comic books and libraries: part ii
TRANSCRIPT
COMIC BOOKS AND LIBRARIES: PART II
Michael R. Lavin
The following five articles comprise the second part of a three-part Serials Review Forum on comic books and libraries. Part I, which appeared in the Spring, 1998 issue, provided general background on comic book terms and concepts, a discussion of the technical prob- lems relating to organizing and cataloging a retrospec- tive collection, as well as information about leading comic book research collections and their methods.
Part II, appearing in this issue, discusses the structure of the comic book industry, the major genres available, and the portrayal of women in comics. The focus of Part II, however, is on the output of the three largest comic book publishers, complete with critical reviews of over ninety comic books currently published. Part III, which will be published in the Fall/Winter 1998 issue of Serials Review, will continue the discussion, with profiles and reviews of many of the most notable small comics publishers. It will conclude with a com- parative review of leading magazines and journals related to the comic book industry.
Lavin is Business and Management Subject Specialist, Lockwood Memorial Library, State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst, NY 14260; [email protected].
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