Report into different companies from various countries that produce comics. This must look at a range (minimum of two) of characters from each company and the work of the writers/pencillers of each.
DC Comics:
DC Comics: DC Comics also known as Detective Comics is one of the oldest and most known comic and graphic novel publishers in the world. Having created many recognisable characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, The Flash, and Green Lantern. They also created popular superhero teams such as the Justice League and the Teen Titans. Though they mostly focus on superhero comics they also have comics in the detective, crime-noir, mythology and supernatural genres. DC released their first comic in 1934 under the original name of National Allied Publications, this was then changed to DC comics in 1974. However the company has branched out into Films and TV as well. Despite them focusing on their most popular characters such as the many and various Batman films, Aquaman 1&2, Wonder woman 1&2. Lesser known characters such as John Constantine and Blue Beetle have also gotten their own films. Originally the company had a niche audience but as DC comics has expanded so has their audience size making them now target a mass audience. They target a audience from 8-20+ This is because they have produced content like Lego Batman and Teen Titans Go! which are targeted at children meanwhile The Batman and Teen Titans on Netflix carry an age certificate of 15+ and feature heavy dark themes. However they definitely target a majority male audience due to the use of 'fanservice' and male gaze such as the small costumes for female characters. There is also a majority male amount of characters creating ideal selves for the male audience and the female leads as ideal partners.
John Constantine:
The John Constantine or Hellblazer comic series targets a generally mass audience but despite their being no explicit warning on the front cover about potential explicit themes it is advised that only a mature audience read the comics on the online forum. This particular issue was published in October 21st 2014, but the first issue was created in 1988. Therefore the age demographic is 16-30+. The housestyle colour scheme is dark and moody except for the masthead which is red and gold. Red has connotations of blood, violence whilst gold is synonymous with power, divinity and spirituality suggesting as well through the 'hell' part of the title that there is a religious connection. Their is imagery in the main cover drawing of a black cat and a skull. The black cat carries connotations of witchcraft and the skull carries connotations of death. We can also see that John Constantine is open carrying a firearm both connoting that the comic is set in America and he needs the ready availability of a weapon. Both the firearm he carries and the cigarette he smokes reinforces the mature themes that the DC comics warns about. I will attempt to create similar aesthetic of character as John Constantine because he is a deeply layered and mysterious detective, which is what I want my main heroic protagonist to be connoted as. My character will also be carrying a pistol or revolver and will smoke as well however it won't be such an openly visible firearm, either kept in hip holster or a shoulder holster. Due to the dangerous nature of being a P.I my character will also carry a knife and a pepper spray or other such defence mechanisms though they are capable of defending themselves (at least somewhat) without them.
