LibGuides: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga: Home

Welcome

Welcome to the world of Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga! This Libguide contains information of each of these graphic forms, give suggested readers, and provide reference material to get your research started.

There is a debate over whether or not graphic novels/comics/manga are real books and "count as reading." Hopefully after reviewing this guide you will be able to see the benefits in how illustrated works can convey just as much meaning and emotion as text-only books.

Before you start here are a few pointers:

Graphic Novels is the umbrella term generally used to encompass all these of the graphic styles in the Libguide
Not all comics are about Superheroes and not all graphic novels follow the cartoon strip format
Manga are illustrated works from Japan that are done in black and white, not to be confused with the Korean Manhwa which are done in full color (most similar to Western Graphic Novels)
Some graphic novels start out as web comics and are eventually published as physical books that compile nonsequential strips, images, and stories in one book

Informational Books

Below are some go to reference guides about comics, graphic novels and manga.

Arguing Comics by Jeet Heer (Editor); Kent Worcester (Editor) When Art Spiegelman's Maus-a two-part graphic novel about the Holocaust-won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992, comics scholarship grew increasingly popular and notable. The rise of "serious" comics has generated growing levels of interest as scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals continue to explore the history, aesthetics, and semiotics of the comics medium. Yet those who write about the comics often assume analysis of the medium didn't begin until the cultural studies movement was underway. Arguing Comics: Literary Masters on a Popular Medium brings together nearly two dozen essays by major writers and intellectuals who analyzed, embraced, and even attacked comic strips and comic books in the period between the turn of the century and the 1960s. From e. e. cummings, who championed George Herriman's Krazy Kat, to Irving Howe, who fretted about Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie, this volume shows that comics have provided a key battleground in the culture wars for over a century. With substantive essays by Umberto Eco, Marshall McLuhan, Leslie Fiedler, Gilbert Seldes, Dorothy Parker, Irving Howe, Delmore Schwartz, and others, this anthology shows how all of these writers took up comics-related topics as a point of entry into wider debates over modern art, cultural standards, daily life, and mass communication. Arguing Comics shows how prominent writers from the Jazz Age and the Depression era to the heyday of the New York Intellectuals in the 1950s thought about comics and, by extension, popular culture as a whole.
Call Number: E-BOOK

ISBN: 1578066875

Publication Date: 2005-01-13
The Art of Drawing Manga by Ben Krefta Japanese manga art has taken the world by storm. Master-manga artist Ben Krefta guides you through the essential features of this high-energy cartoon style, from drawing the characters' large sparkling eyes to creating dynamic action scenes. This book will help you: * Choose your materials * Construct proportions and poses * Create facial features and signature expressions * Design clothing, accessories and weapons * Use photoshop to enhance your artwork * Set up a story board * And more! With over 15 step-by-step drawing projects, tons of advice and full-colour artwork to inspire you, The Art of Drawing Manga is perfect for anyone wanting to get started in this exciting and imaginative art form.
Call Number: GRA NOV NC1764.5.J3 K742 2012

ISBN: 9781841931715

Publication Date: 2009-02-01
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud "You must read this book." --Neil Gaiman The bestselling international classic on storytelling and visual communication. Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is a seminal examination of comics art: its rich history, surprising technical components, and major cultural significance. Explore the secret world between the panels, through the lines, and within the hidden symbols of a powerful but misunderstood art form.
Call Number: GRA NOV PN6710 .M335 1994

ISBN: 9780060976255

Publication Date: 1994-04-27
Mangatopia by Martha Cornog (Editor); Timothy Perper (Editor) Fascinating insights on what Japanese manga and anime mean to artists, audiences, and fans in the United States and elsewhere, covering topics that range from fantasy to sex to politics. Within the last decade, anime and manga have become extremely popular in the United States. Mangatopia: Essays on Manga and Anime in the Modern World provides a sophisticated anthology of varied commentary from authors well versed in both formats. These essays provide insights unavailable on the Internet, giving the interested general reader in-depth information well beyond the basic, "Japanese Comics 101" level, and providing those who teach and write about manga and anime valuable knowledge to further expand their expertise. The topics addressed range widely across various artists and art styles, media methodology and theory, reception of manga and anime in different cultural markets, and fan behavior. Specific subjects covered include sexually explicit manga drawn and read by women; the roots of manga in Japanese and world film; the complexity of fan activities, including "cosplay," fan-drawn manga, and fans' highly specific predilections; right-wing manga; and manga about Hiroshima and despair following World War II. The book closes with an examination of the international appeal of manga and anime. Contributions from knowledgeable commentators about manga and anime from the United States, Canada, and Europe Photographs and illustrations Reference lists within the individual chapters and the introduction Two glossaries define terms specific to Japanese manga genres
Call Number: NC1764.5.J3 M36 2011

ISBN: 9781591589082

Publication Date: 2011-10-24
Drawing Animation by Paul Hardman Animation has gained increasing popularity during the last decade, with animated feature films drawing in millions to our cinemas. But why just watch animation when you can make your own? Draw Animation guides you through the fascinating process of making an animated film. Paul Hardman lets you share the fascination held by all who work in animation; fascination for the magic of life that you're able to impart to a stack of inanimate, cartoon drawings. Animation, the magical medium, can transport you to a land and time that is only restricted by your own imagination: your characters can do the impossible and become the impossible in an instant. The process of producing an animated film involves many varied skills and a great deal of time and dedication. Paul takes you step by step through a process which you will be able to achieve in your own home or studio. Because the set-up of a scene can often become complicated Paul shows you how to avoid the pitfalls and provides you with solutions for a simple and effective way to produce a convincing end result that will prove both exciting and rewarding.
Call Number: NC1765 .H47 2007

ISBN: 9781845376741

Publication Date: 2007-05-01
Graphic subjects : critical essays on autobiography and graphic novels by Michael A. Chaney Some of the most noteworthy graphic novels and comic books of recent years have been entirely autobiographical. In Graphic Subjects, Michael A. Chaney brings together a lively mix of scholars to examine the use of autobiography within graphic novels, including such critically acclaimed examples as Art Spiegelman's Maus, David Beauchard's Epileptic, Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, Alan Moore's Watchmen, and Gene Yang's American Born Chinese.             These essays, accompanied by visual examples, illuminate the new horizons that illustrated autobiographical narrative creates. The volume insightfully highlights the ways that graphic novelists and literary cartoonists have incorporated history, experience, and life stories into their work. The result is a challenging and innovative collection that reveals the combined power of autobiography and the graphic novel.
Call Number: PN6710 .G7375 2011 & E-BOOK

ISBN: 9780299251048

Publication Date: 2011-03-01
Manga : an anthology of global and cultural perspectives by Toni Johnson-Woods Once upon a time, one had to read Japanese in order to enjoy manga. Today manga has become a global phenomenon, attracting audiences in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. The style has become so popular, in fact, that in the US and UK publishers are appropriating the manga style in a variety of print material, resulting in the birth of harlequin mangas which combine popular romance fiction titles with manga aesthetics. Comic publishers such as Dark Horse and DC Comics are translating Japanese "classics", like Akira, into English. And of course it wasn't long before Shakespeare received the manga treatment. So what is manga? Manga roughly translates as "whimsical pictures" and its long history can be traced all the way back to picture books of eighteenth century Japan. Today, it comes in two basic forms: anthology magazines (such as Shukan Shonen Jampu) that contain several serials and manga 'books' (tankobon) that collect long-running serials from the anthologies and reprint them in one volume. The anthologies contain several serials, generally appear weekly and are so thick, up to 800 pages, that they are colloquially known as phone books. Sold at newspaper stands and in convenience stores, they often attract crowds of people who gather to read their favorite magazine. Containing sections addressing the manga industry on an international scale, the different genres, formats and artists, as well the fans themselves, Manga: An Anthology of Global and Cultural Perspectives is an important collection of essays by an international cast of scholars, experts, and fans, and provides a one-stop resource for all those who want to learn more about manga, as well as for anybody teaching a course on the subject.
Call Number: PN6710 .M26 20109780826429377

ISBN: 9780826429377

Publication Date: 2010-04-15
Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels by Robert Petersen This text examines comics, graphic novels, and manga with a broad, international scope that reveals their conceptual origins in antiquity. Graphic narrative art is a fascinating phenomenon that emerged centuries ago with the expansion of literacy and the publication industry. The earliest example of a repeating comic character dates back to the late 1700s. By following the growth of print technology in Europe and Asia, it is possible to understand how and why artists across cultures developed different strategies for telling stories with pictures. This book is much more than a history of graphic narrative across the globe. It examines broader conceptual developments that preceded the origins of comics and graphic novels; how those ideas have evolved over the last century and a half; how literacy, print technology, and developments in narrative art are interrelated; and the way graphic narratives communicate culturally significant stories. The work of artists such as William Hogarth, J. J. Grandville, Willhem Busch, Frans Masereel, Max Ernst, Saul Steinberg, Henry Darger, and Larry Gonick are discussed or depicted. Includes numerous illustrations of British satirical prints, Japanese woodblock prints, and the art of prominent illustrators Includes a chapter on the latest developments in digital comics
Call Number: PN6710 .P415 2011

ISBN: 9780313363306

Publication Date: 2010-11-18
Critical Insights: the American Comic Book by Salem Press Editors (Editor); Joseph Michael Sommers (Editor) An exploration of the authors and literary works that identify with The American Comic Book this volume examines the prominent themes and stories of the genre.
Call Number: PN6725 .A46 2014

ISBN: 1322403570

Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Heroes and Superheroes by Bart Beaty; Stephen Weiner; Salem Press Editors The first title in this series, Critical Survey of Graphic Novels: Heroes and Superheroes, provides in-depth insight into over 130 of the most popular and studied graphic novels. Researchers will be familiar with the characters and stories included in this collection, but will gain a deeper new understanding, as the literary nature of the stories is presented in critical format by leading writers in the field of study.
Call Number: REF PN6725 .C753 2012 & E-BOOK

ISBN: 9781587658655

Publication Date: 2012-04-01
Understanding Manga and Anime by Robin E. Brenner Teens love it. Parents hate it. Librarians are confused by it; and patrons are demanding it. Libraries have begun purchasing both manga and anime, particularly for their teen collections. But the sheer number of titles available can be overwhelming, not to mention the diversity and quirky cultural conventions. In order to build a collection, it is important to understand the media and its cultural nuances. Many librarians have been left adrift, struggling to understand this unique medium while trying to meet patron demands as well as protests. This book gives the novice background information necessary to feel confident in selecting, working with, and advocating for manga and anime collections; and it offers more experienced librarians some fresh insights and ideas for programming and collections. Teens love it. Parents hate it. Librarians are confused by it; and patrons are demanding it. Libraries have begun purchasing both manga and anime, particularly for their teen collections. But the sheer number of titles available can be overwhelming, not to mention the diversity and quirky cultural conventions. In order to build a collection, it is important to understand the media and its cultural nuances. Many librarians have been left adrift, struggling to understand this unique medium while trying to meet patron demands as well as protests. This book gives the novice background information necessary to feel confident in selecting, working with, and advocating for manga and anime collections; and it offers more experienced librarians some fresh insights and ideas for programming and collections. In 2003 the manga (Japanese comics) market was the fastest growing area of pop culture, with 75-100% growth to an estimated market size of $100 million retail. The growth has continued with a 40-50% sales increase in bookstores in recent years. Teens especially love this highly visual, emotionally charged and action-packed media imported from Japan, and its sister media, anime (Japanese animation); and libraries have begun purchasing both. Chock full of checklists and sidebars highlighting key points, this book includes: a brief history of anime and manga in Japan and in the West; a guide to visual styles and cues; a discussion of common themes and genres unique to manga and anime; their intended audiences; cultural differences in format and content; multicultural trends that manga and anime readers embrace and represent; and programming and event ideas. It also includes genre breakdowns and annotated lists of recommended titles, with a focus on the best titles in print and readily available, particularly those appropriate to preteen and teen readers. Classic and benchmark titles are also mentioned as appropriate. A glossary and a list of frequently asked questions complete the volume.
Call Number: Z692.A93 B74 2007

ISBN: 9781591583325

Publication Date: 2007-06-30