinary that have never been seen before, with limited to be expected ever since. In the era that comic books had a total 32 pages combine to form a colorful pulp using staples, Superman in Sixties came with 240 pages making the largest comic book that ever existed. The images and words of the comic are bound to form a spine that resembles the art book (coffee table). The book is a combination of several stories making it create a series of stories that makes it special and extraordinary. The formation of the book Superman in Sixties was formed in the era during which the books didn’t have a specific name (FinaA428). This is because it was among the founding books of the comic style copied by Vaugh- James in his work The Cage. Superman in the Sixties is a “long- form comic” and mostly marketed as a graphic novel. The fact that Superman in Sixties is not a conventional narrative has made it more interesting as compared to other fictions. The image is divided into several of the stories that range from the Story of Superman life to the Bizarro invasion of Earth. Added to these stories there is a reprint of double or single spreads. This entails Map of Krypton, How the Super Family Came to Earth, Several Cover Galleries and the Secrets of the Fortress of the Solitude (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 122). Added to this structure, there is a two-page that gives the list of the writers, editors and artists with biographical commentary in summary format. The comic is also with an introduction of four pages that acts as the introduction part of it. The comic, Superman in Sixties, brings in art at a different level, which see to it that the usual art talk is brought to an end. The work sees to it that a high level of intellect is brought in, in which the visual idioms are expressed in an analytical position. The comic Superman in Sixties gives a narration of the superpower individual that ever existed thus bringing in the imagination and real aspect of life. To enable it make sense the comic is written in details giving the information whenever necessary in relation to the information. The artistic use of words and ideas has seen to it that the flow of the comic is unquestionable and every part of it is understandable. Added to it, their choice of words and ideas has seen to it that there is a flow between the stories that are narrated in the comic book (Molotiu). Despite the stories being different, the sense that comes with it is unquestionable as the transition from one story to another is smooth. The stories in the comic are written in the form of classic tales thus make them come with some element of uniqueness. The comic has 240 pages which is a combination of 17 different stories that interlink at a given point thus making the flow. Most of the work is written by renowned comic writers like Jerry Siegel in support of the people like Binder Otto, Leo Dorfman and Edmond Hamilton. The work is of much difference with the previous works with it is showing improvement from the works that had been done before. The collection in the Superman in Sixties gives identification to several inkers and pencillers showing an appreciated combination of efforts. It is in this comic book that one realizes that comic as an art can be done professionally (Duncan 24). Compared to Vaughn- James Martin’s work; The park: A mystery; the comic book Superman in Sixties is an exceptional great book that is more attractive and of much content. The use of words and images are done in equal measure (Vaughn- James 17). The quality of the words used, the paintings and the color of the book is also exceptional. This makes it appealing even to the individuals who don’t enjoy the as it can also be kept in the library for further reading. Superman in Sixties portrays comics as a visual culture through the use of art to develop the brightly colored images and communicate to the audience (Beaty 18). There is the use of self interpreting pictures in the book. The fact that there is the artistic use of words and images to pass information qualifies the book to be an art. This is despite comic books being viewed as not arts in the early days (Beaty 19). For example, the themes of power and love among others, are depicted in the comic Superman in Sixties through the use of images and words in a manner that is creative and worth applauding. According to Molotiu, Superman in Sixties is written in a decompressed storytelling format. The story is broken into narrative panels that run through the comic book. The panels gave the story as per the timeline and explained in a way that gives a moment-to-moment transition. For example, from the comic book, one gets the story of the coming of Superman and how he links to Clark. The panels also give information in relation to the life of Clark and that of Superman’s as two different beings. The comic book gives us an aspect-to-aspect transition of the story from the beginning to the end. The panels in the comic are also laid out with the page space. Superman in Sixties makes use of simple stories, complex story and poster layout models. The “Simple Story Layout” is whereby the panels are arranged in grid shapes that are in the form of tires. It is used severally in the comic book: Superman in Sixties (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 81). The “Complex Story Layout” is whereby the panels comprise of both rectangular and irregular shapes. It focuses on the expression of the page in the formal manner. This form of layout has been used in the initial parts of the Superman in Sixties (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 32).The comic book also makes use of the poster layout panel format. This is employed to the front or cover page of the comic book. The poster layout panel is whereby one image is used to cover a whole page. Superman in the Sixties has the front page covered in the image of flying Superman as the only image. The comic book Superman in Sixties also has employed the use of splash page as a form of art. This is where a given page is given to a particular image. The page is normally a title page and the style is used to depict a crucial moment in the story. The title page of Superman in Sixties has superman in the saving mood, flying. This is always the crucial moment of the story in relation to superman. It also depicts most of the important themes of the story which is reiterated in the heading- superman. The comic book has also employed the use of icon solidarity to ensure that the story is understandable. One cannot get the story narration in the Superman in Sixties by laying focus on comic panels only. The contiguous panels that form the layout form an important part of the context. It is therefore important to read both the comic and the contiguous panels as part of the layout (Molotiu). The comic book also has an element of iconostasis that ensures a form of a unified narration. The panels are not placed in a linear direction at some point of the comic book. It gives an element of iconostatic reading to the readers as opposed to the simple sequential reading. The employment of this style to the comic books like the Superman in Sixties is called iconostatization (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 41). According to Beaty (18) has moved the world of comics as only a form of visual arts as it entails the narrative texts. This has made it be part of the best selling comics thus taking off the tag of ‘unpopular culture’. The comic book has brought forward an interesting view point on the world of comics. There is the use of the anti- art position in the form that entails the use of narrative texts (Beaty 19). Superman in the Sixties has both the elements of caricature and visual arts. It also has bigger images as opposed to many of the older comics that had tiny images thus commanding attention among the readers. Superman in the Sixties was a start of the use of the hybrid nature of comic as opposed to the earlier period where there was often use of pictures alone. This has made it gain popularity among the old and the young in the society even though the story is fictional. Superman in Sixties also has images that are neatly drawn, with texts greatly written and the printing is of high quality (Beaty 21). Superman in the Sixties is a form in which the art production can be considered to have gone a bit more digitalized. This is seen by the quality of the pictures produced and the complicatedness of the panels (Siegel, Shuster and Waid 20). This has seen to it that the levels of creativity in the creation of the comics like Superman in Sixties develop over time. Despite the development of technology, the comic book has employed the use of traditional comic- book production systems (Molotiu). This is based on the fact that it makes the basis of the production of comic books. The traditional production systems are: Early studio system, DC system and Marvel system. Others include EC whereby the title is edited by Al Feldstein or Harvey Kurtzman. The work done with the Superman in Sixties shows the worth of comics in the field of art as it acts as the new foundation of the comic era. This has seen to it that the comics gain more popularity as the styles used in the writing has changed evolved over time to the best practices. The introduction of the pop art in it saw that it got attention even from the university students this development of Humanities Department that dealt with comics in specific. This has been witnessed as the literature departments over sudden develop much attention on the comics like Superman in the Sixties. The comic book Superman in Sixties gives a proof that Pop art can be used in the comic books to depict the life of human beings, in those days, in a more understandable manner. This is seen by use of creativity and innovation in the comic industry to see to it that the images produced qualifies in the field of art and the same time makes sense. Comic as an industry has evolved over ages and as the time goes by, the information in the comic books is presented in a better manner. This in return has seen to it that the comical books are appreciated and used in our day to day lives to pass important information in the society. It has also ensured that comics are no longer associated by a certain age, but rather all age groups. This is based on the facts that improvement in the quality of the images, texts and the printing format has made it a popular culture. Superman in the Sixties’ introduction to the market did not only make it as the best selling comic book, but made people appreciate comic even more. Works Cited Molotiu, Andrei. List of Terms for Comic Studies. Web Comic Forum, July 2013. Web. 13 April 2015. < http://comicsforum.org/2013/07/26/list-of-terms-for-comics-studies-by-andrei- molotiu/ > Beaty, Bart. Comics verses Art. Toronto Buffalo, London: University of Toronto Press Incorporated, 2012. Print. Decarlos, Dan. The Greatest Story Archie Publication Ever Published. Web Something Something Comics something, 21 November 2008. Web. 13 April 2015. < http://comicsasartistsbooks.blogspot.com/2008/11/greatest-story-archie-publications- ever.html > Sylvester, David. Roy Lichtenstein BBC Interview 1966. Web Lichtenstein Foundation, 1997. Web. 13 April 2015. < http://www.lichtensteinfoundation.org/sylvester1.htm > FinaA428. Brief History for Comics Media. Comics, Cartoons and the Art World. Class Power- point for 1/14. Siegel, Jerry, Shuster Joe and Waid Mark. Superman in the Sixties. DC Comics: CMC edition, 1999. Print. Vaughn- James, Martin. The Park: A Mystery. Venice: Ubu Editions, 2012. Print. Duncan, Michael. O! Jess: Consensual Realms of Imagi- Nation. Los Angeles: Siglio, 2012. Print. Rodgers, Sean. The Cage: The brilliant graphic novel is back in print and ready to challenge the new audience. Web The Global and Mail, 10 January 2014. Web. 13 April 015. < http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/the-cage-the- brilliant-graphic-novel-is-back-in-print-and-ready-to-challenge-a-new- audience/article16284746/?page=all > Spurgeon, Tom. Martin Vaughn- James 1943- 2009. Web The Comics Reporter, 8 July, 2009. Web. 13 April 2015. < http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/martin_vaughn_james_1943_2009/ > Read More