Murals to Marvel: A Timeline of Comic Book Art through History

Discover important dates in the evolution of comic books, from ancient myth to superheroes, and enter our comic-themed contest for 10% off any Domestika course

Images build bridges between us, exploring what it means to be human, and for thousands of years we’ve used sequential art to record our daily lives and create new worlds.

Today, we have huge conventions celebrating comic culture, like San Diego Comic-Con (July 21-24). To celebrate this year’s event, we’re offering a 10 percent discount off our courses to anyone who can “find the comic bubble”. Once you’ve entered, check out the history of comics timeline from ancient carvings to contemporary webcomics and franchises.

Looking for inspiration to create your own comics? Enter our contest below the video for a discount on comic courses and more.

Want 10% off our courses? Find the comic bubble!

With Comic-Con around the corner, you might be thinking about how to draw amazing fan art, write comic scripts, or make amigurumis of your favorite characters. Enter our competition for a 10 percent discount off any Domestika course, open until 3PM (CET) on July 25, 2022.

How to participate

1. Visit our Comic courses page to get started.
2. Look for the comic speech bubble icon hidden in one of the course thumbnails.
3. Click on the course to discover the promotional code.
4. Use the promo code for 10% off any Domestika course.
5. Make your purchase before July 25 at 3PM (CET).

Read the competition terms and conditions at the bottom of this page.

And now, discover even more interesting facts with our full timeline of comic history…

42,000 BC to 1400 AD: Ancient Artforms

As explained in the video, illustration seems to have begun with wall paintings, as seen in Sulawesi, Indonesia. This tradition moved into murals, pottery, and more, including examples like the Ancient Egyptian burial chambers where tales of gods accompanied gossip from the kingdom. Later, in Medieval Europe, creations such as the Bayeux Tapestry also told grand, heroic stories image by image.

Though these pieces were created over a huge expanse of time, what unites them is a desire to explain the world, usually in spiritual or religious terms.

Still, some features seem like precursors to modern comics. In Mesoamerican art from 600-900 AD, thin lines emerged from figures to indicate they were talking—known as speech scrolls. Later, Medieval European art used literal “scrolls” that curled and twisted around the speaker’s head.

1400 to 1900: From Spiritual to Social Commentary

Though the individual puzzle pieces already existed, the history of modern comic strips began with the Gutenberg printing press in 1440. While the Bible was the bestseller, Enlightenment and liberal publications slowly replaced spiritual subjects with social ones.

In 1826 The Glasgow Looking Glass became the first comic magazine, popularizing the style of panels and modern speech bubbles. Punch magazine (UK, 1841) mocked parliament with risky political satire, and The Yellow Kid (US, 1890s) focused on social commentary in New York, with “yellow” here meaning sensational and over-the-top.

As the medium and literacy grew, comics became useful for entertainment, commentary, protest, and propaganda.

1900 to 1950: Escapism and Fantasy

This was the beginning of the golden age of comics. The 1920s saw arrivals such as The Adventures of Tintin in Belgium, and The Dandy and Beano in the UK, focusing on mischievous and brave characters.

But the stock market crash in New York and the horror of two world wars meant escapism and fantasy suddenly became essential. In 1936, The Phantom marked the birth of the superhero comic, and Action Comics (whose publisher would later rebrand as DC Comics) launched in 1938 with Superman. The history of Marvel Comics also starts here, with heroes like the Human Torch and later Captain America.

During wartime, soldier-like characters were identified as useful for army recruitment. At the same time, there were concerns about the effects of comics on children, and strict guidelines forced many US publishers to shut down.

1950 to 1980: Emerging Comic Culture

This was where the modern comic scene took shape, with many bold, political, and independent zines. San Diego Comic-Con began in 1970, and in the following decade grittier heroes like Wolverine debuted.

There were also new forms, such as the graphic novel (coined by Richard Kyle in 1964). American author Will Eisner was a leader in using the graphic novel form to explore a more literary style, releasing The Spirit and A Contract With God.

Meanwhile, the industry became increasingly international, opening doors to the rich comic traditions of many countries, such as Japan. Osamu Tezuka is widely credited as the father of modern manga, with titles like Astro Boy truly bringing global attention to Japanese comics.

1980 to Today: World Wide Webcomics!

The 80’s saw another comics boom in the US, with many of the largest publishers finding a foothold. Titles like Watchmen and graphic memoirs like Maus tackled very dark topics and the conflicts of being human. Meanwhile, manga exploded in Japan and worldwide, with shonen titles targeted at boys and shojo for girls.

After the new millennium, the internet gave rise to yet another new form: webcomics. Screens presented new layout challenges, so nowadays comics are often available in a traditional page-by-page flow, or a vertical, adaptable layout. Self-publishing has grown increasingly popular, especially for niche and specialist content.

Meanwhile, an increasing recognition of the need for diversity in comics has brought many BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and marginalized creators into the spotlight, allowing comics to reach wider audiences.

Finally, the explosion of comic movies has introduced younger generations to the art form. But since ancient times, our desire to create and read comics has been about the same thing: explaining ourselves, and our place in the world.

Competition terms

This code is for one-time use only.
10% additional discount for courses purchased via the website, cannot be combined with other discount codes nor used via the Domestika app. Not valid for course bundles, for Mentored Courses nor towards purchasing a Domestika Plus subscription.
Valid until July 25 at 3PM CET.