This Book Contains Graphic Language: Comics as LiteratureThis Book Contains Graphic Language looks at different literary forms and genres—including journalism, fiction, memoirs, and film—in relation to their comic book counterparts. By demonstrating the ways in which comic books (and graphic novels) both reflect upon, and expand the boundaries of literature, Rocco Versaci demonstrates that comics have earned the right to be taken just as seriously as any other literary form. As comics and graphic novels become more popular than ever, literary critics are finding that they now have a new subject to examine. But while many advocates of the medium maintain that comics are a true art form, there have been no detailed comparisons among comics and "legitimate" types of literature. Filling this void, This Book Contains Graphic Language examines different literary forms in relation to their comic book counterparts. These literatures include prose memoir, Holocaust memoir, journalism, film, and-for lack of a better term-the "classics." Each richly-illustrated chapter outlines the key issues of one of these forms and then explores how comic books have been able to reflect and expand upon those issues in unique ways. The comics discussed include Eightball by Daniel Clowes, Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, American Splendor by Harvey Pekar, Maus by Art Spiegelman, Palestine by Joe Sacco, Frontline Combat and Two-Fisted Tales from EC Comics, Sandman by Neil Gaiman and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore. By examining the ways in which these and other comic books and graphic novels expand the boundaries of literature, English professor Rocco Versaci demonstrates that the medium of comics has earned the right to be regarded as an important artistic and literary form. |
Contents
Creating a Special Reality | 34 |
ReMaustering the Past | 81 |
The New Journalism Revisited | 109 |
Copyright | |
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American Splendor argues Art Spiegelman artists atrocities autobiographical battle call attention Chapter characters Classics Comics Classics Illustrated Clowes comic book creators comic book memoir comics journalists Copyright William courtesy of Fantagraphics create critics culture delivers depicts discussed Drawn & Quarterly EC Annual Volume Eightball 22 enemy example fact Fantagraphics Books fiction Figure film Frontline Combat Gemstone Publishing genre Gilberton Company graphic language graphic novel Harvey Kurtzman Harvey Pekar Holocaust idea Image appears courtesy important issue Iwo Jima Jaime Hernandez Joe Sacco killing Korean literary literature Love and Rockets mainstream Marvel Comics Maus medium metaphor movie narration narrative nonfiction panel particular past permission perspective photographs political popular present prose readers representation Sandman scene Sikoryak soldiers story strategy style superhero survivors tell text boxes tion titles truth Two-Fisted Two-Fisted Tales unique visual Vladek West Plains Witek words writing York