10 Words Popularised By Comics
2. "BAM! POW! KAPOW! WHAM! Etc.
Because comic book artists can draw anything they want, they are only limited by their imagination. If they want to doodle Superman battling a sphinx in space or the Hulk fighting Santa Claus, that's totally fine.
Because of this, comics prove to be a wonderful medium to tell stories with fantastical imagery. However, there is one drawback. Comic books don't have sound effects. Even though most Marvel and DC stories revolve around epic brawls between superbeings, it's hard to convey the impact of a fist connecting with a face or a character being thrown against a wall on paper.
Even though Superman was an instant hit, his debut comic, Action Comics #1, didn't contain a single sound effect. There were no "KABOOMs" or "KAPOWs" as he punched criminals or tore off doors with his bare hands.
To really sell conflicts in comics, artists began inserting large colourful words in action scenes that represented onomatopoeic noises. This was such an effective tool, it popularised the usage of onomatopoeic terms in books, films, and, of course, Adam West's Batman. Even comedians or conversationalists use words like "BAM!" and "BOOM!" to help make their stories sound more engaging and alluring.