The blue suit with Superman's red layer does not define the character, but it is a substantial part of his iconography. The same applies to the shield of the Captain America or, already in European territory, the characteristic bluish aspect of The Smurfs. And although the Japanese manga occurs mostly using black ink and plots, many readers can almost hear the characteristic sound produced by Dragon Ball Saiyans when they see their golden hair on the covers. That is why color use is so important in comics but, When did you start using?
The origins of everything we encompass under the umbrella of the eighth art (the American, European, Japanese and everything in between, which is not little) are not as defined as it might seem. As we have already mentioned in Vidaxtra, it is estimated that to go to the roots of the manga you have to start counting from some enlightened scrolls dating from the twelfth century. But, of course, that does not mean that from there to the works of Osamu Tezuka, the God of the manga and father of Astroboythere is a whole world. So the first step is to limit the concept of comics as we know it today.
Starting from the basics, there are records of graphic humorists since the time of Mesopotamia, the system of dialogues was implemented through snacks (or text balloons) back in the 18th century and, even in those, we could already see costumbrist situations in which stories were told with images and color characters after the standardization of the use of the printing press in Europe. Does that convert all of the above automatically into a comic? I'm afraid no.
In search of the first color comic
There is some consensus in which the modern comic – or at least the generalized and extended conception of the environment that we currently have – part of the work History of Mr. Jabot of the Franco-Suzizo author Rodolphe Töpffer, in 1833. In fact, Six volumes were made And his jump, without permits, to the American continent, settled his legacy. Not only is there a narrative that establishes what today is settled as a comic, but also the concepts that millions of readers have when consuming this type of art are consolidated. Needless to say, it was black and white.
When did the color arrive? Let's say the process was something relatively natural. The most widespread way of offering comics was not through specific publications, but through the comic strips of newspapers. In this aspect we have Two milestones to consider and a common denominator: the Yellow Kid.
- The first comic in full color of which you have registration was published in January 1894 on a page of the New York World newspaper by Joseph Pulitzer. However, it was something exceptional.
- So that the first series of comic strips in full color, and of weekly publication, was the Yellow Kid by Richard Outcault published by Morning Journal (the rival newspaper) in 1896. And this is important because the protagonist of the comic and the author were the same.
He Yellow Kid De Outcault is a child who basically lived in the streets of New York at the end of the 19th century. To get an approximate idea, a kind of Chavo of the eight of its corresponding era. The nickname of it comes from its clothing, which is a huge yellow nightgown and, you create it or not, there is a connection between this character and the term of the yellow press given the fierce rivalry of the rivalry of the New York World and the Morning Journal for trying to capture readers.
Thus, with the permission of the editor of the Morning Journalthe GW Dillingham Company compiled and reissued in the same volume of 192 pages in black and white many of the original adventures of the Yellow Kid of Outcault, establishing in its back cover and definitively the concept of American “comic book”. So we already have a first step achieved, but since we have not printed in color we lack the second: What was the first color comic?
The Blackberries, the entrance of the comic to the new century (with ideas that aged badly)
As we mentioned, there were works printed in the Victorian and even previous times that had color pages, such as A Bushel Of Merry Thoughts (1868) o Epinal imagery (1796), but it would be quite unfair to define them happily as “color comic.” It is not a matter of being tquismiquis, which records. And that takes us to the one who is considered The first comic with full color pages of which you have registration: The Blackberriesby EW Kembmble.
Perhaps the name of Edward Winsor Kemble does not sound to you at all, but it was not any cartoonist or cartoonist: it was an institution in itself. His works and talent were so remarkable that he even caught the attention of Mark Twain, who entrusted him to illustrate the first edition of Huckleberry Finn adventures And, after this, he continued working on several of his works.
That said, the name and legacy of EW Kameble have not aged so well. And the same applies to The Blackberries: Published in 1897 by the editorial RH Russell Publishingin their pages they were customary and humor stories starring African -American children. And despite Kemble's caricatures strokes with his characters, it is still comedy that must be understood in his own historical context.
The Blackberries It is a hardcover comic of dimensions very similar to those of modern stories 9 x 12 inches, and despite the fact that the impression of the pages, advancing to the publication of works that gradually strengthened both the medium of the comic and The little Nemo by Winsor McCay (1905) or the adventures already in color of the The Catzenjammer Kids.
The color: a total revolution for an emerging medium
Needless to say, color comics were more attractive to readers and that the gradualization of color printed publications worldwide will make comics define their identity as art, and during their boom, at the same time that the authors and editorials were understanding how to get the colors better and better. Above all, facing the covers more and more attractive.
However, the color application significantly increases print costs, and this applied to everyone. The Blackberries colored process was more handmade, but even in those for years we have seen how publications such as the famous Comic from Europe, the comics of Condorito In Chile or even magazines such as Shonen Jump (House of Dragon Ball o One Piece) They have chosen to use a colored system with reds, brown and gray quite results.
Needless to say, a good comic does not need color, but this can give greater nuances and new dimensions to a comic. We can put as examples the Spider-Man Azul From Jeph Loeb and Tim comes out. However, not only evolved printing technology, but the way to apply color through digital media. Not to mention that there are works, such as those launched under the Marvel Unlimited seal, which can only be read online or digital platforms.
There is a huge stretch that separates the Yellow Kid y The Blackberries to the current success of the American, European and Japanese comic. And although the technique and technology with which comics are made are greatly improved, readers are also increasingly demanding with the quality of drawings and stories.
What will be the next great comic revolution? Well, webcomics already have small animation effects. But, even in those, the medium will have to find a new way of matching or overcoming the impact of having a color comic for the first time. Maybe the Daltonics have better luck next time.
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