IDEA OF EXPLOITATION IN COMIC BOOKS

Text topic: Strip and Identity

Text author: Милан Милошевић

Since their appearance, comic books have been victims of misuse by media concerns. Generic plot lines were preconditions for large printings, which – alongside commercialization and the Comics Code Authority (CCA) – without a doubt did the most damage to comic books and hindered transition of the once humorous newspaper addition into a genuine art form. Though the corporate model was well known and derided even during the 1970s, it has persisted to this day. This paper examines comic book industrialization and exploitation of original ideas. The analysis centers on the evolution of Marvel’s Punisher series. Following the decrease in quality of writing and drawing, as well as the changes made to the character of Punisher himself, the paper exposes the methods with which franchises are created from otherwise artificially maintained properties. Saga of Frank Castle is not the longest run in mass–produced comic book publishing history, but it is still a potent example of cultural trends and the divergence of comic books from their artistic principles.