How to Draw Retro Comic Book Style Art

We at RetroSupply HQ often see the same question pop up, "How do I find my style?" It's an interesting question, and you might look at other artists thinking that the answer came fully formed for them. Not so! And to demonstrate this, we're going to unlock how to break down the styles of famous artists throughout history. This will help you apply these styles to your work and develop your style.

Look out for the previous entry in this style series, which is all about Rubber Hose and Hanna-Barbera.

In this tutorial, we're going over the 1970s comic book style, including:

• How comic book characters from the 1970s were constructed.
• How details enhance the look of 1970s comic book characters..
• How to apply the look of 1970s comic book characters to your own work.

By the end, you'll not only know why this style looks the way it does, but you'll also be able to make artwork just like the pros did.

So, let's get into it!

Watch Our tutorial Video

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In this tutorial, we'll use the following products to make our character.

• ColorLab for recreating authentic four-color process halftone printing.
• Standard Pens for realistic pen-on-paper effects.
• Standard Pencils for sketching and ideation.
• Phantom Paper for a genuine paper feel.
• Edge & Fold Distressor Brushes for a beaten up and aged comic book look.

You can get all these products in our Comic Artist Toolkit, but if you don't have the option to get premium tools or your own, that's okay, too.

Here's a quick overview of what to keep in mind:

• Line Weight: Choose a variable-width brush that is easy to control.
• Color: Comic book characters were printed using halftones.

We'll be discussing vintage comic printing techniques, so if you're unfamiliar with them, you might want to brush up on them. Check out our series of articles on comic book history and printing techniques.

Let's get to the details with that all out of the way.

What defines Style?

Style is comprised of the decisions you make and the limitations you face.

New artists seem to ask more than anything else how to find their style. But what does that mean exactly? Essentially, style is down to the choices you make.

The artists themselves drive some of these choices, the aesthetic elements that appeal to them. Hanna-Barbera's style was influenced by the work that came before it in the Rubber Hose era, Disney studios, and UPA, where many artists in the studio would have worked previously. You might be inspired by the things around you or your past experiences. Ensure they're intentional and something you want to repeat, as these choices will define your work.

Other times, stylistic decisions are dictated by limitations. The style we'll be covering today was informed by the limitations of machine printing. These quirks were folded into the artists' intentional choices as they adapted to their tools.

When recreating a particular look of the past, think about the intentional choices the artists might have made and the limitations they faced that would combine to inform its style.

1970s Comic Book Style

Comic books made in the 1970s adopted a more realistic look to mimic the changing social tides.

When talking about the "style" of 1970s comic books, we aren't talking about every single piece of art made during this time. There were many different styles and a booming indie comic scene that was rumbling under the big names, and even then, there was quite a bit of variety.

Today, we will primarily discuss DC and Marvel, which were experiencing a gritty renaissance. Around the time of McCarthyism, a standard for making comic books more family-friendly was enacted. This was a voluntary measure to keep government censors from stepping in, and it eliminated many of the comic book genres that had made the medium popular. Replacing the often gritty realities of modern living were more sanitized stories that could fit on a child's bookshelf.

Around the 1970s, when multiple civil rights movements began to pick up momentum, the comic industry began dipping its toes back into the water of social commentary. The art style followed with it, adopting a more moody, detailed, and realistic look.

Constructing a Comic Book Hero

1970s comic book heroes were more realistic with strong builds and slightly exaggerated features.

Now that we know how styles are developed and the history of comic book heroes during the 1970s, let's explore what characterizes them.

What Defines the 1970s comic book Style:

• Heroic and exaggerated features to give a larger-than-life feel.
• More realistic anatomy with slight exaggerations. Comics during this time tended to reflect real life more.
• Strong, dynamic poses to emphasize action.

This style of art was adapted from those that came before it. Comic book heroes were fairly realistic to begin with but softened when they became more kid-friendly. The resurgence of more true-to-life, grittier scenarios gave characters a harder edge.

Design Elements of A 1970s comic Character

Consistent design elements solidify and enhance a character.

Although there are many different styles of comic book characters throughout the 1970s, we're mainly focusing on the heavy hitters from publishers like DC and Marvel. Narrowing down the look to commonalities helps us know what to recreate.

Design Aspects of 1970s comic heroes:

• Strong, serious expressions.
• Creative costuming to make characters stand out.
• Features that lend themselves to the story being told.

When composing your character, consider the overarching story and how the details you include add to that. How might they add or detract from a scene? Think about all the different ways your character needs to move and emote, the various angles they'll be in, and what might help tell that story.

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Inking a 1970s comic hero

Line art in 1970s comics were made with varying line weights emphasizing form and shadows.

During this period, printing costs could go up quickly. One method to help offset this was relying on heavy areas of ink. Comic inking is an art form in its own right, with a dedicated artist taking the helm. Don't skimp on this step; make it a priority and take your time.

1970s Comic Book Inking:

• Varying line width with think outlines and thin internal lines for details.
• Emphasizing form and shadow using thick blocks of black and hatching.

If you need help with your inking, you can check out our comprehensive tutorial about comic book inking. This will give you the tools you need for effective inking.

Coloring a 1970s comic book Character

1970s comics utilized limited colors of four-color process printing, less polish and more texture, and a printed (not painted) aesthetic.

Comic books at this time were printed using a four-color process, with each color printed one at a time. Because achieving multiple shades and color mixing was costly or nearly impossible, printers used a technology called halftones. These were dots placed further and closer apart to create different levels of saturation. When layered, they would create the illusion of color mixing.

Because you can only create a certain number of colors with this technique, comic artists had a limited palette at their exposure. When making your artwork, be mindful of choosing a few colors. This will not only help your character become more recognizable but will be more authentic as well.

Applying the 1970s Comic Style to Your ARt

Using the construction and design guidelines we established earlier you can apply them to your character.

We’ll adapt our mascot for this tutorial, but feel free to start with a brand-new hero if you prefer. Whether you're working with an existing design or a fresh canvas, these steps will help you nail that classic '70s comic book feel.

ROUGH SKETCH

This is the foundation of your superhero redesign. Start with a loose, light construction sketch that focuses on energy, anatomy, and proportions. In the 1970s comic style, realism made a comeback—your character should have structure and weight. Think heroic stances, long limbs, and dynamic gestures. Don’t worry about detail yet—just block in the form with flow and confidence.

Tip: Study life drawing and gesture sketches. This style rewards anatomical accuracy and strong posing.

REFINED SKETCH

Now it’s time to bulk things up. Refine the silhouette with more defined muscles, sharper angles, and a confident stance. Add realistic clothing folds, facial features with expression (think furrowed brows and clenched jaws), and any superhero accessories. This is where your character shifts from a basic shape into someone who looks like they could punch through a brick wall—and deliver a monologue while doing it.

INKING

Inking is crucial in this style. Use bold, thick outer lines and fine internal details to create contrast and depth. We used the Dry Fountain Pen Brush from the Standard Pen Pack, which gives that gritty, slightly unpredictable texture of vintage comic printing. Embrace imperfections. Add hatching to create shadows and volume, especially around the face and arms. Let your linework tell the story before any color is applied.

Avoid over-detailing—strategically pick the moments that need punch, and leave room to breathe.

COLOR AND HALFTONES

Now the fun part—channeling that old-school four-color printing vibe. Limit yourself to the traditional CMYK palette: red, blue, yellow, and black. We used ColorLab to replicate the look of halftone-dotted pulp comics. Layer halftones of varying density to create color blends and visual texture. The result should feel printed, not painted—slightly imperfect and beautifully analog.

Want extra authenticity? Add some subtle ink blotting using brushes from the Edge & Fold Distressor Brushes to simulate the bleed and texture of vintage print.

If you include a background, keep it gritty and textured—but make sure it supports the character, not competes with them. Think dramatic shadows, concrete rubble, or cosmic gradients—whatever fits your superhero’s story.

Final Thoughts

Recreating the authentic vintage style of a particular era comes down to paying attention to the decisions and limitations made at the time. You don't have to be a history buff or slog through a back catalog to pick out the similarities that artwork from that era shared with each other.

To recap, we guided you through recreating the 1970s comic book style, including:

• Use geometric shapes, strong silhouettes, and static poses.
• Use minimal details emphasizing character design and flat colors.
• Use thick, tapered outer and thin interior lines for more information and facial features.

Keeping all this in mind will make adopting a Hanna-Barbera style in your artwork easy and intuitive. You'll have fun and make great art!

Try out the 1970s comic book style to practice what you learned. You can share what you make by tagging us on Instagram. We might even post what you created!

Dig Deeper into Vintage Art Techniques