Disability in Comic Books and Graphic Narratives

by Chris Foss (Editor), Jonathan W. Gray (Editor), Z. Whalen (Editor)

Disability in Comic Books and Graphic Narratives invites readers to consider both canonical and alternative graphic representations of disability. Some chapters focus on comic superheroes, from lesser-known protagonists like Cyborg and Helen Killer to classics such as Batgirl and Batman; many more explore the amazing range of graphic narratives revolving around disability, covering famous names such as Alison Bechdel and Chris Ware, as well as less familiar artists like Keiko Tobe and Georgia Webber. The volume also offers a broad spectrum of represented amputation, autism, blindness, deafness, depression, Huntington's, multiple sclerosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, speech impairment, and spinal injury. A number of the essays collected here show how comics continue to implicate themselves in the objectification and marginalization of persons with disabilities, perpetuating stale stereotypes and stigmas. At the same time, others stress how this medium simultaneously offers unique potential for transforming our understanding of disability in truly profound ways.

234 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2016

About the author

Christopher F. Foss (born 1946 in Guernsey, Channel Islands) is a British artist and science fiction illustrator. He is best known for his science fiction book covers and the black and white illustrations for the original editions of The Joy of Sex.

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking to explore the general representation of disability within comics, or better yet focus on how they are portrayed within non-superhero narratives, this book would be great for you.

[Mills College Library]

741.59 D6111 2016