Comics, Culture, and Religion: Faith Imagined
London: Bloomsbury Academic (2024), xii, 249 pp.
"This open access book offers an overview of the relations between comics and religion from the perspective of cultural sociology. How do comics function in religions and how does religion appear in comics? And how do graphic narratives inform us about contemporary society and the changing role of religion? Contributing scholars use international examples to explore the diversity of religions, spirituality, and dispersed notions of the sacred, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Indian, and Japanese religions. In addition, the rituals, ethics, and worldviews that surface in the comics milieu are discussed. With the growing popularity and influence of comics and graphic novels in contemporary culture, this book provides a valuable addition to the discussion of the medium, focusing on religious and sociological aspects. A rich resource for both students and scholars in popular culture, media studies, and religion." (Publisher description)
INTRODUCTION
1 Comics and Religion in Liquid Modernity / Kees de Groot, 3
PART 1 COMICS IN RELIGION
2 From Subordinates to Superheroes? Comics in Christian Magazines for Children and Youth in Norway / Irene Trysnes, 13
3 Cancelling the Second Coming: Manufactured Christian Outrage Online / Evelina Lundmark, 33
4 The Reception of Comics on Zoroastrianism / Paulina Niechciał, 49
PART 2 RELIGION IN COMICS
5 Drawn into Krishna: Autobiography and Lived Religion in the Comics of Kaisa and Christoffer Leka / Andreas Hager and Ralf Kauranen, 67
6 What Would Preacher Do? Tactics of Blasphemy in the Strategies of Satire and Parody / Michael J. Prince, 89
7 Islam and Anxieties of Liberalism in Craig Thompson’s Habibi / Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, 107
PART 3 COMICS AS RELIGION?
8 Implicit Religion and Trauma Narratives in Maus and Watchmen / Ilaria Biano, 131
9 Manga Pilgrimages: Visualizing the Sacred/Sacralizing the Visual in Japanese Junrei / Mark MacWilliams, 147
10 Comics and Meaning Making: Adult Comic Book Readers on What, Why, and How They Read / Sofia Sjo, 169
PART 4 LEARNING FROM COMICS
11 The Magic of the Multiverse: Easter Eggs, Superhuman Beings, and Metamodernism in Marvel’s Story Worlds / Sissel Undheim, 187
12 Comics and Religious Studies: Amar Chitra Katha as an Educational Comic Series [India] / Line Reichelt Foreland, 205
13 A Contract with God or a Social Contract? / Christophe Monnot, 219
CONCLUSION
14 Comics as a Way of Doing, Encountering, and Making Religion / Kees de Groot, 239
1 Comics and Religion in Liquid Modernity / Kees de Groot, 3
PART 1 COMICS IN RELIGION
2 From Subordinates to Superheroes? Comics in Christian Magazines for Children and Youth in Norway / Irene Trysnes, 13
3 Cancelling the Second Coming: Manufactured Christian Outrage Online / Evelina Lundmark, 33
4 The Reception of Comics on Zoroastrianism / Paulina Niechciał, 49
PART 2 RELIGION IN COMICS
5 Drawn into Krishna: Autobiography and Lived Religion in the Comics of Kaisa and Christoffer Leka / Andreas Hager and Ralf Kauranen, 67
6 What Would Preacher Do? Tactics of Blasphemy in the Strategies of Satire and Parody / Michael J. Prince, 89
7 Islam and Anxieties of Liberalism in Craig Thompson’s Habibi / Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, 107
PART 3 COMICS AS RELIGION?
8 Implicit Religion and Trauma Narratives in Maus and Watchmen / Ilaria Biano, 131
9 Manga Pilgrimages: Visualizing the Sacred/Sacralizing the Visual in Japanese Junrei / Mark MacWilliams, 147
10 Comics and Meaning Making: Adult Comic Book Readers on What, Why, and How They Read / Sofia Sjo, 169
PART 4 LEARNING FROM COMICS
11 The Magic of the Multiverse: Easter Eggs, Superhuman Beings, and Metamodernism in Marvel’s Story Worlds / Sissel Undheim, 187
12 Comics and Religious Studies: Amar Chitra Katha as an Educational Comic Series [India] / Line Reichelt Foreland, 205
13 A Contract with God or a Social Contract? / Christophe Monnot, 219
CONCLUSION
14 Comics as a Way of Doing, Encountering, and Making Religion / Kees de Groot, 239
