Corto Maltese Serigraph on Canvas - The beach

Comic strips have origins dating back to ancient times, with illustrations accompanying texts on ancient Egyptian pyramids and ancient Greek papyrus scrolls. However, the comic strip as we know it today emerged in 19th century Europe, with publications like the British magazine Punch featuring serialized caricatures. In the United States, comics experienced significant growth with the publication of Superman in 1938 and Captain America in 1940. These comics were followed by many other superheroes that gained widespread popularity among readers. In Europe, comics evolved in a distinct way with the Belgian school of clear line, which focused on storytelling and visual narration rather than action and special effects. This approach was popularized by authors such as Hergé, the creator of Tintin, and Edgar P. Jacobs, the author of Blake and Mortimer. In France, comics also experienced strong growth, with authors such as Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny creating the famous Asterix and Obelix. In Asia, comic strip form manga has experienced tremendous success, particularly in Japan. Manga is characterized by a unique graphic style and a strong emphasis on emotions and character relationships. It has gained popularity worldwide and has contributed to the growth of comics as a recognized art form. In France, comics have been considered the "9th art" since the 1950s due to their narrative and artistic nature. Before this, the visual arts were generally considered to include eight categories: painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, poetry, theater, and cinema. Comics have been recognized as a form of art in their own right, deserving a place among these eight traditional arts.