Comics History
Comics, comix, and comic strips!
Comics come in many forms: from the literary graphic novels to controversial underground comix, from the simple text strip drawings for children to the erotic artwork of the ero-comics, from Japanese manga to Italian fumetti, newspaper comics to French bandes dessinées - Lambiek tries to give its visitors a wide range of information and choices in this exciting artform.
What are comics? Since comics appear in so many forms, it is hard to find a definition that fits all of them. Will Eisner, godfather of the American comic, came up with the useful term "sequential art" - any sequence of pictures - which can rightly be called 'comics'.
In addition to selling comics, Lambiek wants to preserve our comics heritage and educate people about them. That is why we started the Comiclopedia, presenting an overview of thousands of international comic artists. Another important efforts we are involved in is the preservation of the history of Dutch comics, which can be seen in Lambiek's History of Dutch Comics, where many beeldverhalen and krantenstrips have been rescued from the fate of oblivion.
Comics, like films, have a primary goal to entertain, whether they are newspaper strips or horror comics. Unfortunately, the comic medium has mostly been associated with childish leisure, and is not yet fully appreciated as an important medium in which art and literature can combine to result in a visual and literary experience as evocative as any good book or film, especially when not hindered by any sort of censorship or comics code.
Lambiek is here to promote this artform by providing you with an entertaining and educational website devoted entirely to the art of comics. Welcome to the wonderful world of comics!