British Comics: A Cultural History

Description

British Comics is a unique cultural history of British comic papers and magazines, from their origins in the late nineteenth century to the present day. It shows how comics were transformed in the early twentieth century from adult amusement to imaginative reading matter for children, and relates the rise of the major comic publishers. It explains what children and adults thought of their comics and why some titles prospered while others failed. Ultimately, the book argues that British comics are a distinctive kind of publishing that is different from (and certainly not inferior to) American, French and Japanese comics.

James Chapman is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Leicester, UK. He is the author of many books, including Cinemas of the World: Film and Society from 1895 to the Present (Reaktion Books, 2004) and War and Film (Reaktion Books, 2008).

'an invaluable resource for even the most laissez-faire of fans.' - Seven Magazine, Sunday Telegraph 'a valuable contribution to British comics history' - Comicbitsonline