Comic Book Encyclopedia by
A 4-colour, illustrated best-of-the-best of the comic book world - with writers/creators who launched an industry (Jack Kirby, Stan Lee), amazing graphic novels (Preacher, The Watcher), legendary artists (Jim Lee) and characters as wide-ranging as Archie, The Gay Ghost, Batman, Blue Devil and the Fantastic Four. Never before has there been a single volume of superheroes, graphic novels, strange comic icons, legendary writers and artists of the comic world. Comic Book Encyclopedia is the multiverse of comic legend and lore for every comic-book fan, and for everyone who wants to understand the characters, history, and universal appeal of this world. Collected into a single volume, this is the best-of-the-best of comics. From the 1930s to today, it includes everything a young, budding comic reader - or an experienced pro - needs to know and/or read.
Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels by
At a time when graphic novels have expanded beyond their fan cults to become mainstream bestsellers and sources for Hollywood entertainment, Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels serves as an exhaustive exploration of the genre's history, its landmark creators and creations, and its profound influence on American life and culture. Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels focuses on English-language comics--plus a small selection of influential Japanese and European works available in English--with special emphasis on the new graphic novel format that emerged in the 1970s. Entries cover influential comic artists and writers such as Will Eisner, Alan Moore, and Grant Morrison, major genres and themes, and specific characters, comic book imprints, and landmark titles, including the pulp noir 100 Bullets, the post-apocalyptic Y: The Last Man, the revisionist superhero drama, Identity Crisis, and more. Key franchises such as Superman and Batman are the center of a constellation of related entries that include graphic novels and other imprints featuring the same characters or material.
Use the Library of Congress Subject Headings (circled in red in the catalog record above) to quickly and easily locate the most relevant materials for your topic. Subject headings useful for locating information on graphic novels and comics include:
Graphic novels -- History and criticism
Comic books, strips, etc. This heading can be subdivided, for example:
It can also be used as a subdivider, added to other subject headings. For example:
You can also use writers and artists' names as subject headings, for example:
The databases below may include scholarly articles on topics related to graphic novels, including their history, criticism, and uses in various setting (for example, schools and libraries.)
Useful keywords include: "Graphic novels," "Comic books, strips, etc.," "Narrative art," "Film adaptations," "Cartoons," "Cartoonists," and the names of specific comics and their creators.
The following journals are available electronically via Libraries' subscriptions.
From Girls to Grrrlz: A History of [Women's] Comics from Teens to Zines by 
Masters of American Comics by 
Watchmen and Philosophy: A Rorschach Test by 
Best American Comics Criticism by 
