Ilan Manouach on AI and Comics: Synthetic Comics and the Industry's Resistance

Ilan Manouach argues that the term 'AI comics' is misleading and prefers 'synthetic comics,' which acknowledges the role of human creativity and collective knowledge production. He traces the historical integration of automation in comics, from Ben Day processes to digital tools, and criticizes the current backlash against AI among comic artists. Manouach notes that many artists who denounce AI have long used social media to promote their work, contributing to data extraction without ethical concerns. He compares the proposed 'Made by Humans' label to the Comics Code Authority, a 1954 self-censorship body. Manouach suggests that embracing AI could expand comics' influence, enabling artists to navigate data, identify patterns, and build their own generative models. The article, originally published in French, was translated by Francesco D'Isa and appears on Artribune.