Randy Duncan, Matthew J. Smith and Paul Levitz

Fully revised and updated for its second edition, The Power of Comics remains the most authoritative introduction to comic books and graphic novels - the history of the medium, its many forms and manifestations and their place in contemporary culture.

The new edition includes:

An expanded historical section bringing the story of comic books up to the present and covering the rise of the graphic novel and the advent of digital comics
A new chapter on the memoir genre and a thoroughly revised chapter on the superhero genre
A revised chapter - "Exploring Meanings in Comic Book Texts" - introduces students to the theoretical tools they need to read comics critically
Study objectives, discussion points, activities and annotated further reading guides in each chapter, helping students master the topics covered

Illustrated throughout, with an extensive glossary of key terms, The Power of Comics also includes further updated resources available online at www.powerofcomics.com, including additional essays, weblinks and sample syllabi.

Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: History of Comic Books, Part I: Developing a Medium
Chapter 2: History of Comic Books, Part II: The Maturation of a Medium
Chapter 3: History of Comic Books, Part III: The Diversification of a Medium
Chapter 4: Creating the Story
Chapter 5: Experiencing the Story
Chapter 6: Comic Book Genres: Classifying Comics
Chapter 7: Comic Book Genres: The Superhero
Chapter 8: Comic Book Genres: The Memoir
Chapter 9: The Business of Comic Books
Chapter 10: The Comic Book Readers
Chapter 11: Exploring Meanings in Comic Book Texts
Chapter 12: Comics Culture Around the World

Glossary
Bibliography