Film and Comic Books

by Mark Jancovich (Editor), Ian Gordon (Editor), Matthew P. McAllister (Editor)

In Film and Comic Books contributors analyze the problems of adapting one medium to another; the translation of comics aesthetics into film; audience expectations, reception, and reaction to comic book-based films; and the adaptation of films into comics. A wide range of comic/film adaptations are explored, including superheroes (Spider-Man), comic strips ( Dick Tracy ), realist and autobiographical comics ( American Splendor , Ghost World ), and photo-montage comics (Mexico's El Santo ). Essayists discuss films beginning with the 1978 Superman . That success led filmmakers to adapt a multitude of comic books for the screen including Marvel's Uncanny X-Men , the Amazing Spider-Man , Blade , and the Incredible Hulk as well as alternative graphic novels such as From Hell , V for Vendetta , and Road to Perdition . Essayists also discuss recent works from Mexico, France, Germany, and Malaysia. Essays from Timothy P. Barnard, Michael Cohen, Rayna Denison, Martin Flanagan, Sophie Geoffroy-Menoux, Mel Gibson, Kerry Gough, Jonathan Gray, Craig Hight, Derek Johnson, Pascal Lefevre, Paul M. Malone, Neil Rae, Aldo J. Regalado, Jan van der Putten, and David Wilt

Genres: Film

304 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 2007

Reviews

[Craig Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I randomly picked this book up because, being a fan of both comics and movies, it seemed like an interesting read. For the most part, it was interesting, but it was also very dry and academic. This book reminded me of the kind of essays I'd have to read for my film classes, which certainly weren't the most *ideal* recreational reading material. Still, it helps that the book was a composition of several different writers, so if one essay is boring, there stood a good chance the next wouldn't be. My favorite in the book is the one comparing Superman to Unbreakable, not only because I love that movie so much, but because I never realized the sociological significance of Superman before. The essay about American Splendor was also quite fascinating, and reignited my interest in both the film and the comic book. So this book wasn't a total waste of time to read, but it certainly wasn't a blast either.

[Coa · Rating 3 out of 5]

some interesting & useful essays, but mostly just a mix of all kinds of stuff somehow connected to film & comics. sociocultural stuff next to film studies, superhero movies next to indy graphic novel adaptations from all over the world.. I don't know if it works, you know..

[Mike Horne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like movies made from comics. I like comics, and I like movies. But they should not be together. This is a collection of scholarly articles about that. Really? a scholarly article about the Superman movie and Smallville? way too much jargon. I actually enjoyed the on about American Splendor. and I thought that movie lived up to the comic.