Super bodies comic book illustration, artistic styles, and narrative impact / Jeffrey A. Brown.
| Author/creator | Brown, Jeffrey A., 1966- |
| Format | Electronic |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication Info | Austin : University of Texas Press, 2023. |
| Description | 240 pages : illustrations ; 27 cm. |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Ebook Central - Academic Complete |
| Subjects |
| Series | World comics and graphic nonfiction series World comics and graphic nonfiction series. ^A1325661 |
| Contents | Introduction : How to draw superheroes -- The superhero and the dessinateur -- Idealism and comic book heroes -- Retro art and nostalgia -- Realism in an unrealistic genre -- Super cute manga, kawaii and infantilization -- Grotesque bodies and monstrous heroes -- Comic noir, more than just black and white -- Drawing conclusions. |
| Abstract | "For many, the idea of comic book art implies simplistic four-color renderings of stiff characters slugging it out. In fact, modern superhero comic books showcase a range of complex artistic styles, with diverse connotations. Leading comics scholar Jeffrey A. Brown assesses six distinctive approaches to superhero illustration--idealism, realism, cute, retro, grotesque, and noir--examining how each visually represents the superhero as a symbolic construct freighted with meaning. Whereas comic book studies tend to focus on text and narrative, Drawing Superheroes gives overdue credit to the artwork, which is not only a principal source of the appeal of comic books but also central to the values these works embody. Brown argues that superheroes are not to be taken as representations of people but as iconic types, and the art conveys this. Even the most realistic comic illustrations are designed to suggest not persons but ideas--ideas about bodies and societies. Thus the appearance of superheroes both directly and indirectly influences the story being told as well as the opinions readers form concerning justice, authority, gender, puberty, sexuality, ethnicity, violence, and other concepts central to political and cultural life"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2022034888 |
| ISBN | 9781477327364 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | (adobe pdf) |
| ISBN | (epub) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |