J. Conrad Dunagan Library:
Comic Books & Graphic Novels |
A slight abridgement of Comic Books and Graphic Novels: Digital Resources for an Evolving
Form of Art and Literature, by Leslie Bussert in
C&RL News pp. 103-106, 113, February 2005.
Comic books and graphic novels are becoming two of the most pervasive and influential media forms of
popular culture.... in [the] context of changing society, comic books and graphic novels entertain and
educate, but .... [are] also instrumental in documenting and interpreting social, historical, and current
events.
Scholarship and research surrounding comic books and graphic novels are growing.
Many in the fields of history, sociology, and arts and literature realize the unique and valuable insight inherent
in studying comic books and graphic novels....
With numerous comic book and graphic novel Internet resources today, it is challenging to identify those frequently
updated or professionally maintained; many lack organization but contain authoritative content. While the list
provided here is not comprehensive, ... [readers] should find these resources vaulable [as a starting point.]
Note: Many of the listed sites are .com sites with lots of pop-up ads, and so on.
Starting Points: Research Guides
- Comic Books: Internet Resources
- contains annotated online comic book resources compiled by Michael Lavin, Arts and Sciences Librarian at the Univ.
of New York at Buffalo; categories include Internet portals and guides, news and previews, magazines and journals,
history, and bibliographies.
- Comic Books, New York Public Library (NYPL)
- in addition to describing the NYPL's comic book collection; also includes valuable bibliographies for general
comics research, history and criticism, and more.
- Yale Univ. Library's Comic Books, Comic
Strips, and Graphic Novels Research Guide
- offers LC Subject Headings for searching library catalogs, print and online research sources, and links
to comic books and graphic novel publishers.
News and Reviews
- ArtBomb.net
- aims to broaden the appeal of comic books and graphic novels through promoting and reviewing
diverse titles
- Comic Book Resources
- a popular site, offering numerous resources for any level of fan; daily news, featured
articles including interviews with artists and writers, opinion and editorial pieces; archives
are limited but go back to 1998
- Comics Continuum
- very straightforward site offering up-to-date breaking industry news; archives go back about 3 weeks.
- Comics Worth Reading
- another site providing industry news, reviews and extensive recommendations for manga,
independent, DC Comics and Marvel Comics titles and series. Reviews include publishing history, art
samples, plot summaries and Web links.
- Newsarama
- updated several times daily; offers breaking industry news; also reviews and previews
Organizations and Associations
- Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF)
- aimed at preserving First Amendment rights for members of the comics community; offers news,
featured links, convention previews, and reports. Also offers a comic censorship bibliography and a comic
censorship timeline beginning in the 1750s.
- International Comic Arts Association (ICAA)
- a nonprofit organization which aims to "support, promote, and strengthen the comic industry,
its products, and professionals"; the web site offers industry and organizational news, and resources for
retailers, libraries, teachers, creators, collectors and fans.
- National Assn. of Comic Arts Educators (NACAE)
- "Committed to helping facilitate the teaching of comics in higher education"; contains resources for
individuals and institutions interested in teaching visual storytelling. Also includes teaching resources
(exercises, study guides, syllabi, handouts, etc.)
Bibliographies and Collections
- Comic Books,
Library of Congress Popular Culture Collections...
- both foreign and US titles included; collection includes scattered issues back to the 1930s but
is mostly comprehensive from 1950 on. The site provides information for using and researching the collection.
- The Comic Journal's Topp 100 English-Language
Comics of the Century
- This list archived by Everything2.com includes links to relevant websites for most items
on the list.
- Comics-Related Dissertations and Theses
- provides an international bibliography of doctoral and master's dissertations and theses going back to the 190s.
- The Comics Reporter Books About Comics Bibliography
- international in scope; entries are in alphabetical order by title; coverage back to the 1950s.
- Comic Scholarship Annotated Bibliographies (SCAB)
- covers book-length works about comic books and strips ranging from "fannish" histories to academic
publications; divided by subject categories such as genre, guides, countries, etc.
- Michigan State University Comic Art Collection
- The MSU Comic Art Collection has more than 200,000 items mostly comic books, and is known as the primary
library resource for the study of US comic book publications.
- Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MOCCA)
- MOCCA's purpose is to collect, preserve, study, educate and display comic and cartoon art;
genres treated include animation, cartoons, comic books and strips, graphic novels, and more.
- New York City Comic Museum (NYC-CM)
- founded in 1999, the museum promotes comic book history, preservation, and literacy; the site offers online
exhibits, an education center with lesson ideas, and current museum news.
Online Magazines and Journals
- ImageTexT
- a web-based journal with free access to all articles; the journal strives to advance
academic study of comic books, cartoons and other media blinding image and text; includes
articles, reviews of current scholarship, and conference or publication announcements
- The Comics Journal
- Some materials archived for public access; covers the comics medium from an "arts-first" perspective
- Indy Magazine archives only
- briefly published by Alternative Comics, this
online journal offered feature articles, reviews and news about independently published comic books and graphic novels.
- Ninth Art archives only
- From 2001-2006 this was a weekly online journal which strives to provide a space for an expanding repository
of ideas, analysis and contemporary thought through exploring every aspect of the arts and
industry of comics.Archives, message boards, and RSS feeds are available.
Reference Tools and Resources
- Comic Art in Scholarly Writing: A Citation Guide
- Allen Ellis, research and instructional services librarian at NKU has created this guide in accordance with the
Comic Art and Comics area of the Popular Culture Assn. The online style guide offers instruction and numerous
examples for citing comic books, comic strips, editorial cartoons, and graphic novels.
- Grand Comic Book Database
- searchable by writer, artist, title and publisher; the database has more than 70,000 records;
most entries include a color image of the over, information about the binding, ink, paper type,
publisher, run dates, issues published, and language.
- Who's Who of American Comic Books
- a resource which provides biographical listings for over 19,000 artists, writers, editors, and
personnel involved in producing comics; also provides some artists aliases
Miscellaneous
- Comic Scholars Discussion List
- this community is aimed at those involved in research, criticism, and teaching related to comic arts.
-
Librarians in Comics
- Steven Bergson, a Canadian librarian maintains this site which contains an annotated bibliography
of books, comic books, and graphic novels in which a librarian or library plays a role.
- No Flying, No Tights
- created and maintained by librarian Robin Brenner and friends, this resource contains three comic
book and graphic novel review sites, one each for kids, teens, and adults. Includes a core
list of recommended and reviewed titles divided into various topics.
Page Updated:6 July 2007
Page Created: 22 February 2005
Please send comments to: Webmaster
Visitors since 5/5/2006