Today we announce a publication that has the potential to quickly become a standard work in the field of comics studies: the Handbook of Comics and Graphic Narratives, published by De Gruyter. Edited by , and ComFor member , this handbook unites a variety of critical approaches, historical contexts, and close readings. We are particularly happy that there are several ComFor members among the contributors to this unique volume.
Go to publisher’s website.
Publisher’s description:
“Whether one describes them as sequential art, graphic narratives or graphic novels, comics have become a vital part of contemporary culture. Their range of expression contains a tremendous variety of forms, genres and modes − from high to low, from serial entertainment for children to complex works of art. This has led to a growing interest in comics as a field of scholarly analysis, as comics studies has established itself as a major branch of criticism. This handbook combines a systematic survey of theories and concepts developed in the field alongside an overview of the most important contexts and themes and a wealth of close readings of seminal works and authors. It will prove to be an indispensable handbook for a large readership, ranging from researchers and instructors to students and anyone else with a general interest in this fascinating medium.”
Contents:
Introduction
- Sebastian Domsch, Dirk Vanderbeke, Dan Hassler-Forest: “Comics Studies: Survey of the Field”
Part I: Systematic Aspects
- Sebastian Domsch: “Comics Terminology and Definitions”
- Dirk Vanderbeke: “History, Formats, Genres”
- Rik Spanjers: “Text-Image Relations”
- Jan-Noël Thon: “Comics Narratology”
- Daniel Stein, Lukas Etter: “Seriality”
- Juliane Blank: “Adaptation”
Part II: Contexts and Themes
- Stephan Packard: “Politics”
- Dan Hassler-Forest: “World-Building”
- Astrid Böger: “Life Writing”
- Anna Oleszczuk: “Gender”
- Kay Sohini: “Queerness”
- Heike Elisabeth Jüngst: “Science Comics”
- Sandra Heinen: “Postcolonial Perspectives”
- Marie Vanderbeke: “DocuComics in the Classroom”
- Dan Hassler-Forest: “Superheroes – Historical Overview”
- Matt Yockey: “Superheroes – The Golden Age: Batman”
- Matt Boyd Smith: “Superheroes – The Silver Age: Nick Fury”
- William Proctor: “Superheroes – The Dark Age: Superheroes in the 1980s”
Part III: Close Readings
- Christina Meyer: “Richard F. Outcault: The Yellow Kid“
- Corey Creekmur: “George Herriman: Krazy Kat“
- Sebastian Domsch: “Winsor McCay: Little Nemo in Slumberland“
- Eric Hoffman: “Dave Sim: Cerebus“
- Martin Lund: “Will Eisner: A Contract with God“
- Dawn Stobbart: “Raymond Briggs: When the Wind Blows“
- Joanne Pettitt: “Art Spiegelman: Maus“
- Nicola Glaubitz: “Robert Crumb”
- Monika Pietrzak-Franger: “Alan Moore: From Hell“
- Evan Hayles Gledhill: “Neil Gaiman: The Sandman“
- Erin La Cour: “Alison Bechdel: Dykes to Watch Out For“
- Gerry Canavan: “Chris Ware: Jimmy Corrigan – The Smartest Kid on Earth“
- Erik Grayson: “Daniel Clowes: Ghost World“
- Luisa Menzel: “Martin Rowson: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman“
- Harriet Earle: “Marjane Satrapi: Persepolis“
- Oliver Moisich: “Grant Morrison: Flex Mentallo“