Handbook of comics and graphic narratives

Whether one describes them as sequential art, graphic narratives or graphic novels, comics have become a vital part of contemporary culture.

Their range of expression contains a tremendous variety of forms, genres and modes from high to low, from serial entertainment for children to complex works of art.

This has led to a growing interest in comics as a field of scholarly analysis, as comics studies has established itself as a major branch of criticism.

This handbook combines a systematic survey of theories and concepts developed in the field alongside an overview of the most important contexts and themes and a wealth of close readings of seminal works and authors.

It will prove to be an indispensable handbook for a large readership, ranging from researchers and instructors to students and anyone else with a general interest in this fascinating medium.