How to Analyze & Review Comics: A Handbook on Comics Criticism

by Forrest C. Helvie, William Allred, El Anderson

"An invaluable asset to comics reviewers and critics, giving them much-needed context for their writings." -- Mark Waid

Although comics press and criticism has risen in recent years, the resources available to help inform the discussions on how to talk about comics from a critical perspective remain more limited in nature.

How to Analyze & Review Comics serves as a mainstream-friendly resource for journalists, academics, students, bloggers, and fans of all kinds. Presented in “bite size” articles and interviews focused on all areas of the comics medium, this accessible collection is for anyone who wants to learn more about how to write, discuss, and better understand the medium of comics.

From Sequart Organization.

236 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2021

About the author

Forrest Helvie is the author and creator of Whiz Bang and Amelia (children's comic series) and he has contributed to various comic collections and academic works. He lives in Newington, CT with his wife and two sons and is an English professor at Norwalk Community College.

He regularly writes for various academic venues as well as more mainstream outlets such as Marvel.com as well as Newsarama in addition to writing for indie publishers such as Alterna Comics, GrayHaven Comics, DarbyPop, Red Stylo, and TPub to name a few.

Reviews

[Laura (ローラ)]

The first half of this book is virtually unintelligible... and that's just the beginning of its problems. This was in no way ready for public consumption.

[Kevin Duvall]

Lots of great insight here whether you want to write reviews of comics or you just want to know more about the ins and outs of comics and the comics industry. I especially liked the diversity of viewpoints presented in the authors’ backgrounds and experiences (e.g. academic writers, journalists, and comics creators), even if the world of comics and comics journalism/criticism seem kind of bleak.

[dim]

I don’t think this author knows how to string coherent sentences