Customer Reviews

The History of the Comics Vol. 1-4 [VHS]

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The History of the Comics is a fine encapsulation of the history of modern comics, both in newspaper strips and comic books. It appears to be a Spanish production, or joint Spanish-UK production. In any case, it covers the antecedants of modern comics, as well as the neolithic strips. It is a bit Euro-centric, but covers the bulk of the great American strips well. At the same time, it introduces Americans to the variety of material from Europe and elsewhere, including an all too brief overview of manga. The first two volumes focus on the early works of the form, like Alley Sloper, Max und Moritz and The Yellow Kid. Not all of the information is accurate (the term "yellow journalism" did not originate in relation to the Yellow Kid), but the vast majority of it is accurate and finely presented (though the music does get a bit repetitive). What really elevates the work are the variety of interviews with creators from around the world, including Jack Kirby, Charles Schulz, Quino, Moebius, Osamu Tezuka, and Alan Moore. The strips are presented in glorious color and detail on the screen, whetting the apetite for more. Of personal interest were the second and third volumes, which cover the revolution in comics in Europe, which would lead to the creation of Metal Hurlant, and its American cousin, Heavy Metal. This signalled a change in comics towards more mature storytelling, though it would arrive in fits and starts in the US. The series did a lot to spur my interest in specific international comics and set me on the path to seeking English translations. There is something for young and old, American and foreign viewers, though many of the works presented in volumes 3 and 4 are strictly for adults. Definitely worth a look for the fan, especially since the series is not available (to my knowledge) on DVD.