Synopses & Reviews
Itand#8217;s simpleand#151;comics are fun. Whether fifteen or fifty, we love sitting down with a comic book, losing ourselves in a universe filled with wonder and excitement. But comics offer much more than meets the eye, and in
Comics Unmasked, Paul Gravett and John Harris Dunning look beyond the notion of comics as pleasure reading to focus on their inherently anarchic nature.
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Gravett and Dunning have combed the British Libraryand#8217;s extensive comic collection not only to explore the full potential of the medium but also to single out the critical points in history in which the art form challenged the status quo. Featuring newly discovered Victorian comics alongside some of the biggest names in comics today, including Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta), Neil Gaiman (Sandman), Mark Millar (Kick-Ass), and Grant Morrison (Batman: Arkham Asylum), Comics Unmasked explores the political and social issues raised by British comics and their creators over the last century, from violence and drugs to class and sexuality.
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Published to accompany a British Library exhibition that will be the United Kingdomand#8217;s largest exhibit of British comics to date, Comics Unmasked will delight comics enthusiasts around the world, offering them the chance to discover a differentand#151;perhaps darker sideand#151;of the medium.
Review
andquot;The authors of this work are journalists well pedigreed in the comics studies field. Here they bring to print a significant volume stemming from their co-curation of a 2014 British Library exhibition of the same name. Their erudite yet readable examination of British comics (and those made by British creators) spans nearly 200 years. Refreshingly, the volume is not simply chronological but is arranged in six chapters on distinct thematic elements (violence, cultural identity, politics, sexuality, heroes, and experimental). Most of the page count consists of lavish, often full-color illustrations, fully sourced and contextualized. The bookandrsquo;s relatively large size and high quality of reproduction allow readers to truly study the artwork. Unlike many books about comics, this volume is illustrated with interior pages of actual sequential art and narrative. . . . Accessible to readers at all levels yet meaty enough for advanced scholars.andquot;
Synopsis
It may come as a surprise that comics offer much more than meets the eye. Of course we all have happy memories of favorite childhood reading (Beano, Dandy, Eagle, Mad, Viz the list is endless). But how aware are we that there is something inherently anarchic about comics? A huge variety have been produced over the centuries by British creators. It is a strong tradition that continues today. Some of the biggest names in comics Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta), Neil Gaiman (Sandman), Mark Millar (Kick-Ass), and Grant Morrison (Batman: Arkham Asylum) are featured in this visually stimulating book. But there are many, many more. And it is the diversity of content and form, as well as comics ongoing relevance, which is a main focus. The seditious aspects of the comics tradition adult, underground, and "alternative" material is highlighted, alongside the superheroes who still dominate the scene. There is anarchy everywhere that you look "
About the Author
Paul Gravett has written numerous books on comics, including Comics Art and 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die.John Harris Dunning is coauthor of the acclaimed graphic novel Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Mischief and Mayhem
2. To See Ourselves
3. Politics, Power and the People
4. Letand#8217;s Talk About Sex
5. Hero with a Thousand Faces
6. Breakdowns: The Outer Limits of Comics
Index
Picture Credits