Superheroes and their stories are just as popular today as they were half a century ago.
You don’t have to look too hard to find children running around dressed in their favourite superhero cape battling imaginary enemies and saving the world.
Comic books were first introduced in the 1930s.
They have been through various ages from the 1938 – 1956 considered the Golden Age through to, what is considered the current Modern Age, since 1985.
The Modern Age sees the rise of the anti-hero such as Wolverine, who is flawed but always has the finest intentions. More complex heroes, villains and twisting plots also define this category.
Comic book movies have become mainstream and massive blockbusters.
Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) is the highest grossing comic book movie to date with a worldwide box office of over $1.5bn US.
There are some big ones hitting the box office in 2018 like Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2, Aquaman and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
The argument usually goes that you should read the book before you see the movie and as it happens the Ipswich Library has a massive selection of comic books.
Go back to where it all began, swoop in and borrow a comic book.
Look for the stories that started it all or check out a new release.
Superman: Strange Attractors
“The world is full of exceptional people. The people in the world who do kindness, or search for the truth despite their lives being at risk. The engineers, the teachers, the doctors, and adoptive parents, the scholars and the firemen, and yes, the journalists. People who risk everything for the sake of others and those who simply try to help those whose needed be greater than their own. Those people inspire me, not the other way around.”
The genres are varied and we have compiled a list below, plus a fun comic quiz above and to
the side – a really cool comic book quote.
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Tony Moore
Publisher: Image Comics
The world we knew is gone. The world of commerce and frivolous necessity has been replaced by a world of survival and responsibility. An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled: no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, the survivors are forced to finally start living. Often overshadowed by the popular AMC television show, the award winning comic series has been in publication since 2003. The Eisner Award winner remains a favourite with fans.
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Russell Dauterman, Others
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Jason Aaron continues the saga of mighty Thor, with a multi-dimensional, multi-Thor story. Dr Jane Foster is transformed into the Goddess of Thunder when she lifts the mystic hammer, Mjolnir, but is also facing a tougher, more personal battle with cancer. Asgard descends into chaos and the threat of unrest spreads through the Ten Realms, with the Dark Council fanning the flames of war. And Loki is back, but will he use his Trickster powers for good or evil?
Batman (The New 52)
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
Publisher: DC Comics
In 2011, DC Comics relaunched 52 superhero comic series, each beginning with number 1. Writer Scott Snyder (American Vampire) alongside artist Greg Capullo (Spawn) began a new era of The Dark Knight in a story that begins with a series of brutal murders that rock Gotham City and Batman to the core.
Naruto
Writer and Artist: Masashi Kishimoto
This classic Manga has been called the world’s most popular ninja series. It follows troublemaking orphan and ninja-in-training, Uzumaki Naruto as he struggles to graduate Ninja Academy and achieve his goal of becoming the next Hokage: the village champion. Unknown to Naruto and his classmates, intense Sasuki and witty Sakura, sealed within him is a strange and formidable power.
Saga
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
Publisher: Image Comics
Saga follows the story of two soldiers, from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war, as they fall in love and risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. A sweeping, subversive drama from New York Times bestselling author Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man), and critically acclaimed artist, Fiona Staples. Saga weds fantasy and science fiction in this Hugo award winning comic book series.
Star Wars: Darth Vader
Kieron Gillen
Salvador Larocca
Marvel Comics
Star Wars: Darth Vader gives the Sith Lord his own series. The comics begin at the end of A New Hope, this time showing the Empire’s war with the Rebel Alliance from the Dark Side. The 25 volume series digs deeper into Vader’s story and is a chance to revisit characters like Jabba the Hutt and Boba Fett at an exciting time in the Star Wars story.
