Critical Approaches to Comics: Theories and Methods
New York et al.: Routledge (2012), xviii, 310 pp.
Contains many illustrations, index
ISBN 978-0-415-88555-3 (pbk); 978-0-203-83945-4 (ebook)
"Each chapter explains and then demonstrates a critical method or approach, which students can then apply to interrogate and critique the meanings and forms of comic books, graphic novels, and other sequential art. Contributors introduce a wide range of critical perspectives on comics, including fandom, genre, intertextuality, adaptation, gender, narrative, formalism, visual culture, and much more." (Publisher description)
I. FORM
1 Wordless comics: the imaginative appeal of Peter Kuper's The System / David Berona, 17
2 Comics modes: caricature and illustration in the Crumb Family's 'Dirty Laundry' / Joseph Witek, 27
3 Image functions: shape and color as hermeneutic images in 'Asterios Polyp' / Randy Duncan, 43
4 Time and narrative: unity and discontinuity in 'The invisibles' / Marc Singer, 55
5 Mise en scène and framing: visual storytelling in 'Lone Wolf and Cub' / Pascal Lefèvre, 71
6 Abstract form: sequential dynamism and iconostasis in abstract comics and Steve Ditko's 'Amazing Spider-Man' / Andrei Molotiu, 84
II. CONTENT
7 Philosophy: "the triumph of the human spirit" in 'X-men' / Jeff McLaughlin, 103
8 Comics journalism: drawing on words to picture the past in 'Safe Area Gorazde' / Amy Kiste Nyberg, 116
9 Propaganda: the pleasures of persuasion in 'Captain America' / Christopher Murray, 129
III. PRODUCTION
10 Political economy: manipulating demand and "The Death of Superman" / Mark Rogers, 145
11 Culture of consumption: commodification through 'Superman: Return to Krypton' / Ian Gordon, 157
12 Ethnography of production: editor Axel Alonso and the sale of ideas / Stanford W. Carpenter, 167
13 Auteur criticism: the re-visionary works of Alan Moore / Matthew J. Smith, 178
14 History: discovering the story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster / Brad J. Ricca, 189
IV. CONTEXT
15 Genre: reconstructing the superhero in 'All star Superman' / Peter Coogan, 203
16 Ideology: the construction of race and history in 'Tintin in the Congo' / Leonard Rifas, 221
17 Feminism: second-wave feminism in the pages of 'Lois Lane' / Jennifer K. Stuller, 235
18 Intertextuality: superrealist intertextualities in Max's 'Bardín' / Ana Merino, 252
V. RECEPTION
19 Cultural studies: British girls' comics, readers and memories / Mel Gibson, 267
20 Ethnography: wearing one's fandom / Jeffrey A. Brown, 280
21 Critical tthnography: the comics shop as cultural clubhouse / Brian Swafford, 291
1 Wordless comics: the imaginative appeal of Peter Kuper's The System / David Berona, 17
2 Comics modes: caricature and illustration in the Crumb Family's 'Dirty Laundry' / Joseph Witek, 27
3 Image functions: shape and color as hermeneutic images in 'Asterios Polyp' / Randy Duncan, 43
4 Time and narrative: unity and discontinuity in 'The invisibles' / Marc Singer, 55
5 Mise en scène and framing: visual storytelling in 'Lone Wolf and Cub' / Pascal Lefèvre, 71
6 Abstract form: sequential dynamism and iconostasis in abstract comics and Steve Ditko's 'Amazing Spider-Man' / Andrei Molotiu, 84
II. CONTENT
7 Philosophy: "the triumph of the human spirit" in 'X-men' / Jeff McLaughlin, 103
8 Comics journalism: drawing on words to picture the past in 'Safe Area Gorazde' / Amy Kiste Nyberg, 116
9 Propaganda: the pleasures of persuasion in 'Captain America' / Christopher Murray, 129
III. PRODUCTION
10 Political economy: manipulating demand and "The Death of Superman" / Mark Rogers, 145
11 Culture of consumption: commodification through 'Superman: Return to Krypton' / Ian Gordon, 157
12 Ethnography of production: editor Axel Alonso and the sale of ideas / Stanford W. Carpenter, 167
13 Auteur criticism: the re-visionary works of Alan Moore / Matthew J. Smith, 178
14 History: discovering the story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster / Brad J. Ricca, 189
IV. CONTEXT
15 Genre: reconstructing the superhero in 'All star Superman' / Peter Coogan, 203
16 Ideology: the construction of race and history in 'Tintin in the Congo' / Leonard Rifas, 221
17 Feminism: second-wave feminism in the pages of 'Lois Lane' / Jennifer K. Stuller, 235
18 Intertextuality: superrealist intertextualities in Max's 'Bardín' / Ana Merino, 252
V. RECEPTION
19 Cultural studies: British girls' comics, readers and memories / Mel Gibson, 267
20 Ethnography: wearing one's fandom / Jeffrey A. Brown, 280
21 Critical tthnography: the comics shop as cultural clubhouse / Brian Swafford, 291
