Before a language study trip for teens to the U.S., it’s important to make a clear distinction when talking about comics:
- comic strips, those little cartoons found in daily newspapers
- comic books, specialized monthly publications that first appeared in the late 1930s
Today, LEC takes a closer look at those classic American comic strips—no speech bubbles, but just as full of flair!
Discovering comic strips during a teen language study abroad program in the U.S.…
Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, Peanuts, or even Popeye —which LEC mentioned recently when discussinga curious village in Malta: there’s no shortage of comic strip examples you might hear about during a teen language study trip to the U.S. The etymology of the term? It’s quite simple: “comic” means humorous, amusing, or funny. Indeed, from its inception to the present day, the comic strip has never lost its purpose of making readers laugh in a short, concise format.
… or dive into the world of comic books
This is less true of comic books, which nevertheless retained this term when they first appeared. First published shortly before the start of World War II, these periodicals—typically a few dozen pages long—tell stories that are often densely packed. While comic books cover many genres, the one that truly contributed to the format’s rise remains the superhero. But be warned: before a language study trip to the U.S. as a teenager, you’ll need to choose between DC Comics and Marvel Comics, the two longtime rivals that respectively brought Spider-Man and Supermaninto the world!