The 101 Best Graphic Novels

The 101 Best Graphic Novels
Author: Stephen Weiner
Publisher: NBM
Total Pages: 90
Release: 2005
Genre: Art
ISBN: 9781561634439

Provides a concise guide to the best graphic novels that are currently in print and available, written by an enthusiast and expert in this popular field.

101 Outstanding Graphic Novels

101 Outstanding Graphic Novels
Author: Stephen Weiner
Publisher: NBM Publishing
Total Pages: 82
Release: 2015-04-01
Genre: Art
ISBN: 156163946X

The popular primer on the best graphic novels, initially called The 101 Best Graphic Novels, is back in its third updated edition. Expert librarian Stephen Weiner—with the crowdsourcing help of professionals in the field, from artists to critics to leading comic store owners—has sifted through the bewildering thousands of graphic novels now available to come up with an outstanding, not-to-be-missed 101. With an all-encompassing variety of genres, including both fiction and nonfiction, this serves as a great introduction to this increasingly influential world of pop culture and entertainment while also serving as a reference list for fans on what they may have possibly overlooked.

Graphic Novels and Comics in Libraries and Archives

Graphic Novels and Comics in Libraries and Archives
Author: Robert G. Weiner
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2010-04-19
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 0786456930

To say that graphic novels, comics, and other forms of sequential art have become a major part of popular culture and academia would be a vast understatement. Now an established component of library and archive collections across the globe, graphic novels are proving to be one of the last kinds of print publications actually gaining in popularity. Full of practical advice and innovative ideas for librarians, educators, and archivists, this book provides a wide-reaching look at how graphic novels and comics can be used to their full advantage in educational settings. Topics include the historically tenuous relationship between comics and librarians; the aesthetic value of sequential art; the use of graphic novels in library outreach services; collection evaluations for both American and Canadian libraries; cataloging tips and tricks; and the swiftly growing realm of webcomics.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Rise of the Graphic Novel

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Rise of the Graphic Novel
Author: Stephen Weiner
Publisher: NBM Publishing
Total Pages: 89
Release: 2012-12-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1561637122

Graphic novels have exploded off bookstore shelves into movies, college courses, and the New York Times book review, and comics historian and children’s literature specialist Stephen Weiner explains the phenomenon in this groundbreaking book—the first history of graphic novels. From the agonizing Holocaust vision of Art Spiegelman’s Maus to the teenage angst of Dan Clowes’s Ghost World, this study enters the heart of the graphic novel revolution. The complete history of this popular format is explained, from the first modern, urban autobiographical graphic novel, Will Eisner’s A Contract with God, to the dark mysteries of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, the postmodern superheroics of Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight, and breakout books such as Alison Bechdel's Fun Home and R. Crumb's The Book of Genesis. It’s all here in this newly updated edition, which contains the must-reads, the milestones, the most recent developments, and what to look for in the future of this exciting medium.

The Cambridge Companion to the Graphic Novel

The Cambridge Companion to the Graphic Novel
Author: Stephen E. Tabachnick
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2017-07-03
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1108239080

Since the graphic novel rose to prominence half a century ago, it has become one of the fastest growing literary/artistic genres, generating interest from readers globally. The Cambridge Companion to the Graphic Novel examines the evolution of comic books into graphic novels and the distinct development of this art form both in America and around the world. This Companion also explores the diverse subgenres often associated with it, such as journalism, fiction, historical fiction, autobiography, biography, science fiction and fantasy. Leading scholars offer insights into graphic novel adaptations of prose works and the adaptation of graphic novels to films; analyses of outstanding graphic novels, like Maus and The Walking Man; an overview which distinguishes the international graphic novel from its American counterpart; and analyses of how the form works and what it teaches, making this book a key resource for scholars, graduate students and undergraduate students alike.

Reading Graphic Novels

Reading Graphic Novels
Author: Achim Hescher
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 217
Release: 2016-02-22
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 3110445395

Distinguishing the graphic novel from other types of comic books has presented problems due to the fuzziness of category boundaries. Against the backdrop of prototype theory, the author establishes the graphic novel as a genre whose core feature is complexity, which again is defined by seven gradable subcategories: 1) multilayered plot and narration, 2) multireferential use of color, 3) complex text-image relation, 4) meaning-enhancing panel design and layout, 5) structural performativity, 6) references to texts/media, and 7) self-referential and metafictional devices. Regarding the subcategory of narration, the existence of a narrator as known from classical narratology can no longer be assumed. In addition, conventional focalization cannot account for two crucial parameters of the comics image: what is shown (point of view, including mise en scène) and what is seen (character perception). On the basis of François Jost’s concepts of ocularization and focalization, this book presents an analytical framework for graphic novels beyond conventional narratology and finally discusses aspects of subjectivity, a focal paradigm in the latest research. It is intended for advanced students of literature, scholars, and comics experts.

The Routledge Companion to Comics

The Routledge Companion to Comics
Author: Frank Bramlett
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 473
Release: 2016-08-05
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1317915380

This cutting-edge handbook brings together an international roster of scholars to examine many facets of comics and graphic novels. Contributor essays provide authoritative, up-to-date overviewsof the major topics and questions within comic studies, offering readers a truly global approach to understanding the field. Essays examine: the history of the temporal, geographical, and formal development of comics, including topics like art comics, manga, comix, and the comics code; issues such as authorship, ethics, adaptation, and translating comics connections between comics and other artistic media (drawing, caricature, film) as well as the linkages between comics and other academic fields like linguistics and philosophy; new perspectives on comics genres, from funny animal comics to war comics to romance comics and beyond. The Routledge Companion to Comics expertly organizes representative work from a range of disciplines, including media and cultural studies, literature, philosophy, and linguistics. More than an introduction to the study of comics, this book will serve as a crucial reference for anyone interested in pursuing research in the area, guiding students, scholars, and comics fans alike.

The Librarian's Guide to Graphic Novels for Children and Tweens

The Librarian's Guide to Graphic Novels for Children and Tweens
Author: David S. Serchay
Publisher:
Total Pages: 294
Release: 2008
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN:

A guide to graphic novels for children and pre-teens offers historical and genre information, provides collection building tips, and discusses how to manage, promote, and maintain the collection.

Comic Book Collections for Libraries

Comic Book Collections for Libraries
Author: Bryan D. Fagan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 178
Release: 2011-01-14
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1598845128

This book will help librarians extend literary graphic novel collections to attract a large, untapped group of comic book readers with a sure-to-be-popular comic book collection. Do comic books belong in libraries? Absolutely—as Comic Book Collections for Libraries makes very clear. This illustrated guide defines the role of comic books in the modern library, provides a thorough grounding in the subject for beginners, and suggests new ideas for those already familiar with these perennial reader favorites. The book begins by introducing the structure of the comic book, industry players, and genres. The bulk of the guide, however, is comprised of actionable advice on such things as creating and maintaining the collection, cataloging for effective access, and promoting the collection, including how to feature comics with other library materials, such as movies and games. Drawing on the authors' experience, the volume answers numerous other questions as well. How can you tell which titles are age-appropriate for your library? Which titles are popular? How do you include characters that will appeal to diverse reader groups? Complete with checklists and a rich array of examples, this easy-to-use work can make every librarian a superhero.