Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics

Call for Papers

The Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics is a peer reviewed journal covering all aspects of the graphic novel, comic strip and comic book, with the emphasis on comics in their cultural, institutional and creative contexts. Its scope is interdisciplinary and international, covering not only English language comics but also worldwide comic culture. The journal reflects interdisciplinary research in comics and aims to establish a dialogue between academics, historians, theoreticians and practitioners of comics. It therefore examines comics production and consumption within the contexts of culture: art, cinema, television and new media technologies. The journal includes all forms of ‘sequential imagery’ including precursors of the comic but in the main emphasis will be on twentieth and twenty-first century examples, reflecting the increasing interest in the modern forms of the comic, its production and cultural consumption.

Contributions are invited on a wide range of comic related topics including, but not limited to:

Genres (horror, romance, superheroes etc), underground/alternative comics, censorship, online comics, political and topical issues, fans and audiences (subcultures, gender, subcultural production), comics production and distribution systems. We are also interested in the use of comics in teaching, therapy and public health.

Possible topics for future themed issues include: Gender issues (comics as male institutions, creators, audiences, representations, women fans, women creators in small press comics), individual genres (horror, romance, superheroes, autobiography, etc), adaptations, convergence culture, key creators (Moore, Herge, Ware, Crumb, Eisner, McCay, Herriman etc) underground comix, small press and independent comics and national comic cultures (Manga, Latin America, Bande Dessinee etc).

Articles between 5000-7000 words with an abstract and biography emailed before Friday 18th June. Please note that copyright should be granted for any images used in the articles. Guidelines for articles can be found on the Routledge website www.tandf.co.uk/journals/rcom

If you wish to review a book then contact the Book review Editor, Rob Weiner (rob.weiner@ttu.edu). We are interested in academic and theoretical books on comics and also certain graphic novels. If you wish to review a conference please contact the editors (see below) to discuss.

Articles and proposals to be sent to David Huxley (D.Huxley@mmu.ac.uk) and Joan Ormrod (J.Ormrod@mmu.ac.uk)

or posted to:

Faculty of Art & Design, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chatham Building, Cavendish Street, Manchester, M15 6BR, UK.