- Comic books show diverse styles of art.superhero image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com
Comic book art is as diverse as the comics themselves. If you are a fan of comics, there is probably a style of comic art that appeals to you. Comic art ranges from minimalistic to an elaborate realistic style. It can also have a regional appeal; popular art in a specific country can provide an insight into the culture. - Anime and manga--which come from Japan--are similar in many ways. They feature large eyes, big hair and dramatic speech bubbles. They can either be hand-drawn or computer generated. The style is dramatically different from an American superhero look. The characters in anime and manga show emotions in an exaggerated way, run with speed lines and frequently have very long limbs.
- The cartoon style of comic book art creates a simplified version of reality. The objects drawn in this style rely on only a few of the physical features to get the point across. Think of the Sunday funnies or Bugs Bunny; these often take advantage of an exaggerated part of the animal or human form while leaving out many details.
- American comic book style is a widely accepted form of comic art that many would-be artists try to emulate. Also known as the Adventure style, the look is based on realistic anatomy taken to an extreme. Muscles are emphasized and the backgrounds are also well defined and full of details. Marvel and DC Comics use this style in their comic books, defining characters such as Iron Man, the X-Men, Superman and the Justice League.
