In America, comics and comic books have often been associated with adolescent male fantasy—muscle-bound superheroes and scantily clad women. Nonetheless, comics have also been read and enjoyed by girls. While there have been many strong representations of women throughout their history, the comics of today have evolved and matured, becoming a potent medium in which to explore the female experience, particularly that of girlhood and adolescence.
In Girls and Their Comics: Finding a Female Voice in Comic Book Narrative, Jacqueline Danziger-Russell contends that comics have a unique place in the representation of female characters. She discusses the overall history of the comic book, paying special attention to girls’ comics, showing how such works relate to a female point of view. While examining the concept of visual literacy, Danziger-Russell asserts that comics are an excellent space in which the marginalized voices of girls may be expressed. This volume also includes a chapter on manga (Japanese comics), which explains the genesis of girls’ comics in Japan and their popularity with girls in the United States.
Including interviews with librarians, comic creators, and girls who read comics and manga, Girls and Their Comics is an important examination of the growing interest in comic books among young females and will appeal to a wide audience, including literary theorists, teachers, librarians, popular culture and women’s studies scholars, and comic book historians.
Jacqueline Danziger-Russell has an MA in Children’s Literature from Roehampton University, London.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter One Introduction In the Beginning Comic Books’ Evolution from Working-Class Literature and the Marginalization of Comics The History of Comic Books for Girls Comics—Now
Chapter Two Comics as a Hybrid Art Form, or The Mysterious Case of the Picture Book Defining the Picture Book The Graphic Text and Reader-Response Theory The Dynamic Interaction of Image and Text Wordless Narrative Comics’ Influence on the Picture Book Summary
Chapter Three Why Visual Literacy is Important The Value of the Visual Text The Mechanics of Comics Comics Giving a Voice to the Underrepresented Female
Chapter Four The Appeal of Manga Manga’s History Shojo Manga: A tradition of Girls’ Comics Manga in America Manga’s Future Influence in America
Chapter Five The Validation of Comics Through the Graphic Novel Format What is a Graphic Novel? Taking a Step Back Through History Marketing Comics as Literature New Heroes: The Impact that Modern Girl’s Comics Can Have on the Female Reader and the Maturation of the Female Role in Comics Beyond Graphic Novels: The Digital Age of Comics Has Arrived Conclusion: Growing Up with Comics and Comics Growing Up
