So what is comic art? I am going to assume most people who have found their way here already know what it is, but for the few who don’t lets talk about it a little bit.
Comic books are a form of storytelling, usually referred to as sequential art. Novels tell stories chapter by chapter word by word by a writer giving vivid descriptions of all events occurring in them to immerse the reader into a world that only exists in their minds. On the other end of the spectrum and a much more recent form of storytelling are films. Writers, Directors, actors and some studio magic work to give viewers a spectacle of imagery to tell a story in a few hours time. Sequential art tells a story by displaying multiple drawings grouped with words in a sequence to tell a story.
It is a unique form of storytelling and maybe the most under appreciated in the world, as well as one of the oldest. It almost bridges the gap between the imagery of a novel and a film and is able to take some of the best aspects of both(Graphic Novel is a great way to name sequential art.) The way a story can be told by a great writer and great artist is a wonderful and unique experience. Many of the most popular characters and wonderful stories in the world originated from sequential art, but I probably don’t need to tell anyone reading this about the virtues of sequential art.
There are many wonderful sources online or in books that can tell you about the history of sequential art so I suggest readers explore those sources to learn about the history of it.
CAG is going to define comic art for our purposes as art created for comics and graphic novels as well as other similar art by creators working in the medium.
That can really be broken into two categories, published art and unpublished art. Published art is…any art the has been published, in comics, magazines, posters, ads or other media. Unpublished art covers art which never made it to publication, which includes preliminary art, commissions, unused pieces and the like.
What is the hobby of comic art collecting? . The hobby has developed among those who appreciate sequential art and the characters it has created. Collecting pop culture memorabilia is neat, collecting key issues can be fun, but nothing in this venue compares to holding an original page in your hands. It is truly the last frontier of collecting for fans of the medium. Collectors who get into comic art rarely leave to collect from other segments of pop culture.
There was of course one point where this hobby didn’t exist! Publishers and artists would literally throw away works that would be revered today as it was treated as disposable garbage. We are starting to routinely see sales around half a million dollars and we are probably not too far away from one million being breached on the auction block. Modern artists are gaining fame instantly as they publish wonderful works. More and more people are appreciating the art form. The hobby has come a long way! It will be exciting to see what the future of this hobby holds. Are we at the peak of popularity, or are we at the beginning of worldwide artistic appreciation? CAG hopes it can promote this wonderful art form so future generations can appreciate it, as the world looks more and more for digital and electronic entertainment.
This hobby is not just one occurring in America, actually, it is stronger in many other parts of the world. Japan is known for its manga, which is a large part of its culture, is quickly gaining popularity and influence across the world, through multiple age groups. Europeans have admired sequential art much more as an art form with greats such as Moebius and Herge being revered., and hold it in much higher regards than the America public in general(They also buy a lot of our American published art too!)
CAG will primarily focus on American art, but for those who have never experienced sequential art form outside America……you’re missing out. Do yourself a favor and explore the wonderful stories and art produced around the world!
A final warning for those new to the hobby, you may(will probably) become addicted! Most who collect this hobby…..collect fiercely. There are many more diehard collectors in this hobby than casual ones.
Enjoy the rest of CAG and you will be much more knowledgable about the hobby should you decide to take the journey.
