Now this is interesting. Now I understand why Americans have superhero oriented comics.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SDUiTD26kg
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo2dzLxKbVE
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sCELiyo1WM
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyvhIJo5gU0
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4E-MqV_PDg
Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyJCZaKDIb8
Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3RVtdF8wGI
Part 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krzn3eEQW70
Part 9: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AtmyJIrtLY
Part 10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7GMBAP8b8
Part 11: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLROOmDctM
Part 12: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xs-qpesULQ
Part 13: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgAU-sAlhx8

Wow, that was really inforative!

Huh. I think I might have seen this a long time ago, but thanks for the links! Comics history is very interesting. I wish the History Channel would make a program like this showing how Japanese and American comics evolved to their present forms, as Japanese comic ended up becoming much more successful. Might show some of what the American comic industry has done wrong.

Actually I think this documentary covered the mistakes of the American Comic very well: mainly the Comics Code Authority and the Collectors Market Movement. Addmitedly it would be neat to see a documentary on Japanese Comics as well. Or even European Comics or American Underground Comics.

Wow... I feel informed!

That was really enjoyable, and I learned a few things I didn't know!
...also...now I really feel like drawing comics after watching that (yeah, 'cause I don't feel like that nearly all the time...) *runs off to work on the latest page*

Europe has comics?

I thought all they had was stupid cartoony comic strips.

2000 AD in Great Britain publishes cool stuff like Judge Dredd.

Hey, we have comics! Ummm, okay not that MANY compared to America or Japan, but we got 'V for Vendetta' and 'Watchmen', '2000 AD' and old classic kids stuff like 'The Beano' and 'Rupert Bear' etc. Then there are all age graphic novels like 'The Snowman' or 'Fungus the Bogeyman'. In other parts of Europe, there's 'Asterix' and 'Tin Tin' among others. Those are the comics I grew up with as a lass. Comics in Europe tend to be either very simple and child friendly, or extremely grown up and political. That's mainly why in my teens, I turned toward manga and American comics.

I'm really annoyed with American comics at the moment. I mean, there's great stuff being published by places like Vertigo and Top Shelf, but the industry is still so dominated by superheros. I mean, I like good superhero stories, but there are too many of them. Invincible, All Star Superman, and the occasional Batman limited series are the only ones worth getting these days.

Also I don't think single issues are working for the industry.