Brief Visual Timeline of 3D Comics

A niche part of the comics world, 3D comics have a brief yet peculiar history. This timeline shows the visual evolution of how 3D is utilized and provides insight on how the medium rose and fell multiple times.

3D comics were first produced in the 1950s, pioneered by Joe Kubert and Norman Maurer under St. John Publishing. Their process included layering and shifting acetate cels to produce a 3D illustration. Closely following 3D movies, the first major popularity surge of the gimmick was in 1953, although this was short-lived. Between poor sales and a patent lawsuit, St. John Publishing ultimately went under, ending the fad. 

Once again following motion picture trends, 3D comics had a resurgence in the 1980s. Steve Schanes and Anna Fera founded Blackthorne Publishing, the main purveyor of this decade’s 3D comics. This 3D revival resulted in hundreds of comics, from well-known series to obscure indie artists. However this era was brief, much like the 1950s 3D surge. Sales did not match the production costs for publishers over time, and Blackthorne had to close due to its distributor going bankrupt. This also resulted in an unsuccessful lawsuit, creating a parallel to their predecessors at St. John. 

3D comics did not have another major comeback after the 1980s. There were a couple odd releases into the 1990s and even a few in the 2000s, with the latter notably having full-color illustrations. These last few releases mark the end of the trend, and given the history of 3D comics, a return is unlikely.