For over 70 years, graphic novels and comic books have been entertaining young and old alike. At the beginning of the 21st century subtle changes have begun to produce their mark on this medium. The characters have gone from a G. rating to a PG rating and in some cases rated R. The villains tend to be more villainous, the superheroes tend to be more powerful and the relationship between the two has evolved.
Comic book universes became more cohesive as characters moved from one book to another in one sitting the overall story arcs. Sometimes subplots are incorporated in the story so when a future occurrence materializes, you are cognizant of it. the motion picture industry have taken notice of the increased complexity of comic book stories and characters; they have found new source material. This symbiotic relationship between comics and film has drawn fans from both media together to share the excitement of this amalgamation.
For years I have railed against the absolute ignorance of writers, directors and designers who felt they knew how to adapt comics to the screen. Filmmakers just did not grasp the proper technique for translating the unique storytelling style of comics to their medium. Comic books in the twenty-first century allows readers to read and conceptualize the story, then watch the big screen to see if the writer and director had the same perception as you did. As a comic book artist who have also worked in film and television, I felt like a snob as I criticized the obvious mistakes made by producers, directors and writers over the years.
