New book, “Comics | Histories – Texts, Methods, Resources” includes a potted history of Marvel Comics


Comics | Histories – Texts, Methods, Resources is the first volume of a newly founded book series of essays about comics from German publisher Rombach Wissenschaft, which includes a fascinating “potted history” of Marvel Comics by Mark Hibbett, the world’s self-acclaimed “academic expert” on Doctor Doom!

Comics | Histories - Texts, Methods, Resources. The Cover illustration is by Frank Ludendorff, entitled “More Realism in Art” published in The World, 17 May 1896, Coloured Supplement
The Cover illustration is by Frank Ludendorff, entitled “More Realism in Art” published in The World, 17 May 1896, Coloured Supplement

Although its title is academic and may seem dry in tone, “Periodising ‘The Marvel Age’ Using the Production of Culture Approach” is a good read, and offers some interesting insights into behind the scenes battles at Marvel between creators such as Roy Thomas, Archie Goodwin and Tom de Falco, among others. The article usefully guides readers through Marvel’s chequered history, and recounts how many in charge of the “Bullpen” battled with intransigent executives at Marvel to secure better working deals for the contributing creators to the company’s many titles.

Mark Hibbett (and, also, here) is a member of University of the Arts London‘s Comics Research Hub, and, he says, “the world’s leading (and only) academic expert in Doctor Doom”, although this may be a little tongue in cheek – other academics might contest the claim! (You can check out his “Doctor Doom” dedicated blog here). He’s also currently working on projects to do with Donald Duck, Dennis The Menace, and Judge Dredd. Check out some of his other articles here on the UAL website.

Edited by Jessica Bauwens-Sugimoto, Felix Giesa and Christina Meyer, Comics | Histories – Texts, Methods, Resources can be downloaded from the Nomos Library for free here.

“The international scholarship on the medium of comics has grown extensively, in particular in the past twenty years, in and across different academic disciplines,” the editors note in their introduction, prompting the publication of this new series aimed not only at academics but comic enthusiasts and archivists, the publisher hoping to encourage contributions to future volumes from a wide circle. “Our new book series Comics|Histories positions itself within this growing field of Comics Studies.”

Seeking to offer a distinct identity in its essays, the series seeks to reflect the increasing international nature of the comic form, and the editors look to be seeking material beyond North American and European comics. This first collection also features articles on Indian comics and examines war stories in comics.

Based in Germany, the Nomos eLibrary offers seamless access to academic publications by more than 60 publishers in various fields, including Politics, Economics, Media and Communication research, History, Education and Culture, Linguistics and Literature, and much more.

Comics | Histories – Texts, Methods, Resources can be downloaded from the Nomos Library for free here

Mark Hibbett is online at mjhibbett.co.uk

With thanks to Paul Gravett



Categories: Comics, Comics Education News, Comics Studies, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

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3 replies

  1. Has Mark Hibbert heard of Professor Douglas Wolk? Perhaps he’s playing with comic book hyperbole to declare he’s the only academic expert on Doctor Doom? Where has Hibbert published?

    • Um… there’s a link to Mark’s academic profile in the story, David, but I have tweaked the copy a little as he may have been joking and, as you indicate, others might contest his “Doctor Doom” claim. However, I’ve also added a link to his “Doctor Doom” blog at mjhibbett.co.uk/doom/ which you may enjoy

  2. Thanks, much appreciated.

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