"Taking a broadly global approach, Harriet Earle discusses the history and development of the form internationally, as well as how to navigate comics as a new way of reading. Earle also pushes beyond the book to lay out the ways that fans engage with their comics of choice – and how this can impact the industry. She also analyses how Comics can work for social change and political comment. Discussing journalism and life writing, she examines how the coming together of word and image gives us new ways to discuss our world and ourselves." (Publisher description)
Introduction – comics: no laughing matter, 1
1 Definitions and mechanics, 12
2 Histories, 33
3 Going global: comics on the world stage, 62
4 Cultures and commodities, 93
5 Journalism, 118
6 Drawing lives, 140
Conclusion, 167