This document discusses the use of comics and graphic novels in schools. It begins by outlining past barriers to using comics in schools, such as perceptions that they are low-quality or inappropriate. The document then provides examples of age-appropriate comics for different grade levels, from pre-school to secondary/sixth form, as well as suggested related activities. It concludes by discussing digital comics and resources for using comics in educational settings.

1. Comics & Graphic Novels in
Schools
The view from 2014
Carl Cross
LRC Manager
Landau Forte Academy Tamworth Sixth
Form.

2. The view from 1989

4. The view from the Space Year 2014

5. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Barriers to using comics in school libraries
• Comics are trashy literature (crude stories, crudely drawn)
• Comics are full of sex(ism) and violence
• Comics aren’t real reading
• Comics are for reluctant readers
• Comics are only for SEN or reluctant readers
• Any more?

6. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Comics in Schools – Still
Controversial?
Tales from the Crypt, circa 1950s.
EC Comics

7. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
• Do you stock comics in your library?
• Do you read them yourself?
• Do you feel confident recommending them?
• Have you ever had complaints about comics?
Did you feel confident answering the
complaint?
• Have you ever not fulfilled a read request for
a comic because of worries about it’s
content?
• Would you know where to look for more
information about comics?

8. Carl Cross
Comics for
everyone
Superfriends TV Show, 1973-1986
Hannah Barbera

9. Carl Cross
A form not
a genre
Tom Furtwangler and Scott
FaulknerGetting your Message
Across, 1998.

10. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Pre-School
Comics

11. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Andy
Runton, Owly.
Top Shelf
Productions.
2005

12. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Sara Wright ,The
Totally Awesome Epic
Quest of the Brave
Boy Knight. Balloon
Toons. 2011.

13. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Pre-School
Activities

14. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Colouring
Sheets
Draw your
own

15. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Pre-reading
and
emergent
visual
literacy

16. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Primary
Comics

17. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
• Age appropriate
comic
• No ads, no “free”
gifts
• Slight edutainment
angle
• Everso slightly edgy.
• 8+

18. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Corpse Talk by Adam
Murphy

19. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Evil Emperor
Penguin by Laura
Ellen Anderson

20. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Pirates of Pangaea by
Daniel Hartwell and Neil
Cameron

21. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Hardback Collections
available from library
suppliers
Baggage by the
Etherington
Brothers, David Fickling
Books. 2011.

22. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Marvel Super Hero
Squad, Marvel
Comics. 2012(?)

23. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Jennifer L. Holm and
Matthew Holm,
Babymouse. Random
House.2005.

24. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Art Baltazar. Green Lantern
Animated Series. DC Comics
(2013)

25. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Primary
Webcomics
Bill Watterson Calvin and
Hobbes, 1985-1995.

26. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Rich Clabaugh, The
Graveyard Gang.
www.thegraveyardgang.com.
2012.

27. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Primary
Activities

28. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Create your own Comics with
http://comiclife.com/

29. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Create your own Comics with
http://comiclife.com/

30. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Create your own Comics with
http://comiclife.com/

31. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Create your own Comics with
http://marvelkids.marvel.com/games/play/75
/create_your_own_comic

32. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Cutting up and re-sequencing
www.thebookchook.com

33. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Secondary
Comics
G. Willow Wilson and
Adrian Alphonsa, Ms
Marvel. Marvel
Comics. 2014.

34. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Pat Mills and Joe Coulquhoun,
Charley’s War. IPC Publications. 1979-1985.

35. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Gene Luen Yang and Lark
Pien,
American Born Chinese. First
Second.2006.

36. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
The popularity of
manga and the
demise of Tokyopop
Kiiro Yumi, Library
Wars. Viz Media.
2010-2014.

37. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Home Grown
Manga –
Sweatdrop
Studios

38. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
The Small
Press –
Futurequake
Tony McVeigh, Bruno
Stahl and Bolt 01.
B.O.O.B.I.E Trap, 2013(?)

39. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Secondary
Activities

40. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross

41. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross

42. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross

43. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross

44. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
The only
national comic
award for young
people, voted
for by young
people

45. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Free Comic Book
Day
May 3rd 2014

46. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Book a creator visit
www.cartoonclassroom.co.uk

47. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Meet Pizza Dog
Matt Fraction and
David Aja. Hawkeye
#11, Marvel Comics.
2013.

48. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Meet Pizza Dog
Matt Fraction and
David Aja. Hawkeye
#11, Marvel Comics.
2013.

49. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Meet Pizza Dog
Matt Fraction and
David Aja. Hawkeye
#11, Marvel Comics.
2013.

50. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Meet Pizza Dog
Matt Fraction and
David Aja. Hawkeye
#11, Marvel Comics.
2013.

51. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Watchmen
Activity

52. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Alan Moore and
Dave
Gibbons, Watch
men. DC Comics.
1986.

53. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross

54. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Secondary
Webcomics

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Carl Cross
Grant Morrison and Rian Hughes,
The Key. 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-
26730067.

56. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Sixth Form
& Adult
Comics
Glyn Dillon. The Nao of
Brown. SelfMadeHero.
2012.

57. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Raymond Briggs,
Ethel and Ernest.
Jonathan Cape. 1998.

58. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Guy Delisle Pyongyang:
A Journey in North
Korea. Jonathan Cape.
2006.

59. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Scott
McCloud, Understanding
Comics. Harper. 1994.

60. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Sixth Form
& Adult
Webcomics
Glyn Dillon. The Nao of
Brown. SelfMadeHero.
2012.

61. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Warren Ellis and Paul
Duffield, Freakangels
www.freakangels.com.
2011-2014.

62. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Tablets – a
gamechanger
for digital
comics
Comixology

63. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Tablets – a
gamechanger
for digital
comics
Sequential

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Carl Cross
Tablets – a
gamechanger
for digital
comics
Marvel Unlimited

65. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Tablets – a
gamechanger
for digital
comics
2000AD

66. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Tablets – a
gamechanger
for digital
comics
The Beano

67. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Unshelved by Gene Ambaum and Bill
Barnes. www.unshelved.com/

68. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Sixth Form
& Adult
Activities
Glyn Dillon. The Nao of
Brown. SelfMadeHero.
2012.

69. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross

70. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
http://www.comicbookscriptarchive.
com/archive/

71. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Comic Script Conventions
CHARACTER NAME – Always in CAPS
SFX – Sound Effects, ie. Thwaaak!
CAP – Caption, used for description and reported speech
BOX – Alternative to caption, see above
(TH) or (thought) – Think bubble
(OFF) or (OP) – Dialog from a character not seen
(whisper, shout) – common lettering directions
Underline words that need emphasis
From Dark Horse FAQS

72. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Resources:
Comic Book Resources
http://www.comicbookresources.com/
PaiPicks
http://paipicks.blogspot.co.uk/
No Flying No Tights
http://noflyingnotights.com
Graphic Novels in the Curriculum – Created by Dr.Mel Gibson
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/g/graphicnovels/intro.asp
Graphic Novels in Libraries UK
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/GNLIBUK

73. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Resouces:
Page 45 (and/or your own friendly neighbourhood comic shop)
http://www.page45.com/
Dr. Mel Gibson – Comic Guru and ex-librarian
http://www.dr-mel-comics.co.uk/
Paul Gravett – Font of all knowledge and prolific author
http://www.paulgravett.com/
Paul Register - Stan Lee Excelsior Award
http://www.excelsioraward.co.uk/
Forbidden Planet Blogs
http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/

74. Comics & Graphic Novels in Schools: The View from 2014
Carl Cross
Any questions?
Carl Cross
LRC Manager
Landau Forte Academy Tamworth Sixth
Form.
ccross@lfatsf.org.uk
Twitter: @carldjcross