This list of resources and subject headings about comics and graphic novels describes items available at the FIMS Graduate Library and Western Libraries. You may also browse the FIMS Graduate Library’s complete collection of comics and graphic novels.

Authorship

See subject headings:
Comic books, strips, etc. — Authorship
Graphic novels — Authorship

	Chinn, Mike. Writing and illustrating the graphic novel: everything you need to know to create great graphic works. Hauppauge: Barron’s, 2004. Call #: EDUSTK PN6710.C45 2004 Summary: Chinn provides insights on conventions of the form and their successful implementation within various genres as well as strategies for pursuing publication upon completion of a self-created work.
	Lehmann, Timothy. Manga: masters of the art. Scranton: Collins Design, 2005. Call #: DBWSTK PN6790.J34L44 2005 Summary: Lehmann presents exclusive perspectives on approaches to the medium as practiced in Japanese culture through the various creative processes of a selection of established artists and their works.
	Eisner, Will. Expressive anatomy for comics and narrative: principles and practices from the legendary cartoonist. New York: W.W. Norton, c2008. Call #: EDUSTK PN6710.E56 2008 Summary: Eisner reveals his tried and tested secrets of practical success in the expression of visual narrative through accurate and dynamic body language, specifically cues such as body mechanics, facial expressions, and posture.
	Eisner, Will. Graphic storytelling and visual narrative: principles and practices from the legendary cartoonist. New York: W.W. Norton, 2008. Call #: EDUSTK PN6710.E57 2008 Summary: Eisner explains the use and impact of core elements of the medium in producing an effective narrative, including examples from seminal creators of imagery, frame, time, space, and visual forms.

Bibliographical Methodology

See subject headings:
Comic books, strips, etc. — Bibliography — Methodology
Graphic novels — Bibliography
Graphic novels — Bibliography — Methodology

	Fagan, Bryan D., and Jody Condit Fagan. Comic book collections for libraries. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited, c2011. Call #: IMSSTK Z688.C64F34 2011 Summary: The Fagans document comics’ legitimacy in the library environment, providing insights into collection management, cataloguing, promotion, and common challenges such as collocation via format and age group.
	Goldsmith, Francisca. The readers’ advisory guide to graphic novels. Chicago: American Library Association, 2010. Call #: IMSSTK Z692.G7G655 2010 Summary: As the title suggests, Goldsmith provides both a list of books to know as well as guidelines to follow in recommending further and similar works. It also delves into collection development, and analyzes the trend of librarians wary of and unfamiliar with the medium.
	Miller, Steve. Developing and promoting graphic novel collections. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2005. Call #: EDUSTK Z692.G7M55 2005 Summary: Miller documents the stages in developing a comics collection, including selection, purchasing, cataloguing, and maintenance, touching as well on aspects of promotion such as topics for booktalks and discussion and recommendations for shelving.
	Scott, Randall W. Comics librarianship: a handbook. Jefferson: McFarland, c1990. Call #: DBWSTK Z688.C64S38 1990 Summary: Scott discusses the legitimization of comics librarianship and developing a collection, including acquisition, storage, preservation, and cataloguing. He also provides strategies for how to pursue a specialization in this field of librarianship.

General

See subject headings:
Graphic novels — United States
Libraries — Special collections — Comic books, strips, etc.
Libraries — Special collections — Graphic novels

	McCloud, Scott. Understanding comics. New York: HarperPerennial, 1994. Call #: DBWSTK PN6710.M335 1994 Summary: McCloud explores comics as a unique artistic and literary medium, reviewing a retrospective look at visual narratives over the course of history, defining the medium and what is included under its expansive umbrella, with a look at popular conventions across the world.
	Weiner, Stephen. The 101 Best Graphic Novels. Edited by Keither R. A. DeCandido. New York: NBM, c2005. Call #: EDUSTK Z1037.A1W45 2005 Summary: Weiner provides a sample of comics in an annotated bibliography, useful as a helpful starting point for developing a special collection in a library. The book includes a brief history of the medium, a foreword by acclaimed comics writer Neil Gaiman, and recommended further readings.
	Gravett, Paul. Graphic novels: everything you need to know. New York: Collins Design, 2005. Call #: EDUSTK Z1037.A1G677 2005 Summary: Gravett provides an introduction to comics as a medium with recommended readings, analyses of both negatively and positively perceived aspects of the art form, as well as guidance for reading comics with sample pages to follow along.

History and Criticism

See subject headings:
Comic books, strips, etc. — History and criticism
Graphic novels — History and criticism

	Duncan, Randy, and Matthew J. Smith. The power of comics: history, form, and culture. New York: Continuum, 2009. Call #: DBWSTK PN6710.D86 2009 Summary: Duncan and Smith provide a wide overview of the comics medium, its creators and their processes, its primary audiences and appeal factors, as well as history and analysis on how to read and appreciate the form.
	Harvey, Robert C. The art of the comic book: an aesthetic history. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, c 1996. Call #: DBWOVR PN6725.H37 1996 Summary: Harvey reviews the development of comics and influential creators such as Will Eisner and Bob Kane including the strengths and credibility of the medium, momentous events and genres, and distinctions from other media.
	Heer, Jeet, and Kent Worcester, ed. Arguing comics: literary masters on a popular medium. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, c2004. Call #: DBWSTK PN6710.A84 2004 Summary: This volume collects essays by acclaimed writers such as Umberto Eco and E.E. Cummings on the legitimacy and impact of the medium, dated prior to the popular mainstream comics boom of the 1990s, presenting insights on the form before it became a common theme in academia.
	Petersen, Robert S. Comics, manga, and graphic novels: a history of graphic narratives. Santa Barbara: Praeger, c2011. Call #: DBWSTK PN6710.P415 2011 Summary: Petersen explores the graphic narrative over the course of history, particularly focusing on the development and impact of printing and the works of early influential creators such as William Hogarth, Willhem Busch, and Max Ernst.
	Sabin, Roger. Comics, comix & graphic novels. London: Phaidon, 1996. Call #: DBWSTK PN6725.S32 1996 Summary: Sabin tracks both the early development of the comics medium as well as fluctuations and trends in its popularity and growth for genres intended for a variety of audiences across North America, Europe, and Asia.

See Other Subject Headings:

Comic books, strips, etc. — Collectors and collecting
Comic books, strips, etc. — Illustrations
Homosexuality — Comic books, strips, etc.
Women cartoonists

Additional Online Resources:

https://www.comicbookresources.com/
https://comics.org/

This guide was created by Erik Chan, GRC Student Assistant, Summer 2013.