If there is one thing in this world that I have always loved that is overcomplicating things. (And dinosaurs). So I was extra happy that I could work on this comic about comics, what is more, comics about comics studies. My comics are part of a larger project, published in the volume Comics Is…: Debating the Subject of Comics Studies, edited by Martin Lund: the chapters of the book are academic conversations on defining comics and on aspects of comics that seem relevant in the current moment.
It is a great honor that I was part of this project, and I really appreciate the editor’s and the publisher’s openness to my comic. When I was working on them, writing a tradiitional essay seemed impossible, I was really down–but turning my thoughts into comics really helped me be curious about what comics is or might be.
So, my comics are featured in two chapters, first, I have a 4-page definition of comics, to which Barbara Postema responds (in writing), to which I respond (with a drawing). Then my longer comic is in a chapter co-authored with Bart Beaty: the chapter starts with his definition of comics, then I respond in the comics medium, and then he gets the final word in a very personal reflective piece.
I absolutely loved this project. It helped me find my way back to academia: I drew these comics in the spring of 2024, in a time of difficulties for me.
Here are some images. You can order the book from Palgrave Macmillan, but sadly it is very costly.
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