The subheading above references an old joke about newspapers, which came to mind while I was thinking about a proper introduction to this section: “Comic Envy.”
Since 2010 or so, I have had an exciting and steady gig as a freelance colorist for three major syndicates. Many of the features I download, color, and upload were launched when daily comic strips were not expected to be in color. So, yes, they were black and white and read all over.
Enter the World Wide Web as a vehicle for syndicated comics. Suddenly, the availability of color CRTs demanded, or at least set up the expectation, that the “wonderful world of color” was now the norm. People of a certain age will recognize the title of Walt Disney’s Sunday night TV show of the 1960s and 1970s. Those were the years when color television in the home transitioned from an expensive luxury to a mainstream staple.
More recently, home computers have undergone similar growth, from pricey, nerdy niche toys to everyday appliances. Consequently, our appetite for color everything has grown with it. So who’s gonna color the black and white comics that no longer cut it online? Colorists, that’s who!
In “Comic Envy,” I’ll give you an insider look at some of the strips I work on and, hopefully, more appreciation of the complexities of this seemingly simple art form.
Looking forward to this!
Color and colorization is a fascinating subject. I’m looking forward to seeing what Frank’s up to.