Comics deliver profound messages through a combination of visual expression, narrative, and production, and are also connected to the ancient storytelling methods of mankind, so they can be fully recognized as art.
Comics are a storytelling art that combines the expressive beauty of paintings, the story of novels, and the production of movies. They provide readers with visual and narrative experiences by simultaneously containing pictures and narratives, and this can be seen as an excellent artistic characteristic that is comparable to other pure art genres.
The origins of comics can be found in the Lascaux cave paintings in France 15,000 years ago and the Altamira cave paintings in Spain. In particular, the Chauvet cave paintings from 35,000 years ago contain even more comic elements, showing that comics are one of the oldest visual storytelling methods of mankind. The roots of comic semiotics can also be found in the mythology and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome, and religious paintings of the Middle Ages.
Comics can also be analyzed from a semiotic perspective. Just as everything in our daily lives is a sign, comics are also the subject of semiotics, an academic discipline that expresses ideas through various symbols and signs. In addition, comics are characterized by 'popular artistry', which is easy for readers to access and enjoy, while also possessing both artistry and artistic value. This implies that comics leave their mark as a work of art, but their value shines even brighter when they are loved by readers as a product.