The evolution of comics – what is the modern comic?

That's why today comic scriptwriters pay attention, often even unconsciously, to elements that only fifteen or twenty years ago would have raised no doubts. Literature, including popular literature (or perhaps even especially it), is always created on the basis of the creator's experience, and therefore touches reality to some extent.

A litmus test of reality

That's why the evolution of comics continues, because the genre is subject to a natural process of changes in the perception of certain activities or elements under the influence of factors, social, cultural, technological. The evolution of comics, as well as of all popular literature, is a dynamic process, and an analysis of current trends in the world of comics allows us to see that these changes also have a significant impact on the approach to scriptwriting. This is natural insofar as the characters appearing in comics cannot be detached from reality - even if they are even the most fantastic at the same time - and must to some extent respond to the expectations or needs of readers.

Of a given genre, in a given style

As the years go by, reading fashions and genre preferences change. Some time ago, crime fiction returned to favor, this time already in glory as a full-fledged genre (its history is a great example of genre advancement). Science fiction and fantasy are also growing in strength, to which whole reading events, festivals and conferences are increasingly devoted. The growing popularity of specific genres, such as the aforementioned science fiction, fantasy, and horror, is affecting reader interest. Screenwriters must adapt to these trends, creating stories that reflect current reading tastes.

Toward narrative experimentation

The development of a genre will always provoke the testing of its limits and possibilities. It is no different with comics, where comic scriptwriters increasingly dare to introduce unusual narrative structures or play with chronology. This requires a lot of courage, but also creativity and flexibility when creating a comic script. It is worth remembering that often these solutions are not new, and most of them are well known to literature, just to mention the work of the Futurists or the structure of the casket novel. And yet, applying them in comics or graphic novels is still an interesting novelty, especially since it requires highlighting it with adequate imagery.

Diversity

The need for diversity is nowadays spoken of in every field of social and cultural life, encapsulating in this concept both ethnic diversity, gender diversity or sexual orientation. This diversity is also followed by the notion of representation, for which, from time to time, Netlix, for example, is slammed. However, it's hard not to notice that more awareness is required of contemporary filmmakers at least when it comes to writing about women. What was defensible a decade or two ago is sometimes unacceptable today.

Technologies and formats

The development of digital technologies is not without influence on comics and its form, opening up entirely new possibilities for the genre. Interactive comics, mobile apps or comics in animated form reflect today's technological trends and aspirations. So comic writers are adapting their approach, taking into account the unique features of these formats. However, this is also followed by a great opportunity to popularize a given story due to the ease of collaboration and cross-platform narratives. The increase in collaborations between comic book creators and other media, such as movies, games or podcasts, creates entirely new narrative opportunities. It is therefore worthwhile for comic book writers to remain vigilant and open to collaborating with creators from other fields.