The Comics

by Coulton Waugh

This classic 1947 study, the first of its kind, probes the mass popularity of the comics as well as exploring their evolution, social commentary, art forms, and genres

Genres: Art

364 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Dan Newland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit dated (it was published in 1947!) but for a book about popular culture that is over eighty years old, The Comics holds up pretty well! Waugh did a nice job of reviewing the history of American comic strips from the late 1800s up until the mid-1940s, and The Comics gives valuable historical perspective on how comics were perceived by the public and by critics at the time.

Waugh also takes a short (and unimpressed) look at the new "comic book" format, and has interesting ideas on how comic strips and comic books differ. There are a number of comics reproduced, and overall this is actually a pretty entertaining read.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first history of the form? I think so.