Getting into comics: the British comics writers for students to enjoy

With all these modern kinds of entertainment that we have today like video games or streaming tv shows, one may think that comics are losing popularity with a young audience. This art form is mostly associated with the 80s and titles like Bateman or Daredevil created by Frank Miller but new content available today is getting even more popular among youngsters.

This is due to emerging of social media and the revitalization of our fabulous Marvel franchise with all its timelines and subuniverses. We used to read comics because they were our best entertainment available, but today’s editions are some next-level works of art. You may be surprised by a fact that some of the most famous comic writers come from the UK and they are responsible for all your favourite DC or Marvel adventures.

Invasion From The UK

If you were a college student in the late 80s then you probably remember that DC graphic novels took a strange turn with some more mature storylines and craftier dialogue. This was thanks to artists like Glenn Fabry, Brian Bolland, or Steve Dillon who brought some of that UK flavour into the US graphic novels culture thus making it more adapt for mature audiences. Suddenly, those superhero dialogues became sharper than a narrative that the best essay writers in the UK would write, with more depth and precise language. Comics became more appealing to essay reading adults who would gladly pay some extra cash as they could relate with more mature characters. It was a whole new market, previously uncharted and undetected, that was ripe for the taking.

Until British artists came along, US novels were more about action storytelling with not much attention to dialogue or character development. These emerging UK artists and writers gave life to Marvel characters by giving them more depth and humanizing them in a process. When Alan Moore and Dave McKean unleashed their unique naturalistic storytelling, those distant worlds of superheroes suddenly became closer than ever for a greater audience. Aside from crafty storytelling, these professionals brought a more vibrant drawing style with softer colours and gritty tones that signalled a new era in our world of comic books. Such novelties are today accepted as mainstream but they were actually a British custom that was imported into other markets.

Mainstream Writing Success

Art has a habit of transcending its initial designs and spiling into other forms of expression just like some water that changes shape when poured into a new cup. Although graphic novels are mainly about drawing or illustrating, some UK artists like Neil Gaiman found mainstream writing success due to their exceptional storytelling skills. After these critically acclaimed Sandman series, he transcended into writing novels like American Gods that eventually found its way onto the big screen. Today, reading illustrated novels means learning with comics as they dig into every taboo, topic, or any important issue through the eyes of superheroes and other colourful characters. That is what a legacy of UK writers and artists like Neil Gaiman or Mark Buckingham is all about.

Conclusion

After this British invasion in the late 80s and early 90s, it is fair to say that many UK artist professionals left their distinct mark on the American comics culture. Surprisingly, some of the funniest comics ever like that Bone series or Princeless anthology are mostly written by American artists as traditional British humour found its way in movies or tv shows of that era. This left UK writers with an opportunity for expressing themselves in a more gritty tone that appeals to students or young people in general. Although writing comics for students probably wasn’t their initial idea, they became their most loyal audience over time. If you are a student looking for a good graphic read, give these UK artists a chance and see where will their imagination eventually take you.