Call for Chapters: Handbook of Research on Exploring Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom

Editors

Jason DeHart, Appalachian State University, United States

Call for Chapters

Proposals Submission Deadline: November 10, 2021
Full Chapters Due: March 10, 2022
Submission Date: March 10, 2022

Introduction

This edited book seeks to gather voices in research and practice who explore the complexities, possibilities, and applications of comics and graphic novels in the field of education. The chapters highlight work with young children, early and late adolescents, and adults and examine comics/graphic novels as unique texts that can be approached philosophically, cognitively, and with attention to literacy demands and connections to a range of literature.

Objective

This book will highlight voices from a number of disciplines in the field of education, showcasing research and practice using both popular and lesser-known examples of comics across time in terms of publishing history and across geographic contexts/regions. The objective of the book is to explore comics from multiple viewpoints and to share the efficacy of these texts in descriptive, narrative, and empirical ways. The material focus of comics can be print or digital, magazine format or collected works.

Target Audience

The book is geared toward students, teachers, and researchers in undergraduate and graduate contexts. Chapters which showcase comics as complex texts can be used in literature study, and chapters which utilize qualitative and quantitative methods can be used as examples in research. The book is for readers, writers, and those who already appreciate this medium or who are growing in their knowledge.

Recommended Topics

Comics in the PK-6 classroom. Comics in instruction with adolescents. Comics in the university classroom. Cognitive studies of comics. Philosophical approaches to comics. Empirical studies of comics. Textual analysis of comics. Commentary from comics makers. Literary and critical analysis of comics. Studies of comics as a site for identity work. Counter-narratives in comics. Comics and feminism. Comics and political science. Comics and content instruction. Reading and writing with comics. Self-studies of comics readers and writers. Chapters which incorporate original interviews and profiles of comics creators and those who have been innovative in the study of comics. Chapters on grammatical features in comics. Navigating terms (comics, graphic novels) with examples of texts. Studies that focus on web comics.

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before November 10, 2021, a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors will be notified by November 24, 2021 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines.Full chapters are expected to be submitted by March 10, 2022, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at https://www.igi-global.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication, Handbook of Research on Exploring Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-blind peer review editorial process.

All proposals should be submitted through the eEditorial Discovery^® online submission manager.

Publisher

This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), an international academic publisher of the "Information Science Reference" (formerly Idea Group Reference), "Medical Information Science Reference," "Business Science Reference," and "Engineering Science Reference" imprints. IGI Global specializes in publishing reference books, scholarly journals, and electronic databases featuring academic research on a variety of innovative topic areas including, but not limited to, education, social science, medicine and healthcare, business and management, information science and technology, engineering, public administration, library and information science, media and communication studies, and environmental science. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2023.

Important Dates

November 10, 2021: Proposal Submission Deadline
November 24, 2021: Notification of Acceptance
March 10, 2022: Full Chapter Submission
May 8, 2022: Review Results Returned
June 19, 2022: Final Acceptance Notification
July 3, 2022: Final Chapter Submission

Inquiries

Jason DeHart Appalachian State University dehartjd@appstate.edu

Ask me anything - Mark Wheatley

Mark Wheatley

Ask me anything

November 9 2021: https://www.facebook.com/WheatleyMarks/videos/1577182975953820/

Local academics represent

CSS Executive Board

Evan Ash (University of Maryland), Graduate Caucus President
 

Evan R. Ash is a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland focusing on visual culture and the history of childhood in early-to-mid twentieth century America. His dissertation proposal, "Raising the Rationalized Child: Children, Mass Culture, and Fordism at Midcentury" examines the changing role of children in the eyes of systems of labor production as well as the deep societal consequences attached to their cultural consumption. When Evan is not buried under a pile of books, he enjoys gaming (board and video), watching movies, ice skating, and suffering Baltimore Ravens-induced anxiety.

New Inks Editorial Team

Marc Singer is Professor of English at Howard University in Washington, DC. He is the author of Breaking the Frames: Populism and Prestige in Comics Studies (Univ. of Texas Press, 2018) and Grant Morrison: Combining the Worlds of Contemporary Comics (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2012) and the editor, with Nels Pearson, of Detective Fiction in a Postcolonial and Transnational World (Ashgate, 2009). He previously served as the chair of the International Comic Arts Forum. (Marc will be joining Inks in January 2022.)

The Art, Architecture, & Political Cartoons of the Gilded Age

The Art, Architecture, & Political Cartoons of the Gilded Age [aka Gilded Age Symposium: American Arts and Culture Nancy Unger et. al. U.S. Capitol Historical Society November 10 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wV9j26E9oU

On Tuesday, November 9 at Noon EST, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society hosted a panel discussion of American Arts & Culture in the Gilded Age. Professor Sarah Burns of Indiana University discussed developments in American painting during the Gilded Age, Professor Nancy Unger of Santa Clara University discussed the evolution of political cartoons in the Gilded Age, and Library of Congress Reference Specialist Kathy Woodrell discussed the Library's Jefferson Building as a prime example of Gilded Age arts and architecture.

NPR reviews South Korea's 'The Waiting'

'The Waiting' is an unflinching portrayal of the separations caused by war

THÚY ĐINH

November 6, 2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/06/1053080537/the-waiting-gendry-kim-review

Original art of Ding, Lolly, and... Carl Ed's Victor Veribest? (UPDATED 2x)

by Mike Rhode (updated 11/19/21 with scans)

So a clump (gaggle? flock? murder?) of cartoonists walk into the American Visionary Art Museum's giftshop... 

Cellphone photo with caption

 

Sure, it sounds like a shaggy dog story, but this past weekend I went to the museum with a group of local cartoonists, and someone opened a flat file drawer in the gift shop, and pulled out a 'Ding' Darling panel. 

                                                              Scan, with caption cut off

There were 3 of these, which appear to tell the story of a young potato growing up into a crop. Barbara Dale said she and another friend had already bought 2 others on a previous visit. I bought this one.

 

Lolly June 21, 1970

 

The next strips I pulled out were 'Lolly' by Pete Hansen, a working woman gag strip that I read in the New York Daily News as a kid. It started in 1955, but these are from the 1970s when I was reading it.

Lolly Sept 3, 1972

Finally, there were 3 strips by Carl Ed of 'Harold Teen' fame. These 'Victor Veribest' strips seem like they might just predate 'Harold Teen' that started in 1919, or more probably, be running parallel to it as an advertising strip for an Armour Hour radio show of which I've found mentions of for 1929 and 1933-1935. I'd be glad to hear from anyone with more knowledge about them.

 

UPDATE: My friend, the crack comics historian Rodrigo Baeza, comes through "I found a sample of the Victor Veribest strip that ran in 1933: https://the-avocado.org/2018/05/10/thriftstorm-6-news-and-views-of-armour-crews/ And a few years ago Rob Stolzer was selling another original (which he believes was done in the late 1920s):https://web.archive.org/web/20180509214243/http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1326468  I was just reading a couple of days ago that Carl Ed was one of Roy Crane's teachers at Chicago's Academy of Fine Arts in 1920."

  

 

So, the strip is actually for the Armour meat company's internal newspaper. And these 3 strips more than double the amount of them that can be found on the web apparently.

 

That darn Matt Davies

Drawing the line [Matt Davies letter]

Marilyn Tublin, Silver Spring

Washington Post November 6 2021, p. A17

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/05/free-for-all-letters-be-clear-about-what-an-algorithm-is/

The Post's guide to the Eternals

Eternals, explained: Who they are and how they fit into the Marvel universe [in print as Who are Marvel's Eternals?]

By David Betancourt

Reporter

Washington Post November 6, 2021, p. C1-2

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/11/05/eternals-marvel-universe/

NPR on 'Eternals'

With 'Eternals,' the MCU gets deep in its feelings

Glen Weldon, Mallory Yu,  Andrew Limbong, Daisy Rosario.

Pop Culture Happy Hour November 5, 2021

https://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=1050592795:1052416721

https://play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/edge1.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/pchh/2021/11/20211105_pchh_pchh_211105_eternals_final.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1050592795

'Eternals': A Marvel movie for everyone who complains about Marvel movies

Glen Weldon

October 30, 2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/30/1049694376/new-marvel-eternals-chloe-zhao-gemma-chan

The Post reviews ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ videogame

'Guardians of the Galaxy' is a better movie than the movies. But it could be a better game. [in print as Group chemistry gives 'Guardians' a big personality]

by Gene Park

Washington Post November 7 2021 p. E16

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/guardians-galaxy-review/

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "For All Pigkind no.2: To Oligarchy, And Beyond!"

From Mike Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist -

"For All Pigkind no. 2: To Oligarchy, And Beyond!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3333

So, Jeff Bezos thinks he can tug at my old Boomer heartstrings by 
sending up 90 year-old William Shatner (and his toupee) on Blue 
Origin's latest suborbital joyride, while continuing to shit on his 
workers and dodge taxes. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has opened new vistas in 
whiny excuses for not paying taxes on his obscene wealth by puking up 
a bunch of balloon juice about Mars and "the light of consciousness". 
Nice try, guys — but, no. Also a big "no" to these guys at the Space 
Review trying to spin it as an important insight into the effects of 
microgravity on old rich and famous people.

And elsewhere in the Space Review, one of their regulars can't shut up 
about the "normalization of space tourism" — for anyone who's so 
goddamn rich they have the price of a long weekend at the ISS lying 
around under their sofa cushions.

-----

"How space tourism could affect older people" by Nick Caplan and 
Christopher Newman at The Space Review, 10.25.2021 
https://thespacereview.com/article/4269/1

"The normalization of space tourism" by Jeff Foust at The Space 
Review, 10.18.2021 https://thespacereview.com/article/4266/1

"Elon Musk criticized the billionaire's tax once again, and said he 
would use the money to get to Mars" by Ben Gilbert at Markets Insider, 
10.28.2021 
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/elon-musk-billionaire-tax-mars-2021-10?op=1

"How Much Elon Musk And Jeff Bezos Saved After Joe Manchin Scuttled 
Democrats' Tax Proposal" by Giacomo Tognini at Forbes, 10.29.2021 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2021/10/29/these-billionaires-might-have-just-dodged-a-333-billion-tax-bullet-thanks-to-revised-tax-proposal/

"Bezos Wants to Create a Better Future in Space. His Company Blue 
Origin Is Stuck in a Toxic Past" By: Alexandra Abrams, Former Head of 
Blue Origin Employee Communications, and 20 other Blue Origin 
employees, 09.30.2021 
https://www.lioness.co/post/bezos-wants-to-create-a-better-future-in-space-his-company-blue-origin-is-stuck-in-a-toxic-past

"Blue Origin sends William Shatner to the Final Frontier", William 
Harwood at Spaceflight Now, 10.13.2021 
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/10/13/blue-origin-sends-william-shatner-to-the-final-frontier/

"My plan is to use the money to get humanity to Mars and preserve the 
light of consciousness"
— Elon Musk @elonmusk on Twitter, 10.28.2021
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1453590715267788803

Mike Flugennock, Political Cartoons: http://www.sinkers.org/stage
and follow me on Mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@flugennock

The Post on the Olney Theatre Center production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.”

At Olney Theatre, casting 'Beauty and the Beast' with an eye to inclusion [in print as Olney kicks up the message a notch]

By Celia Wren

Washington Post November 2, 2021 p. Weekend 18

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/theater-dance/olney-theatre-disneys-beauty-and-the-beast/2021/11/01/9dbca940-3827-11ec-8be3-e14aaacfa8ac_story.html

The Post on Eternals

'Eternals' has too much Marvel, not enough Chloé Zhao [in print as Oscar-winning powers aren't enough]

By Ann Hornaday

Washington Post  November 5, 2021   p. Weekend 21, 24

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/eternals-movie-review/2021/11/02/b9b6b952-3835-11ec-8be3-e14aaacfa8ac_story.html

Chloé Zhao explains how 'Nomadland' and 'Eternals' are cinematic twins [in print as Chloe Zhao's antiheroes and superheroes]

By Ann Hornaday

Washington Post November 5 2021 p. C1-2

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/chloe-zhao-interview-eternals/2021/11/04/2c02b964-3cca-11ec-bfad-8283439871ec_story.html

Arlington has a new political cartoonist platform for Mike Mount

Mike Mount is doing them weekly since at least July 25th and as of Oct 22nd, they can be seen at https://www.arlnow.com/tag/cartoon/

"Each week we've been bringing ARLnow Press Club members a new editorial cartoon by Arlington resident Mike Mount.

Starting this week we're going to start publishing the toons here on a regular basis, after hearing from members that they prefer that Press Club content be seen by the entire ARLnow community.

Members will still get an early look at the cartoons, much like they get the Morning Notes four hours early each day, as well as a a preview of the stories we're planning to cover later in the day."

“For Better or For Worse” diplomacy in DC - cost criticized

Canadian cartoonist exhibit cost taxpayers $15,799 [ "For Better or For Worse"]

Jonathan Bradley

True North October 31, 2021

https://tnc.news/2021/10/31/canadian-cartoonist-exhibit-cost-taxpayers-15799

Off Panel #327: Killer Klowns with Steve Anderson of Third Eye Comics

Off Panel #327: Killer Klowns with Steve Anderson 

David Harper

Nov 1, 2021

https://sktchd.libsyn.com/off-panel-327-killer-klowns-with-steve-anderson

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sktchd/Steve_Anderson.mp3

In this week's episode of Off Panel, retailer Steve Anderson joins to chat about his shops in the Maryland/Virginia area, Third Eye Comics. Anderson discusses the story behind Third Eye, differentiating his six shops, his expanding list of product lines, the shop's evolution, what's working for his shop, Marvel's weird place, Saga's return, the state of variants, Third Eye Buys, controlling his fate, where comics retail is, and more.

Tom King talks writing a Human Target

'Human Target' is superhero Don Draper: Tom King unpacks Christopher Chance

Tom King sits down to talk 'Human Target' and the launch of the new DC Black Label miniseries.

David Brooke

November 5, 2021

https://aiptcomics.com/2021/11/05/tom-king-human-target-interview/

Dec 6: Ian Rosenberg & Mike Cavallaro — Free Speech Handbook:

P&P Live! Ian Rosenberg & Mike Cavallaro — Free Speech Handbook: A Practical Framework for Understanding Our Free Speech Protections - with Laura Wides-Muñoz

Friday, December 3, 6:00 pm

Free Speech Handbook: A Practical Framework for Understanding Our Free Speech Protections (World Citizen Comics) (Hardcover)

By Ian Rosenberg, Mike Cavallaro (Illustrator)

$28.99

ISBN: 9781250619754

Availability: Coming Soon—Pre-Order Now

Published: First Second - November 30th, 2021

---

Click here to register for the virtual event!

In Free Speech Handbook, a new nonfiction graphic novel from First Second's World Citizen Comicsseries, media lawyer Ian Rosenberg and artist Mike Cavallaro create a practical framework for understanding where our free speech protections have come from and how they may develop in the future.

Author, Ian Rosenberg, has over twenty years of experience as a media lawyer, and has worked as legal counsel for ABC News since 2003. He graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and magna cum laudefrom Cornell Law School. Rosenberg is also an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, and teaches media law at Brooklyn College. He is the author of The Fight for Free Speech (NYU Press 2021), which Kirkus called in a starred review, "Essentialreading for journalists, political activists, and ordinary citizens alike."

Illustrator, Mike Cavallaro, is from New Jersey and has worked in comics and animation since the early 1990s. His comics include Eisner Award–nominated Parade (with fireworks), The Life and Times of Savior 28 (written by J.M.DeMatteis), FoiledandCurses! Foiled Again(written by Jane Yolen), Decelerate Blue (written by Adam Rapp), and the Nico Bravo series(a 2019 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids selection).

They will be joined in conversation with, Laura Wides-Muñoz, the Los Angeles Times' deputy bureau chief in Washington. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, and The Guardian, among other outlets. Her debut book, "The Making of a Dream: How a Group of Young Undocumented Immigrants Helped Change What it Means to be American" (Harper Books), was named a semifinalist for the 2018 PEN America/John Kenneth Galbraith award for nonfiction literature.

P&P Live!

Washington, DC 20008

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Greg's vacation, OR Big Planet Bethesda is closed 11/11-11/23

Dear customer— First, we'd like to thank you for your loyalty and good cheer during our recent hard times. As you know, the Covid outbreak forced us to relocate to a second-floor location, which forces us to operate curbside only. Greg has been climbing those stairs at least 100 times a week since October, 2020 without any break. I'm exhausted just typing these words. Well, it's time for a break. Greg is taking a well-earned vacation. Big Planet Comics Bethesda store will be closed from Thursday, Nov. 11 – Tuesday, Nov. 23. Those dates only include one Wednesday, Nov. 17. Rest assured, I will process the Nov. 17 shipment, and you won't be missing any of your reserved comics. We will reopen on Wednesday, Nov. 24 with two weeks worth of new comics. With warm regards, --Joel Our mailing address is: Big Planet Comics 7939 Norfolk Ave. Bethesda, Md 20814

Fan Survey online from Towson University

I filled it out - it goes pretty quick

https://www.facebook.com/groups/318468860059335

Welcome to the Facebook home of the Fan Survey at Towson University. As part of my research about comic-con culture, I am conducting a survey to learn more about different fan interests and experiences. If you consider yourself a "big fan" or a "casual fan" of any these interests (e.g., comic books, superheroes, cosplay, anime/manga, sci-fi/fantasy, art/collecting, gaming), I invite you to take the short survey, which is 26-questions and completely anonymous. You must have a Google+ account to access the survey and be at least 18 years old. Any questions about my research or the survey, contact: Dr. Michael Elliott, melliott@towson.edu

Toon Books did an event with DC schools

Virtual visit with 130 5th grade students in the Washington, DC area was a HIT!

Illustrator Sergio García Sánchez (left) tuned in from Spain and Author Nadja Spiegelman (right) tuned in from New York to talk about Blancaflor to 5th grade classrooms at Sargent Shriver Elementary School, located just outside of Washington DC. Thanks to An Open Book Foundation for organizing and hosting the event AND for donating a copy of Blancaflor to every student to take home and keep. More info at https://static-promote.weebly.com/share/d153f016-7435-4889-bbb7-df9f950dedd6

Alexandra Bowman illustrated a children's book

[I just ordered mine. I think that description needs to be corrected though! "Loves" not "love."]

Read the Road Paperback – October 14, 2021

by Karen M. Hickman (Author), Alexandra Bowman (Illustrator)

https://www.amazon.com/Read-Road-Karen-M-Hickman/dp/1939535883/

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Fred the turtle love to explore. He especially love to explore along the road, which was a dangerous place for a turtle. Normally Fred had his friend Sadie to come along/ After yesterday's long adventure, however, he found himself alone today. The one thing his father always told him was to watch out for the clop-clops whenever he was near the road. It was a beautiful day as Fred took off on his next adventure, which turned out to be far more than he ever expected.

Join Fred and his friends in the fun adventure for the whole family.

A Montgomery County special strip

SCHNAPSY by SHOENKE

John Adcock

Yesterday's Papers blog October 30, 2021

http://john-adcock.blogspot.com/2021/10/schnapsy-by-shoenke.html

Towson U professor studies comic book fandom

Pop culture, sociology and the sacred

Professor Michael Elliott's fascination with nerd culture and fan communities inspires his teaching and research.

https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/socioanthrocrim/about-michael-elliott.html

Tom King at 3rd Eye Comics, Nov 3 & 6

TOM KING RETURNS with another amazing new book THE HUMAN TARGET #1 and will be joining us at THIRD EYE ANNAPOLIS and LEXINGTON PARK for the LAUNCH!!

Christopher Chance has made a living out of being a human target-a man hired to disguise himself as his client to invite would-be assassins to attempt his murder.

He's had a remarkable career until his latest case protecting Lex Luthor when things go sideways. An assassination attempt Chance didn't see coming leaves him vulnerable and left trying to solve his own murder…as he has 12 days to discover just who in the DCU hated Luthor enough to want him dead.

Human Target is a hard-boiled, gritty story in the vein of classic detective noirs told by bestselling and critically acclaimed creators Tom King and Greg Smallwood!

Third Eye Faithful, we're so hype for this new book that we're bringing TOM KING to our stores to sign for its launch!

Join us at Third Eye ANNAPOLIS on WEDNESDAY 11/3/21 from 7PM-8PM or at Third Eye LEXINGTON PARK on SATURDAY 11/6/21 from 11AM-1PM to meet TOM KING and get some books signed!!

For more info on the signing click here!

A Review of Ballad for Sophie by Filipe Melo and Juan Cavia

by Jason D. DeHart

Ballad for Sophie, by Filipe Melo and Juan Cavia, Top Shelf Productions, ISBN 978-1-60309-498-6, $24.99, https://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/ballad-for-sophie/1068 

First, here are some excerpts press release to summarize the plot and creators - Top Shelf Productions (an imprint of IDW) will be releasing Ballad for Sophie, a new music-themed graphic novel by Portuguese musician Filipe Melo and artist Juan Cavia that is packed with all of the drama of a rock ‘n’ roll biopic and with more twists than a night at the opera.  Ballad for Sophie is a sweeping tale about what happens when a young journalist prompts a reclusive musical superstar to finally break his silence. Starring child prodigies, bitter old men, beautiful dancers, demonic managers, Nazi commandants, compassionate nuns and lifesaving animals, Ballad for Sophie is a stunning graphic symphony exploring a lifetime of ambition, betrayal, compassion anguish, long-buried secrets and flying pianos. 

FILIPE MELO is a Portuguese musician, award-winning film director, and author. With decades of experience in classical and jazz piano, he teaches music at ESML, a university in Lisbon. He has developed commercials, music videos, and award-winning short films such as I’ll See You in My  Dreams and Sleepwalk. His international writing career includes the Dark Horse Presents anthology, a career award from the Amadora  comics festival, and several projects with Juan Cavia. JUAN CAVIA has worked as an art director and illustrator since 2004, after studying illustration and painting with the Argentinean  artist Carlos Pedrazzini. His work includes graphic novels, advertisements, TV, music videos, theater and nine feature films, including  Juan José Campanella’s Oscar-winning The Secret in Their Eyes. Listen to the beautiful Ballad for Sophie theme song on Spotify HERE.

 and now, the review -

Writer Felipe Melo and artist Juan Cavia collaborate to share a visually gripping story that spans time, exploring identity, relationships, and music through the kinds of work that only comics can do. The story begins frame from the view of a journalist, and invites the reader into the narrative, with wordless panels giving us a clear time and place, and the hint of some mysterious turn to come. 

Setting the foundation this way, along with the realistic style, are notable moves on the part of the artist and author, as the story travels back and forth across decades, and yet keeps the reader in tow through these twists in time. Another effective part of the storytelling is reader’s introduction to the maestro, the focal point in the story, first revealed as a figure turned away who closes out the inquisitive reporter, and then gradually warming to her questions. His reclusiveness forms one side of the mystery, and the motivations this interviewer create more questions for the reader.

Drawing on what can be communicated in the comics format, Melo and Cavia convey ideas and emotions through expressions, movements, and gestures, sometimes with words contained in panels, and sometimes not – and the hook of the story is set as we wonder about the maestro’s silence. Through the narrator’s voice, the story travels effectively, first revisiting events in 1933, expanding on elements of the central mystery. The same intrigue that underscores the play Amadeus by Peter Shaffer is a feature that works on these pages, probing into the hesitation and revealed genius of a composer. 

 The emotional power of the story comes through in Melo’s use of historical points and Cavia’s clear depictions of suffering and loss that build a foundation for the contemporary introduction the reader experiences, filling in gaps in character and motivation in a visual and very literary way. Working in a magical and supernatural way, the reader meets the character of Triton, the producer, to convey the devilish aspects of signing a professional contract for an artistic endeavor. This is another use of symbolism that the author and artist include, adding suspense. 

Ballad for Sophie depicts the price of fame, the weight of guilt, the development of a life across times of war and affliction, and the emotional consequences of a life on display. These are themes that such stories have gone to before and almost inevitably address. Arguably, the comics page presents the emotion and experiences of characters more effectively than a prose novel could. The swirling images of sexuality, temptation, and addiction add to the reading, offering a storytelling technique that allows the reader to imagine what the main character is feeling. Movies have been more of mixed bag in exploring fame, sometimes pausing on moments with thoughtful weight and sometimes glossing over them as scenery the viewer expects to see along the way. 

Though these themes may be found in other biographical and autobiographical works, the power of Ballad for Sophie is the way that the story is conveyed, including the ways the artistic choices support the narrative, and the presentation of images that could only exist in the minds of characters. The graphic novel and the innovation found in certain panels lifts the book, as well as the creative turns in the storytelling. With all of this taken in mind, I recommend this book for readers to enjoy. 

 

As I've spent far more time at a computer screen during covid, I've fallen way behind on doing book reviews. Thanks to Prof. Jason DeHart of Appalachian State University who reached out to volunteer to help, and he will be doing more reviews for us. He also has his own site, Book Love: Dr J Reads. - Mike

 

Superman bisexuality becomes issue for Christopher Newport University professor

After protest over Twitter posts, Christopher Newport University professor says she won't attend forum to meet with students [Superman bisexuality]

Sierra Jenkins, The Virginian-Pilot

Fri, October 29, 2021

https://news.yahoo.com/protest-over-twitter-posts-christopher-234700469.html

Carolyn Belefki's Santa Turtle Enamel Pin Kickstarter is almost up

New Kickstarter -- Santa Turtle Enamel Pin (3 days to go)

Posted by Carolyn Belefski Nov 1, 2021 View on Kickstarter

Hello! Wanted to let you all know we are in the last push of the Santa Turtle Enamel Pin Kickstarter -- getting the word out to make sure people who have supported our past Kickstarter projects know that we're raising funds to produce limited edition hard enamel pins with an original illustrated Santa Turtle character design. The pins will be produced at 1.5" wide and come attached with a jingle bell to spread holiday cheer. Other features include gold plating, backstamp, green rubber clutch, and backing card on soft touch paper to evoke the warm and fuzzy mood of the season. Hope you can back the project and show your pin personality this holiday season -- click on the link to learn more and pledge: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/santa-turtle-enamel-pin Each pledge also receives a Curls "Cartoons Never Die" sticker complimentary gift as a thank you!