Graphic novels. Sequential art. The funny pages. It doesn’t matter what you call them. Comics have been a mainstay of American literary and artistic life sincefirst saw print in 1837. While the medium has become synomyous with superheroes, its stories are as diverse as any other art form: horror, romance, comedy, social dramas, science fiction, and, yes, good old-fashioned heroes saving the day. And the creators are as diverse as the stories.
Every year, the industry celebrates the breadth and depth of its addition to culture with Free Comic Book Day, an event with a perfectly self-explanatory name: Comic stores across the world give away issues specially printed for the day. And, to celebrate the day, we’re spotlighting some of Austin’s comic creators, from self-published indie innovators to the industry legends that have shaped some of the biggest-selling titles being published today.