CONTENTS

Acknowledgementsx
About the authors xi

1 Introduction 1

Part I: Approaching comics 7

2 Formalist approaches 9
Early definitions and approaches 10
Semiotic approaches 18
Comics as language 29
Conclusion32
Notes32
Works cited 33

3 Ideological and material approaches 37

Political and ideological perspectives 37
Colonialism and comics 40
Superheroes and ideology 43
Cultural legitimacy as ideology 46
Material and sensory issues 52
Copyright © 2022. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. All rights reserved.

Conclusion55
Notes56
Works cited 56

Part II: Histories and cultures 59

4 Early criticism and legitimation 61

Early comics criticism in America 61
The American Comics Code 66
Retrospective evaluations and revisionist readings 70
Legitimizing the ‘Ninth Art’ 78
Legitimation issues 80

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Contents

Transatlantic interactions between comics and bande dessinée83

Comics exhibitions 85
Conclusion86
Notes87
Works cited 87

5 Historical approaches 91
Global91
Europe95
North America, Canada and South America 102
Asia109
Africa115
Australasia118
Transnational121
Conclusion126
Notes126
Works cited 127

Part III: Production and reception 133

6 Creators, imprints and titles 135

Old masters 135
Serialized comics 137
Women comics artists 139
Graphic novelists 142
Iconic magazines and publishers 146
Conclusion150
Copyright © 2022. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. All rights reserved.

Notes151
Works cited 152

7 Audiences and fan cultures 155

Historical audience studies 155
Comics readers and identities 157
Fan studies in comics 164
Conclusion171
Notes171
Works cited 171

viii

Round, Julia, et al. Comics and Graphic Novels, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2022. ProQuest Ebook Central,
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Created from univie on 2024-04-08 19:59:32.
 Contents

Part IV: Themes and genres 177

8 Thematic approaches 179

Documentary, trauma and memory 179
Diversity: Ethnicity and religion 186
Children in comics 190
Intermedial and transmedial approaches 191
Conclusion194
Notes195
Works cited 195

9 Popular genres 199

Genre199
Superheroes201
Horror206
Romance210
Conclusion214
Notes214
Works cited 214

10 Outside the mainstream 219

Underground comix in North America and the UK 219
Autobiographix222
French-language alternative and small press publications 228
Artists’ collectives 229
Fanzines and alternative practices 234
Conclusion237
Copyright © 2022. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. All rights reserved.

Notes237
Works cited 238

11 General reference guides and textbooks 241

Teaching comics 241
Making comics 245
General and critical reference works 246
Works cited 251

12 Conclusion 253

Index256

ix

Round, Julia, et al. Comics and Graphic Novels, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2022. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/univie/detail.action?docID=7050337.
Created from univie on 2024-04-08 19:59:32.