A new documentary entitled Scotland's amazing Comic Book Heroes claims that The Looking Glass periodical was the first comic book. The first installment of the periodical was released on June 11th, 1825; the last was published the following year. However, some insist certain characteristics of the magazine founded by John Watson make it the first comic magazine in history. Is a comic no more than the mere inclusion of such phrases as "To be continued..."?
The Looking Glass became The Northern Looking Glass, and it was during this run that experts say it introduced the word balloon. William Heath is the cartoonist who added those three words to a comic strip entitled "This Soldier's Life." Heath moved to London and became one of the most successful caricaturists of his day. He revived The Looking Glass years later, but it quickly folded and William Heath died shortly thereafter.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
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