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A TIMELINE OF ILLUSTRATION IN COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS

Mankind have used images in storytelling to convey messages and meaning throughout time, the earliest 'comics' being the cave paintings created in 15000 B.C found in Lascaux, France.
Comics began to rise in population in the 1800's with the introduction and more common use of satirical and political comics in newspapers published throughout Britain, France and the US.
Compilations of comic strips began publishing in the early 1900's witch quickly evolved into comic books in the 1930's.

THE GOLDEN AGE
1938-1950

THE SILVER AGE
1950-1970

THE BRONZE AGE
1970-1985

THE MODERN AGE
1985-Prestent

- Printed in booklet form telling a straightforward story
-Superman is published
-Cartooning was simple in art style
- Panels are laid out in basic square grids
-More dialogue than imagery
-Sales decline after the War

-Comics took inspiration from art movements such as surrealism
- The justice league revives the super-team trope
-Cover images
became an artistic representation of the issue’s themes or a protagonist’s state of mind.
-Comic books found true artistic expression for the first time in the Pop Art movement

-Photorealistic backgrounds and less surrealism
-Superman adaptation is highly popular
-Characters alter egos got more panel time
-Stories grew darker as the hero faced higher stakes
-We see more black and female protagonists
-Merchandise becomes more widely popular
-Comics become accepted as an art form

-Also called the 'Ageless' age
-Advanced technology now allows comics to include many illustrative techniques including digital paintings and 3D modelling
-The line between film and comics is now very thin, some comics even adapted into moving comics - even going as far as adding voice actors
-Styles and design can vary drastically rather than the 'uniform' styles.
-Comic storylines are no longer as restricted, allowing the narrator or artist as much liberty as they would like in terms of style and image.
-Realism and 'grit' continues to be a trend