Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels and their History and How to draw and Market them: A Selected Bibliography of material in the Billington Library collection

The Novels:

Andersson, Max and Sjunnesson, Lars PN 6727.W54
Bosnian Flat Dog Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2006
Two Swedish artists search war-torn Bosnia for a missing friend in a world of trauma where dogs have evolved into a flattened state to avoid being killed by vehicles. This surreal adventure vividly depicts the horror of the Bosnian conflict.
 
Aoki, Keith (USA) KF3050.A54 2008
Bound by Law?: Tales from the Public Domain Durham: Duke University Press, 2008
An attractive filmmaker tries to shoot a documentary in New York City, only to run into issues of copyright, fair use, intellectual property and how they intersect with art. This is a wonderful graphic text on how to maneuver through the minefield of intellectual property law.
 
Baker, Kyle F232.S7 B35
Nat Turner: Volume Two Revolution Berkeley: Image Comics, Inc., 2007
In the second part of Baker's chronicle of the hero of a nineteenth century slave revolt, Nat Turner leads an uprising that alters the course of American history. Note: Volume One is not currently available.
 
Barry, Lynda PN 6727.B36 054 2002
One Hundred Demons Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 2002
Buddhism teaches that each person must overcome 100 demons in a lifetime. In this collection of 20 comic strips, Lynda Barry wrestles with some of hers in her signature quirky, irrepressible voice.
 
Barry, Lynda (USA) PN6733.B36 W43 2008
What it is: The Formless Thing that Gives Things Form Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2008
This is a weird, but meaningful look at how Barry teaches a class on creating graphic novels. It is a hodgepodge of ideas and illustrations that combine to show a neophyte artist how the creative process comes into being.
 
Bechdel, Alison PN6727.B3757 Z46
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007
In this graphic novel, Bechdel relates her family history: a father obsessed with decoration; a mother receiving no love; and her own developing awareness of being lesbian. Growing up in the family home which was also the town funeral home, she eventually learns after his premature death/suicide that her father was a closeted gay man.
 
Brown, Chester PN 6733.B76 L68 2006
Louis Riel: a Comic-Strip Biography Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2006
This offering from a Canadian artist is a fictionalized account of a nineteenth century mystic who attempted to create an independent state in Saskatchewan.
 
Brunetti, Ivan, ed. NC 1764.5 .U5 A58
An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons and True Stories New Haven: Yale, 2006
This beautiful anthology examines everything from the seminal cartoons of Nancy and Sluggo to the artistry of Chris Ware. It is a wonderful introduction to graphic art and narrative.
 
Clowes, Daniel PN 6727.C565 G46
Ghost World Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2001
Two misfit teenagers, Enid and Rebecca, spend their time ridiculing everyone else. As time passes, it becomes clear that as they become adults, the friendship will not endure. Clowes' novel of teen angst was made into a successful movie.
 
Clowes, Daniel PN 6727.C565 I33
Ice Haven New York: Pantheon, 2005
Clowes uses the story of the disappearance of a little boy to describe the hopeful and hopeless lives of the inhabitants of a small town called Ice Haven.
 
Crumb, R. NC 1429 .C83
The R Crumb Handbook London: MQ Publications, 2005
This handsomely produced contains many of Crumbs works.
 
David, B. (France) PN 6747 .B2213 2005
Epileptic New York: Pantheon, 2005
David's account of his brother Jean-Christophe's lifelong battle with epilepsy and the family's desperate search for a cure is one of the finest autobiographical graphic novels, as accessible to readers beyond as well as within comics fandom.
 
De Crécy, Nicolas CC 75.D4 G53
Glacial Period New York: NBM, 2006
In the distant future after an ice age, a group of archaeologists, discover the preserved frozen remains of the Louvre Museum. The group conjectures about the nature of the culture that produced such an artifact. The novel uses fantasy to look at our culture from the point of view of an outsider.
 
Eisenstein, Bernice (Canada) F1059.5.T689 J53
I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors New York: Riverhead Books, 2006
In this autobiographical narrative, the author now a well-known cartoonist describes her life as a young girl growing up in winnipeg, Canada as the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and how her parents and their fellow survivors developed a very close-knit society to take care of each other.
 
Eisner, Will PN6727.E4 A6
The Contract with God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue New York: Norton, 2006
Eisner's pioneering graphic novel looks at life during the Depression in the tenement section of New York.
 
Eisner, Will DS 145 .P7 E37 2005
The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion NY: Norton, 2005
This is the last work by Eisner, the man credited with inventing the graphic novel in the United States. He tells the true story of how Tsarist police in Russia fabricated a story to make people hate their Jewish neighbors rather than the government and how the lie created more than 110 years ago refuses to die.
 
Eisner, Will NC 1355 .E45
The Best of the Spirit NY: DC Comics, 2005
This is a compilation of Eisner’s original graphic novel with an introduction by modern master Neil Gaiman.
 
Fies, Brian PN 6727 .F483 M66 2006
Mom’s Cancer NY: Abrams, 2006
The author describes his family and their various coping mechanisms for dealing with their mother’s struggle with cancer. The book won the Eisner Award in 2005.
 
Fleming, Robert PN 6726 .F54 1994
The Big Book of Urban Legends: Adapted from the Works of Jan Harold Brunvand New York: Paradox Press, 1994
A very funny series of stories based on the urban legends that are too good to be true.
 
Gaiman, Neil PN 6728 .B36 G35
The Absolute Sandman, Volume One New York: DC Comics, 2006
This oversized volume includes the first twenty issues of The Sandman, Gaiman's highly touted graphic novel series. The graphics are high quality.
 
Gonick, Larry QD 37 .G625 2005
The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry NY: Harper, 2005
The authors have used the liberating medium of a comic book to produce a chemistry companion that can be read in one or two short and amusing sittings and will lead to a clearer understanding of the chemists' world.
 
Gonick, Larry QH 436 .G66 1991
The Cartoon Guide to Genetics NY: Harper, 1991
The same technique is applied to genetics.
 
Gonick, Larry QA 276.12 .G67 1993
The Cartoon Guide to Statistics NY: Harper, 1991
The author applies the same technique to statistics.
 
Guibert, Emmanuel and Joann Sfar (France) PN6747.G85 F5613
The Professor's Daughter New York: First Second, 2007
When the bored daughter of a Victorian archaeologist goes out for a night on the town with one of her father's mummies, a surprising romance develops between the long dead Egyptian Pharaoh and his lovely escort. Mayhem follows, but love conquers all.
 
Hernandez, Gilbert (Mexican American) PN 6727 .H47 P25 2003
Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories (Love and Rockets) Seattle: Fantographics, 2003
Thirteen years of Hernandez’s chronicle of a Mexican town are included in the novel replete with magic realism and down-to-earth views of life in Mexico.
 
Hernandez, Jaime (Mexican American) PN 6724 .H475 L63 2005
Locas: A Love and Rockets Book Seattle: Fantographics, 2005
This book contains stories from almost 20 years of Hernandez’s saga of gang warfare and lesbian love in Southern California.
 
Jacobson, Sid HV 6432.7 .J332006
9/11 Report: a Graphic Adaptation New York: Hill and Wang, 2006
This is a graphic depiction of the events leading up to and following the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. It is based on the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States.
 
Ka, Olivier (France) PN6790 J34 K3
Why I Killed Peter New York: Comics Lit, 2008
A man relives his childhood, facing the truth about his relationship with a priest who molested him when he was a child.
 
Katchor, Ben PN 6727.K28 J86
Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer, Selections Boston: Little Brown, 1996
This volume is a selection of Katchor's highly regarded strip about the hapless Julius Knipl.
 
Katchor, Ben PN 6727.K28 J86
Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: the Beauty Supply District New York: Pantheon, 2000
Katchor takes his photographer on a stroll through a whimsical city, much like New York, but much weirder and more charming. We visit establishments like the Misspent Youth Center and the Institute for Soup-Nuts Research.
 
Katin, Miriam DS 135.H93 K38
We Are on our Own Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2006
In this very moving graphic memoir, the artist relives her experiences as a three-year-old child during the Holocaust in Hungary. In the countryside, she and her mother posed as a peasant and her illegitimate child, in order to escape deportation to a concentration camp.
 
Keret, Etgar and Actus Comics (Israel) PJ 5054 .K375 J413 2006
Jetlag: Five Graphic Novellas New Millford: Toby, 2006
This Israeli author has teamed up with a comic book collective to turn five of his extremely unusual, off-center short stories into five wonderful graphic novels.
 
Kubert, Joe (Yugoslavia) DR 1313.32 .S27 K83 1996
Fax from Sarajevo: A Story of Survival Milwaukie: Dark Horse Comics, 1996
Based on a series of faxes from an artist trapped within the war in the former Yugoslavia, this novel describes the everyday life of people under siege.
 
Larcenet, Manu (France) PN6747.L37 O7313
Ordinary Victories New York: NBM Comics Lit, 2005
This novel and its sequel follow a hapless artist Marco through his somewhat aimless life as he tries to make sense of people, life, and death. It was named one of the top 10 graphic novels of the year by many sources.
 
Lutes, Jason PN 6727.L88 B471
Berlin: City of Stones Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2004
Lutes writes and draws about Berlin during the Weimar Republic as a journalist and an art student live in a time when the shadows of the coming war and its horrors are already descending over Germany.
 
Mairowitz, David and R. Crumb (Illustrator) PT 2621 .A26 Z772 2004
R. Crumb's Kafka NY: IBooks, 2004
The artist who gained underground fame in the Sixties draws the story of the life of Franz Kafka, one of the twentieth century’s most phantasmagoric writers of short fiction.
 
Marchetto, Marissa Acocella RC 280.B8 M343
Cancer Vixen New York: Knopf, 2006
Cartoonist Acocella describes her bout with breast cancer, diagnosed only one month after her marriage. This is a book that will guide breast cancer patients through their odeal with wit, humor, and excellent advice.
 
McCay, Winsor NC 1429 M33 2000
Little Nemo, 1905-1914 Koln: Evergreen, 2000
This is the first run of McCay's comic strip about the child who when he sleeps is transported to magical worlds with fantastic characters.
 
McCloud, Scott PN 6710 .M335 1993
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art Northampton: Kitchen Sink Press, 1993
This is a graphic novel about understanding graphic novels.
 
McCulloch, Derek PS 3713 .C386449 S73
Stagger Lee Berkeley, Calif: Image Comics, 2006
What really happened when Stagger Lee killed Billy in a bar in St. Louis? This graphic novel is based on the legend and the popular song.
 
Miller, Frank PN 6728 .M55 2006
Dark Knight (Absolute Edition) NY: DC Comics, 2006
This is a compilation of Miller’s groundbreaking graphic novel featuring Batman.
 
Modan, Rutu PN6790.I73 M63
Exit Wounds Montreal: Drawn and Quarterly, 2008
Koby Franco, a Tel Aviv taxi driver is contacted by a young female soldier who suggests that his father was an unidentified victim of a suicide bombing in Hadera. Together they search for clues; and in the process, Koby discovers a father he never knew. The novel won the 2008 Eisner Award.
 
Moore, Alan, Gibbons, Dave, and Higgins, John PN 6737 .M6 W38 2005
Watchmen NY: DC Comics, 2005
Originally published in a single magazine form as Watchmen 1-12, the book of this classic graphic novel includes 48 pages of supplemental material that has been out of print for nearly two decades, featuring a sampling of Alan Moore’s script pages and the original series proposal, plus tons of Dave Gibbons’s initial character designs, cover sketches, and promo pieces.
 
Nakazawa, Keiji (Japan) D767.25.H6 N35
Barefoot Gen: The Never-ending War San Francisco: Last Gasp of San Francisco, 2008
In this volume of the Barefoot Gen saga, Gen and his mother survive the bombing of Hiroshima although his sister, one brother and his father are killed. The novel follows the family through the early reconstruction years - looking at the chaos, illness and death that followed the survivors.
 
Neufeld, Josh F379.N553 A26
A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge New York: Pantheon, 2009
The true stories of seven ordinary individuals who survived Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans are told in this moving graphic work. Neufeld demonstrates how ordinary people can behave in extraordinarily brave and resilient ways in the face of catastrophes.
 
Nilsen, Anders PN 6727.N57 D64 2007
Dogs and Water Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2007
A young man is wandering through a wilderness with a backpack and a teddy bear strapped to his back. On this surreal journey he encounters murderous fellow humans, a pack of wild dogs or wolves who adopt him and other nightmarish images. This is a very bleak picture of humanity.
 
Nilsen, Anders Brekhus PN 2080.N55
Monologues for the Coming Plague Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2006
Using simple line drawings, the artist explores the absurdity of life, from an old woman feeding a pigeon who constantly complains to a man consulting his dog about a job search.
 
Parks, Ande PN6727.P38 U55 2003
Union Station Portland, OR: ONI Press, 2003
This graphic novel retells the story of the massacre at Union Station in Kansas City, MO which was a power play between J Edgar Hoover, the mob and innocent bystanders. The novel is illustrated in classic crime comics' style. The author is local.
 
Pekar, Harvey PN 6727 .P44 A74 2003
American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar NY: Ballantine, 2003
Much of Pekar’s chronicle of the life of an unimportant government clerk is compiled in one volume. The author and the stories in this volume were the subject of an award-winning film starring Paul Giametti.
 
Pekar, Harvey and Joyce Brabner RC265.6.P45 B73 1994
Our Cancer Year Philadelphia: Running Press, 1994
The author and his wife recount their experiences when he is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes treatment.
 
Pekar, Harvey PN6727.P44 Q555
The Quitter New York: DC Comics, 2005
The author examines his life and wonders why he will never commit to anything if it will challenge him.
 
Sacco, Joe DS 119.7 S23
Palestine Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2001
Political cartoonist Sacco captures life under a long and repressive occupation.
 
Sacco, Joe PN 6737.S3 S35
Safe Area: Goražde: The War in Bosnia 1992-95 Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2000
Sacco looks at the Balkans conflict, exploring the roots of ethnic hatred and the destruction it engenders.
 
Satrapi, Marjane (Iran, France) ML 419 .K495 S313 2006
Chicken with Plums New York : Pantheon Books, 2006
This poignant graphic work tells the story of the author’s great uncle, a brilliant musician whose irreplaceable stringed instrument, called a Tar, is broken and without it he is nothing so he takes to his bed where his has visions of his entire life and then dies because the music has gone out of his life.
 
Satrapi, Marjane (Iran, France) PN 6747 .S245 P4713
Persepolis NY: Pantheon, 2003
Translated from the French, this is the autobiographical story of the author’s life in Iran as a woman after the revolution that overthrew the Shah.
 
Satrapi, Marjane (Iran, France) PN 6747 .S245 P4913
Persepolis Two NY: Pantheon, 2004
The second part of the author’s biographical work tells how she was forced to return to Iran when her life fell apart in the West.
 
Sfar, Joann (France, Algeria) PN 6747 .S48 C4813 2005
The Rabbi's Cat NY: Pantheon, 2005
The Rabbi’s cat kills and eats the Rabbi’s parrot, thus gaining the power of speech. Sfar describes life in Jewish and Muslim Algeria in the 30’s when the French held power and both religious groups were persecuted and friendly to each other.
 
Simmonds, Posy (Great Britain) PN6737.S46 T36
Tamara Drewe Boston: Houghton Mifflin
A rural British writers' retreat is the setting for this take-off on Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd. A sexy reporter, returning to the countryside after a nose job and various other physical enhancements, lures several of the dissatisfied writers into relations that unsettle everyone. In the meantime, the financially struggling locals view the writers with anger and envy. Simmonds' pen is as sharp as her eye and this graphic novel is a delight for adult readers.
 
Simon, Joe and Jack Kirby (USA) PN6710.S56 2009
The Best of Simon and Kirby London: Titan, 2009
This is a collection of the most notable comics created by the duo, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Included are some of the Captain America strips, true romance comics, some science fiction, and horror. This oversized book has beautiful color reproductions of the comics.
 
Small, David PN6727.S54465 S75 2009
Stitches NY: Norton, 2009
A young boy wakes up after an operation to discover he can no longer speak. As an adult, he discovers that he had throat cancer which was caused by his father, a physician who over-radiated him for another illness. The artist draws his life story about the loss of his voice and about his difficult family life.
 
Spiegelman, Art PN 6727 .S6 I5 2004
In the Shadow of No Towers NY: Pantheon, 2004
One of America’s foremost graphic artists describes his anguish when the two towers were destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attack. He relates the attack to early comics.
 
Spiegelman, Art D 804.3 .S655 1992
Maus I: a Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History NY: Pantheon, 1986
Spiegelman relates the story of his parents’ life in concentration camps during the Holocaust and shows how it colored their lives in NY after their survival.
 
Spiegelman, Art D 804.3 .S656 1992
Maus II: a Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began NY: Pantheon, 1991
The author/illustrator completes the story of his family in the Holocaust.
 
Sturm, James PN6727.S88 J35 2007
James Sturm's America: God, Gold, and Golems Montréal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2007
This is a compilation of three of Sturm's classic novels which look at the history of the United States through the lens of his art and events that interest him. In the first episode, he paints the portrait of an 1801 revival meeting where the preacher's questionable abilities fail to raise a dead child. In "Gold" his focus is on an 1886 mining town in Idaho where the owners are crazed for money and care nothing about other humans. In the final episode he draws a portrait of barnstorming baseball in the 1920's and a Jewish ball team eager to have a chance.
 
Tatsumi, Yoshihiro (Japan) PN6790.J33 T38 2009
A Drifting Life Montréal: Drawn and Quarterly, 2009
This very long novel is an autobiographical examination of the author of many notable manga novels. It explores the development of realistic manga.
 
Tatsumi, Yoshihiro (Japan) PN6790.J37 T38
Good-Bye Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2008
These three short graphic novels are by a legendary master of Manga. In the first one, a photographer takes a picture of what appears to be a man and his mother who were killed during the bombing of Hiroshima only to discover the truth was less palatable. In the final novel a young girl must deal with the advent of an occupying army.
 
Tomine, Adrian (Japanese American) PN 6727.T65 S46 2007
Shortcomings Montréal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2007
In this novel, a thirty-something Japanese American theater manager is unable to communicate with his girlfriend, eventually losing her. Ben is unlikable except with his gay Korean friend Alice. His inability to do the right thing is strangely appealing in this graphic novel of love and loss.
 
Veitch, Rick PN6727.V45 C36 2006
Can't Get No New York: Vertigo, 2006
Chad Roe awakens from a night of debauchery to discover he is covered with permanent magic marker. Then two days later the two towers are destroyed, and Chad takes off searching for answers in the American heartland. This book is not for the squeamish.
 
Ware, Chris PN 6727 .W285 J56 2002
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth NY: Pantheon, 2003
Ware explores four generations of defeated. socially isolated men in his classic work.
 
Yang, Gene Luen (Chinese American) PN6727.Y36 A54
American Born Chinese New York: First Second, 2006
In this graphic novel, a combination of three stories that come together in the end, the Monkey King wants to become a god; a young boy Jin Wang, the only Chinese American boy in his class, is bullied by the other boys; and a teenager named Danny is periodically visited by an embarrassing Chinese cousin Chin Kee who embodies all the crudest Asian stereotypes. Yang's graphic look at the difficulties of assimilation is both moving and masterful.
 
 

Artists and History: Top of Page

Andelman, Bob PN 6727 .E4 Z55 2005
Will Eisner, A Spirited Life Milwaukee: M Press, 2005
This is another biography of the father of graphic novels in the United States.
 
Baker, Nicholson PN 4899 .N42 W618
The World on Sunday: Graphic Art in Joseph Pulitzer’s Newspaper (1898-1911) NY: Bulfinch Press, 2005
This oversized book has a discussion and many examples of early cartoonists in Pulitzer’s newspaper.
 
Bell, Roanne PN 6710 .B45 2005
Pictures and Words: New Comic Art and Narrative Illustration New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005
The authors draw explicit links between narrative image and graphic narrative. They highlight their essays with examples from twenty-four international artists.
 
Beauchamp, Monte NC 1429 .C83 L54
The Life and Times of R. Crumb: Comments from Contemporaries NY: St Martin’s 1998
The book contains interviews and essays about the famed underground graphic artist and his influence on contemporary graphic artists.
 
Benton, Mike PN 6725 .B38 1989
The Comic Book in America: an Illustrated History Dallas, Taylor, 1989
This is a history of comic books covering everything from superheroes to romance with a good deal of comedy as well.
 
Benton, Mike PN 6714 .B44 1992
Science Fiction Comics: the Illustrated History Dallas: Taylor Pub. Co., 1992
Benton takes a look at the weird science in comic books.
 
Blackbeard, Bill PN 6726 .S5 1977
The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics Washington: Smithsonian, 1977
 
Carlin, John NC 1426 .M34
Masters of American Comics New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005
This catalog of an exhibit that began in London features fifteen notable comics artists. There are examples of their works and essays about the artists. Many contributors whose contributions were pivotal are omitted as they exhibitors selected their personal favorites. Nonetheless the catalog is impressive.
 
Couch, N.C. Christopher PN 6710 W54 2004
The Will Eisner Companion: the Pioneering Spirit of the Father of the Graphic Novel DC Comics, 2004
This is the biography of Eisner and how he developed the graphic novel concept.
 
Davis, Linda H. NC 1429.A25 D38 2006
Chas Addams: A Cartoonist's Life New York: Random House, 2006
This profusely illustrated volume describes the life and art of the New Yorker cartoonist who gave the world "The Addams Family".
 
Dooley, Dennis PN 6728 .S9 S87 1987
Superman at Fifty: the Persistence of a Legend Cleveland: Octavia Press, 1987
This is a collection of essays honoring the Man of Steel’s fiftieth birthday.
 
Goulart, Ron PN 6725 .G6 1975
The Adventurous Decade New Rochelle: Arlington House, 1975
The book discusses the place of adventure comics in newspapers during the 1930’s.
 
Goulart, Ron NC 1305 .G68 1986
The Great Comic Book Artists New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986
This two volume set looks at comic books from the standpoint of the artists and their ability to draw.
 
Gravett, Paul PN6710.G738 2005
Graphic Novels: Everything You Need to Know New York: Collins Design, 2005
This is an accessible and well-illustrated guide to understanding the development of the graphic novel.
 
Gravett, Paul PN 6790 .J33 G73 2004
Manga: Sixty Years of Japanese Comics New York: Laurence King, 2004
This book is an informative study of the “Manga” genre of comics.
 
Harvey, Robert C. PN 6710 .H35
The Art of the Funnies: an Aesthetic History Jackson: Univ Press of Mississippi, 1994
This is a study of the comics from an aesthetic point of view.
 
Harvey, Robert C. PN 6725 .H38 1998
The Children of the Yellow Kid: the Evolution of the American Comic Strip Seattle: Univ of Washington Press, 1998
This looks at how the comic strip changed and evolved.
 
Hatfield, Charles PN 6725 .H39 2005
Alternative Comics: An Emerging Literature Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2005
This is a study of the rise of graphic novels and alternative comics.
 
Inge, M. Thomas PN 6725 .I54 1990
Comics as Culture Jackson: Univ Press of Mississippi, 1990
This is a study of comics as a popular culture phenomenon.
 
Jones, Gerard PN 6725 .J664 2004
Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters and the Birth of the Comic Book New York: Basic Books, 2004
This is the story of the men who created American comic books.
 
Juno, Andrea PN 6725 .D17 1997
Dangerous Drawings: Interviews with Graphix & Comix Artists New York: Juno Books, 1997
 
Kakalios, Joseph QC 23.2 .K35 2005
The Physics of Superheroes New York: Gotham Books, 2005
The author uses a discussion of superhero powers to demonstrate physics principles.
 
Kunzle, David PN 6710 .K85
History of the Comic Strip (two volumes) Berkeley: Univ of California Press, 1990
This scholarly work is based on the author's University of London thesis.
 
Lee, Stan PN 6727 .L39 Z467
Excelsior!: the amazing life of Stan Lee NY: Simon & Schuster, 2002
This is the autobiography of the man who personified Marvel Comics and created many superheroes, among them Spiderman and the X Men.
 
Lesser, Robert NK 808 .L47 1975
A Celebration of Comic Art and Memorabilia New York: Hawthorn Books, 1975
This book contains information on collection comic books.
 
McCloud, Scott PN 6710 .M334 2000
Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology are Revolutionizing an Art New York: Perennial, 2000
This is a discussion about using computer technology to create graphic books and comics.
 
Outcault, R. F. PN 6727 .O98 Y45
R. F. Outcault’s the Yellow Kid: a Centennial Celebration of the Kid who Started the Comics Northampton: Kitchen Sink Press, 1995
This is a compendium of old Yellow Kid comic strips with an introduction by Bill Blackbeard.
 
Raphael, Jordon PN 6727 .L39 Z88
Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2003
This is a more factual less laudatory look at Stan Lee’s contributions to the American comic book.
 
Reidelbach, Maria PN 6728 .M33 R45
Completely Mad: a History of the Comic Book and Magazine Boston: Little, Brown, 1991
This book relates the history of Mad Magazine and is profusely illustrated.
 
Sabin, Roger PN 6725 .S32 1996
Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels London: Phaidon, 1996
This is another history of the art form.
 
Savage, William E 169.12 .S293 1990
Comic Books and America, 1945-1954 Norman: Univ of Oklahoma Press, 1990
This book takes an historical look at how comic books reflected US history after World War II.
 
  Scott, Randall W. Z 5956 .C6 S37 1988
Comic Books and Strips: An Information Sourcebook Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1988
This is a bibliographic sourcebook for information about comics and graphic novels.
 
Strömberg, Fredrik NC 1355 .S77 2003
Black Images in the Comics: a Visual History Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2003
This book looks at the way African-Americans have been portrayed in the genre.
 
Walker, Brian PN6725.W25 2006
The Comics since 1945 New York: Abrams, 2006
This lavishly illustrated book looks at the innovations that came to the comics in each decade after World War II and profiles major innovators from Walt Kelly to Gary Trudeau.
 
Witek, Joseph PN 6725 .W58 1989
Comic books as History: the Narrative Art of Jack Jackson, Art Spiegelman, and Harvey Pekar Jackson: Univ Press of Mississippi, 1989
This study looks at the story lines of significant graphic novelists.
 
Wolk, Douglas PN 6725.W65 2007
Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean Cambridge, Da Capo Press, 2007
The author looks at comics from the first golden age to what he terms the present golden age, focusing on author/illustrators whose work he finds particularly relevant to understanding the nature of graphic novels.
 
Wright, Bradford W. PN 6725 .W74 2001
Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 2001
This is a sociological study of the impact of comics on America’s youth.
 
 

Reference Works: Top of Page

  Goulart, Ron, editor Reference PN 6725 .E64 1990
The Encyclopedia of American Comics New York: Facts on File, 1990
 
Horn, Maurice Reference PN 6710 .W6 1999
The World Encyclopedia of Comics Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1999
 
Pendergast, Tom Reference NC1305.P46 2007
U-X-L Graphic Novelists Detroit: U-X-L/Thomson Gale, 2007
 
 
 

How to Create and Market Your Work: Top of Page

Chinn, Mike PN 7610 .C44
Writing and Illustrating the Graphic Novel: Everything You Need to Know to Create Great Graphic Works Hauppauge: Barron’s, 2004
 
Dooley, Michael and Steve Heller NC 1320 .E29 2005
The Education of a Comics Artist: Visual Narrative in Cartoons, Graphic Novels and Beyond New York: Allworth Press; School of Visual Arts, 2005
This is an excellent book about visual narrative for developing stories combined with graphics.
 
Hartas, Leo Z 286 .C64 H37 2004
How to draw and sell Digital Cartoons Hauppauge: Barron’s, 2004
This how-to book focuses on using computer graphics not free-hand style.
 
Marx, Christy PN 1996.M446
Writing for Animation, Comics and Games Boston: Focal Press, 2007
This game designer and story editor describes the practical aspects of developing stories for all manner of graphic media.
 
McCloud, Scott PN 6710 .M335 2006
Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels New York: HarperPerennial, 2006
This book focuses on the narrative art of comics and graphic novels.
 
Nagatomo, Haruno NC 1764.5 .J3 N3413
Draw your own Manga: Beyond the Basics Tokyo: Kodansha International, 2005
This volume covers Japanese techniques.
 
O’Neil, Dennis
The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics New York: Watson-Guptill, 2001
This is a how-to-do-it book from the publisher of so many great comics.
 
Rollins, Prentice PN 6710 .R64 2006
The Making of a Graphic Novel : Featuring the First-time Publication of the Original Science-fiction Graphic Novel ’The Resonator’ NY: Watson Guptil, 2006
 
 
Please note: This is an evolving bibliography. Check the catalog under subjects like caricatures and cartoons, comic books, and graphic novels for additional material.

Andrea Kempf, updated September 28, 2009 Return to Guides Index