Comic Books With Political News

Some say that "Captain America" and "Superman" were little more than symbols of American patriotism, calling citizens to accept the call of duty for their country and do something larger than life.

Superman fought the Japanese during WWI and Captain America punched Hitler in the face during WWII. However, today's political news resounds through the comic graphic novels world in an entirely different way now.

Some dark comics came out of the Reagan years, but superheroes have been plunged into all-out civil warfare against their own governments.

Political news isn't always so directly reported through comic book art, though. Sometimes, events in modern life are paralleled through events in the comic book heroes universe.

For example, Marvel Comic's "Civil War," released in 2007, introduces an epic battle following the passage of "the Superhuman Registration Act" (much like the Patriot Act in our world), which asks that people trade in some of their liberties for security.

The Registration, more specifically, requires all costumed heroes to be licensed and trained, disclosing their secret identities to the government. While some characters in the DC Universe, like Fantastic Four's Reed Richards and Iron Man support the registration, others like Captain America develop an underground resistance.

Spiderman initially supports the idea so much he unmasks himself on live television, but later recants when he sees the Abu Ghraib-like prisons. Whether these obtuse allegories are an effective way of making a political statement or not remains to be seen.

There are also political news people like K. Thor Jensen and Jenny Gonzalez who focus on war stories. In "House of Twelve Goes To War," the depictions focus on little-known aspects of the War on Terrorism. "Some sad, some action-packed, some unfathomable, but I promise you each and every one is 100% true," the website declares.

"Team 12 was drafted by the government and forced into working towards its war effort. When we returned, we decided the truth must be told in the most effective way possible; auto-bio comics! These are our stories of our experiences during the Great War."

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Comic Collector Buying And Selling Online

So you want to become a comic collector? Perhaps it's the vivid colors, clean lines and creativity of the comic book art that draws you in. Or perhaps it's the compelling story lines, the delving into science fiction fantasy combined with character development that draws you in.

Maybe you're an aspiring artist studying Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. You go to the comic book convention every year, so why not collect too? Most comic collectors are, in fact, die-hard, devoted fans.

Comic book collection values range from a few dollars over face value to six-figures, so the financial side of things depends upon the condition, rarity and issue. If you decide to collect, then you should be in it for pleasure and a sense of community, more than for business.

To become a comic collector, you'll first need to determine what kind of comic book series you want to collect. Naturally, you'll want a collection that most appeals to your interests and personality.

There are science-fiction comics, detective/mystery graphic novels, political comics, realistic comics, horror comics, outer-space comics and more. Chances are you already have some favorites if you're a true lover of a comic book series.

If you interests run really far and wide, then you may want to begin reading Issue 1 of each different comic book series and see which one speaks to you most. If you already have a killer collection from your childhood, then why not look into filling the gaps?

A comic collector will naturally be curious about what old comic books are worth. Popular and respected guides include The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Comics Buyer's Guide magazine, Wizard Magazine, the Comics Buyer's Guide Standard Catalog of Comic Books, and the Human Computing's ComicBase software program. Online, comic collectors can also check out free resources like www.comicbookrealm.com, www.comicspriceguide.com or www.nostomania.com.

At www.gpanalysis.com buyers can view price data gathered from online auction houses and private dealer sales, which are updated daily. Leveraging against several sources is usually the best way to determine an old comic's true value.

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Download And Read Comic Books On Your Portable Device

There are countless ways to read comic books in 2008. Dating back to the 1930s, kids would take their nickels into the local comic book store to buy and read the latest graphic novels.

They loved the feel of the paper, the way the colors jumped out at them and the portability of taking it anywhere they needed to be. Today, kids have unlimited ways to experience their favorite characters, whether on a DVD, on their iPhone or on their laptop.

The $1.99 "ComicZeal" program allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to download, convert and read comic books on their portable devices! The program is fast, smooth and versatile, allowing easy resizing.

Comic book series can be viewed in "landscape" or "portrait" mode and changing the page is as easy as tapping a button at the bottom of the screen. If the comic reading gets interrupted, "ComicZeal" remembers where the reader last left off. One of the best features is that the program comes with a converter so all comic files can be quickly converted to the resized format.

One more way to read comic books is in "Motion Comics" format, which includes limited movement, music, pans and zooms to bring the story to life. "We want people to see these stories through as many distribution points as possible," explains Marvel Comic Books.

Marvel has teamed up with Stephen King to create "N," as well as the character "Ultimate Spider-Man." DC Comics have released "Watchmen" and "Batman Adventures" as Motion Comics. These issues can be purchased for Microsoft Xbox and Verizon VCast!

The world of comic book art and story telling is always growing, and it seems the new technology compliments this genre quite well.

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Exploring Universal Themes With Comic Books

Call it a friendly rivalry, but DC Comic Books and Marvel Comic Books have been on top of the graphic novels world since the 1930s. Despite newer labels, like Dark Horse Comics and IDW, it's unlikely that any other major publisher can supersede these leading giants.

While both graphic novels series explore universal themes, like the conflict between good and evil, the natural human aversion to anything that rebukes the status quo, and what drives human behavior. Yet there are also many clear distinctions that set the two publishers apart.

There are subtle but noticeable differences between Marvel and DC comic books. DC superheroes are focused on their own lives and purpose, whereas Marvel heroes are being hit with villains and extreme situations at every turn.

DC characters are proud of their abilities and strong in their beliefs, often delving into superhero life because they feel tremendous emotional/psychological drives to do what's right and seek justice. In contrast, Marvel comic characters struggle with the burden of their powers more often than not and long to pursue other ambitions.

In the end, it's hard to really say which comic book series reigns supreme. DC, the old dinosaur, has the oldest legacy of all comic books and can rightfully claim the invention of superheroes as we know them (with Superman debuting in 1938).

Their characters were perfect, supreme, and almost god-like in their abilities and powers. However, Marvel Comic Books brought a whole new spin on superheroes with their modern take; that many superheroes were just ordinary people with day jobs and complex emotions, yet wound up finding their callings as heroes (or villains) following a series of unusual events.

Many comic fans will read both so the rivalry has always been friendly, but a person's favorite character may say a lot about why he or she reads.

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Finding A Job As A Comic Book Artist

The life of a comic book artist is much like any other in the creative field, such as writing, acting, fashion design, animation, in that it requires a certain kind of person to endure the arduous process.

If you can create a dynamic portfolio that showcases diversity and talent, then you're well on your way to being "marketable" to the comic book industry. Although, there will also be a lot of self-motivated networking at comic conventions, pitching to publishers, meeting new people and applying to freelance jobs online.

The good news is that dedication often pays off with more secure contracts over time and you'll find yourself with a rather rewarding, creative career ahead of you.

Your success is often dependent on your own personal motivation. Mike Mignola, Hellboy's comic book creator, says he works seven days a week from 9am - 9pm at his home studio, taking breaks throughout the day as needed.

That is one perk of this job; that you are relatively free to craft your own schedule, although there are deadlines.

"If you're working for a comic publisher like Marvel or DC Comics, you usually have to turn around a five to six page strip in about three weeks," says British comic book artist Jim McCarthy. "A graphic novel takes much longer – it might be eighteen months to two years from the original inception to a finished book."

Unfortunately, finding a comic book artist job isn't always easy. DC and Marvel Comic Books are considered very competitive to get into, so most newcomers will have to prove themselves and seek out smaller, independent jobs first.

Job sites like www.digitalwebbing.com, www.coroflot.com, www.simplyhired.com, www.getafreelancer.com and www.craigslist.org are becoming increasingly popular ways to find work. Yet the best way is said to be good, old-fashioned leg work and towing your portfolio to convention after convention and dazzling publishers with your resume and eye-catching illustrations.

For more resources on getting started, be sure to check out www.comicbookresources.com and www.theaoi.com.

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DC Comics With Popular Superheroes

Perhaps no one understands the concept of "heroes and villains" or "good versus bad" as well as Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson. Malcolm was born into a highly regarded Portland family who entertained guests such as Teddy Roosevelt and Rudyard Kipling.

He found his calling as a young army officer, serving around the world in Japan and Russia. According to Wheeler-Nicholson, he "chased bandits on the Mexican border, fought fevers and played polo in the Philippines, led a battalion of infantry against the Bolsheviki in Siberia, helped straighten out the affairs of the army in France [and] commanded the headquarters cavalry of the American force in the Rhine."

It was only fitting then, that he would go on to found DC Comics, leaving behind a legacy of graphic novels that took a closer look at the struggle between heroes and villains.

Following the "Golden Age of comic books" came the "Silver Age" of the 1950s and 1960s, where DC Comics superheroes became a little more human. The Flash was the first DC character that wasn't created by supernatural or alien means.

He had been human, until a lab accident imbued him with superhero powers. While many more characters would follow this model, particularly by Marvel Comic Books, The Flash was the precursor and inspired an amalgamation of science fiction and superheroes that persists even today.

DC Comics may be the oldest of the "superhero" genre, although it's certainly not the only one. Its rival, Marvel Comics, has seen decades of illustrious success, picking up its steam in the 1960s, pushing comics graphic novels to new heights as a way to grapple with psychological issues and purge frustrations with oneself and society at large.

There will always be heroes and villains in the world so it's unlikely that this medium, which is often passed down from generation to generation, will ever die.

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