"Carrying ahead the project of cultural criminology, Phillips and Strobl dare to take seriously that which amuses and entertains us--and to find in it the most significant of themes. Audiences, images, ideologies of justice and injustice--all populate the pages of Comic Book Crime. The result is an analysis as colorful as a good comic, and as sharp as the point on a superhero's sword."--Jeff Ferrell, author of Empire of Scrounge Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of order, fairness, justice, and retribution. Comic Book Crime digs deep into these and other celebrated characters, providing a comprehensive understanding of crime and justice in contemporary American comic books. This is a world where justice is delivered, where heroes save ordinary citizens from certain doom, where evil is easily identified and thwarted by powers far greater than mere mortals could possess. Nickie Phillips and Staci Strobl explore these representations and show that comic books, as a historically important American cultural medium, participate in both reflecting and shaping an American ideological identity that is often focused on ideas of the apocalypse, utopia, retribution, and nationalism. Through an analysis of approximately 200 comic books sold from 2002 to 2010, as well as several years of immersion in comic book fan culture, Phillips and Strobl reveal the kinds of themes and plots popular comics feature in a post-9/11 context. They discuss heroes' calculations of "deathworthiness," or who should be killed in meting out justice, and how these judgments have as much to do with the hero's character as they do with the actions of the villains. This fascinating volume also analyzes how class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation are used to construct difference for both the heroes and the villains in ways that are both conservative and progressive. Engaging, sharp, and insightful, Comic Book Crime is a fresh take on the very meaning of truth, justice, and the American way.Nickie D. Phillipsis Associate Professor in the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY.Staci Stroblis Associate Professor in the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.In theAlternative Criminologyseries

Contributions by Kylie Cardell, Aaron Cometbus, Margaret Galvan, Sarah Hildebrand, Frederik Byrn Kohlert, Tahneer Oksman, Seamus O'Malley, Annie Mok, Dan Nadel, Natalie Pendergast, Sarah Richardson, Jessica Stark, and James Yeh In a self-reflexive way, Julie Doucet's and Gabrielle Bell's comics, though often autobiographical, defy easy categorization. In this volume, editors Tahneer Oksman and Seamus O'Malley regard Doucet's and Bell's art as actively feminist, not only because they offer women's perspectives, but because they do so by provocatively bringing up the complicated, multivalent frameworks of such engagements. While each artist has a unique perspective, style, and worldview, the essays in this book investigate their shared investments in formal innovation and experimentation, and in playing with questions of the autobiographical, the fantastic, and the spaces in between. Doucet is a Canadian underground cartoonist, known for her autobiographical works such as Dirty Plotte and My New York Diary. Meanwhile, Bell is a British American cartoonist best known for her intensely introspective semiautobiographical comics and graphic memoirs, such as the Lucky series and Cecil and Jordan in New York. By pairing Doucet alongside Bell, the book recognizes the significance of female networks, and the social and cultural connections, associations, and conditions that shape every work of art. In addition to original essays, this volume republishes interviews with the artists. By reading Doucet's and Bell's comics together in this volume housed in a series devoted to single-creator studies, the book shows how despite the importance of finding ""a place inside yourself"" to create, this space seems always for better or worse a shared space culled from and subject to surrounding lives, experiences, and subjectivities.

Hunting demons has never been so beautiful than in this collection of art from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba! After the debut of the global smash-hit manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Koyoharu Gotouge instantly became one of the most popular artists in the world! The trials and travails of Tanjiro and Nezuko, two siblings cursed by fate, touched the hearts of fans even as the beautifully drawn action scenes thrilled them. The Art of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba collects the intricate and mind-bogglingly beautiful color art from the series, in addition to a host of chapter pages, illustrations, bonus manga, and commentary from creator Koyoharu Gotouge!

In 1977, Dave Sim (b. 1956) began to self-publish Cerebus, one of the earliest and most significant independent comics, which ran for 300 issues and ended, as Sim had planned from early on, in 2004. Over the run of the comic, Sim used it as a springboard to explore not only the potential of the comics medium but also many of the core assumptions of Western society. Through it he analyzed politics, the dynamics of love, religion, and, most controversially, the influence of feminism--which Sim believes has had a negative impact on society. Moreover, Sim inserted himself squarely into the comic as Cerebus's creator, thereby inviting criticism not only of the creation, but also of the creator. What few interviews Sim gave often pushed the limits of what an interview might be in much the same way that Cerebus pushed the limits of what a comic might be. In interviews Sim is generous, expansive, provocative, and sometimes even antagonistic. Regardless of mood, he is always insightful and fascinating. His discursive style is not conducive to the sound bite or to easy summary. Many of these interviews have been out of print for years. And, while the interviews range from very general, career-spanning explorations of his complex work and ideas, to tightly focused discussions on specific details of Cerebus, all the interviews contained herein are engaging and revealing.

Lose yourself in this incredible collection of art from the ultra-popular Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime! The incredible designs and thrilling animation of global smash hit Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba have cemented its place as one of the most popular anime series of all time! The Art of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Anime collects a wide variety of art, illustrations, and production material from the show, artfully crafted by popular animation studio ufotable. The book includes over 300 illustrations primarily created for the Tanjiro Kamado Unwavering Resolve arc and features an exclusive cover illustration by Akira Matsushima, character designer and chief animation director for the series.

In pursuit of both knowledge and delight, the craft of botanical illustration has always required not only meticulous draftsmanship but also a rigorous scientific understanding. This new edition of a TASCHEN classic celebrates the botanical tradition and talents with a selection of outstanding works from the National Library of Vienna, including many new images. From Byzantine manuscripts right through to 19th-century masterpieces, through peonies, callas, and chrysanthemums, these exquisite reproductions dazzle in their accuracy and their aesthetics. Whether in gently furled leaves, precisely textured fruits, or the sheer beauty and variety of colors, we celebrate an art form as tender as it is precise, and ever more resonant amid our growing awareness of our ecological surroundings and the preciousness of natural flora. About the series TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our program-now more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.

With How to Draw Manga Furries, you'll follow the lead of five professional Japanese artists as they show you how to bring dynamic fantasy characters to life--on the page or on screen! Furries are anthropomorphic characters--animals who have human traits (not to be confused with kemonomimi, or humans with some animal features!). They're widely popular in manga, anime and cosplay--from fan favorites like Wolf's Rain and Lackadaisy to the newer Beastars and BNA: Brand New Animal. The genre allows creators to be more imaginative, freeing artists from traditional human personality traits, actions and physical appearance. With the help of the expert authors, you'll learn to draw: Anatomically correct furry manga bodies, skulls, faces, appendages and tails with human proportions Characters based on cats, dogs, wolves, foxes, goats, birds, whales, sharks, crocodiles, dragons--and more! Furries seen from their most powerful perspective--from muzzle to rump to flipper tip Illustrations shown from many various angles with different poses, positions and movements And so much more! With this book as your guide, your imagination will run wild as you create memorable heroes, wicked villains and compelling sidekicks with your pen or on screen. *Recommended for artists 10 & up*

The hilarious and heartwarming companion to international bestselling author Liz Climo's You're Mum. DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD! Oh, hello! Now that I have your attention... You must be dad! You're probably pretty busy. Being a dad isn't easy. Maybe you already know this. Maybe you will soon. Perhaps you've been preparing for this day for a long time. Perhaps you haven't. And if you have a little one on the way you might feel a little anxious. Maybe even a bit scared. There's a lot to prepare and plan. Because, let's face it - being a dad is a huge responsibility. But, it's worth it. Now the real fun begins. From new dads to those who've been around the block, dads who go to work to those who are at home, and all the dads in between, You're Dad is a touching tribute to fathers everywhere. With humour, heart and adorable drawings, Liz Climo celebrates fatherhood in all its shapes and sizes (and species). Featuring different types of dads and the paths they may travel, Climo's whimsical animal illustrations take us through the adventures of fatherhood, commemorating the laughter and the tears as well as the stumbles and the triumphs. Perfect for dads, the dad-like, any and all parents and the people who love them, this sweet collection of fatherly love will move and delight.

An extraordinary memento of a life-changing moment in history, artist Vic Lee's visually stunning, graphic novel-style personal diary chronicles his experience of the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolded. With beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and typography, Vic Lee's Corona Diary vividly captures what it was like to live through this unprecedented period. Listening to daily news stories, experiencing different ways of living and working as well as adapting to new and necessary social controls, renowned London artist, illustrator and storyteller Vic Lee documents the first six months of the pandemic in real time. An epilogue spread touches on the events of July, August and September. Reflect on and process the unforgettable events of the pandemic through an intimate account in images and lettering of the initial news from a place called Wuhan, Italy's first cases then state of emergency, its spread across the world and the WHO's declaration of a global pandemic, the lockdown and toilet paper shortages, the economic fallout, the unfathomable numbers of people dead, the immense gratitude to those on the frontline of the health services, the reactions and decisions made by leaders that would affect us all, the anxiety and isolation - all the twists and turns. While this work of art is a snapshot of one person's experience, it conveys events experienced and emotions felt by billions around the world - a permanent record of a time we will never forget.