1. Comics Marija Dalbello Rutgers
Image credit: Victor GAD
Marija Dalbello
Comics
Rutgers
School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies

2. Comics
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History
Comic book culture
Visual language of comics (Comic literacy)
Artists / Publishers / Readers
Taxonomies

3. Comic Book History
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turn of the century (pictorial storytelling)
1940s superhero comics
1960s adult comics
1980s slump
1990s revival; alternative comics (Vertigo); graphic novel boom
Comic Book Code (Fredric Wertham’s The Seduction of the Innocent (NY: Random, 1954)

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Artists / Writers
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Harvey Pekar (writer: American Splendor)(
Chris Ware (innovative visual language) (
Robert Crumb (
Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons (Watchmen-cinematic effects) (
Neil Gaiman (Death, The Cost of Living, Sandman - horror, supernatural) (
Art Spiegelman (Mauss - Pulitzer prize) (
DC comics, Vertigo, Marvel, minicomics (Samizdat editions)

5. Artists / Writers
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6. Readers
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Comicon
published letters (interaction bw readers and with the writers)
close relationship with production (readers as participants and producers in the culture)
extensive reading
mainstream vs. alternative audience

7. Taxonomies
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manga (anime)
superhero comics (young adult, adult)
alternative comics (adult)
genres: action, horror, supernatural, SF