If you ever wanted to see what it's like being a comic book colorist for Batman or Superman, soon you'll have your chance: in January, DC plans on releasing variant cover versions of its books featuring black and white artwork on the cover, specifically meant for being colored.
This is just another way that the comics industry has caught on to the adult coloring craze that's currently sweeping the world. Adult coloring books have become so popular that many of the books targeted toward adults often top international bestseller lists.
"Adult coloring is absolutely a growing trend and consumers are really taking to the idea," wrote Matthew Lore of The Experiment publishing group in an email to CNN. "Not only is it calming and good for your health, it's just fun! The demand is increasing exponentially as the word spreads."
However, coloring for adults isn't just fun: it also helps adults relieve stress.
"I recommend it as a relaxation technique," said psychologist Antoni Martínez to the Huffington Post. "We can use it to enter into a more creative, freer state. I myself have practiced that. I recommend it in a quiet environment, even with chill music. Let the color and the lines flow."
So, it's sort of a no-brainer for the growing comic book industry to catch on to the trend and let its older readers color covers and pages. Marvel already announced a future Deadpool coloring book that includes 120 pages of artwork from some of Marvel's biggest artists. The company also plans on releasing an Age of Ultron coloring book.
IDW also jumped on the adult coloring trend and will soon release the Locke & Key Shades of Terror Coloring Book, featuring detailed illustrations of artwork from the Locke & Key series by Joe Hill and Rodriguez.
DC also offers free coloring pages on its website, although those are generally targeted more toward kids. However, if adults need a DC Comics coloring fix before January, that's a good place to start.
One cannot help wonder if those making a living as comic book colorists take issue with this new trend, but considering that most of these books are variant versions of existing books, it shouldn't create too much of a controversy. Of course, many might argue that comic book colorists are already too unappreciated and undervalued by the industry as it is, so turning the work over to the amateur public could almost feel like a slap in the face to those working as colorists.
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