Comic Arts: Vision for the Whole Family

Comics and graphic novels are part of the rich and varied field of comic arts.  They can really draw you into their world.

CONNECT:

• Find out about the history of graphic novels, comics and manga, how to build a graphic novel collection, and where you can read them online! http://www.ipl.org/div/graphicnovels/
• This graphic novel review site targets kids and teens, and provides a Comics 101 page and links to further resources: http://www.noflyingnotights.com/
• View this comic strip about graphic novels: http://w-wp.com/resources/what-is-a-graphic-novel/
• Trace the history of comics at http://www.comic-art.com/history.htm
• How do comics reflect different cultures? Find out at http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19112066

CREATE:

• Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee’s explains how to draw comics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdWsNp5KWdE&src_vid=B5tU2PuRdU8&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_573648619
• Make drawing a comic strip a fun family activity: http://www.mykidsadventures.com/create-comic-strip-kids/
• You can make comics by hand by following http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Comic  or
• http://marvel.com/games/play/34/create_your_own_comic
• Sesame Street shows how to read comics: http://ape-entertainment.com/kizoic/about/sesame-street/sesame-street-how-to-read/. And you can send your own comic art to this site.

CARE:

• Create your own comic strips online! Print them out or email them to friends. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/.  Here are some tools to generate more advanced digital comics: http://mashable.com/2010/10/24/create-your-own-comics/. Consider making graphic novels to cheer someone up.
• Did you know that comics can help doctors improve their practice? Find out how and why at http://www.bbc.com/news/health-25112785
• Fotonovelas are a popular way to teach good health habits and other positive practices. See examples, and share some of them with people in need: http://www.rwhp.org/fotonovela.html
• How about volunteering for “Reading with Pictures” ? This group tries to get comics into schools: http://www.readingwithpictures.org/Reading_With_Pictures/Home.html
• Comic book stores care about access to comics, so they offer free comics on the first Saturday of May. Participate and get the word out at http://www.freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/992

CAREERS:

When you think of comics, do you think of drawing? Think about fotonovelas and photography. And there’s the publisher and seller.

• Dreaming of a career in comic arts? Start here: http://dw-wp.com/how-to-use-this-site/students/
• View the life of a comics journalist at https://medium.com/@susie_c/eight-years-of-solitude-110ee3276edf
• Here’s the in-between world of the graphic novelist: http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-in-between-world-of-the-graphic-novelist 
• Watch this panel of graphic novelists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZb3tRiATZI