Comics Get Medieval 2012 Update

Here are the details on our meeting in Boston:

The Comics Get Medieval 2012: A Celebration of Medieval-Themed Comics in Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Prince Valiant
A Special Session of the Comics Art & Comics Area
Organizer/Presider: Michael A. Torregrossa, The Virtual Society for the Study of Popular Culture and the Middle Ages

Paper 1: Integrating Ideologies: Monarchy and Democracy in Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant 
Nathan A. Breen, College of Lake County

Paper 2: Excalibur as Science Object: Democratizing the Power behind the Arthurian Throne in Camelot 3000
Michelle Braun, Mount Royal University

Paper 3: The Myth of the Death of the Hero: Eternal Return in Arthurian Literature and Neil Gaiman’s Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? 
Hannah Means-Shannon, Georgian Court University


Following the papers will be a roundtable discussion on the use of medieval themes in the comics medium and their impact on our conception of the Middle Ages.

Comics Get Medieval 2012 Update

To those that have submitted proposals for PCA in Boston:

We are experiencing a temporary delay in reviewing proposals but do hope to evaluate everything by the weekend.

Thanks again for your interest,

Michael Torregrossa

Medieval Comics at ICom

Medieval-themed comics were featured last month at the International Conference on Medievalism held from 21-22 October at the University of New Mexico:


The Clash of the Titans: Medieval Paganism Meets Christianity in the Graphic Novel
Gwendolyn A. Morgan, Montana State University

Superheroes of the Round Table is Out!

Jason Tondro's book Superheroes of the Round Table: Comics Connections to Medieval and Renaissance Literature is out now, as detailed on his blog. You can order it direct from publisher McFarland or your favorite online book seller (though Amazon seems to be experiencing a short delay).

Leaves of Yggdrasil

I recently came across a new comic (available in print and on the web) called Leaves of Yggdrasil by Joe McGlone. So far, only the initial part of the series has appeared, and it introduces a young woman who is revealed as a daughter of Odin and granted three gifts by her father and, in the end, the keeping of his ravens. There are some references here to Ragnarok, but no indications of how the mythological material will feature in future storylines.

Kalamazoo 2012 Roundtable Update

We have finalized our comics roundtable for the 2012 International Congress on Medieval Studies. Details as follows:

The Comics Get Medieval at Kalamazoo: New Perspectives for Incorporating Comics into Medieval Studies Teaching and Research

Organizer: Michael A. Torregrossa, The Virtual Society for the Study of Popular Culture and the Middle Ages

Presider: Mikee Delony, Abilene Christian University

1. “Grotesque in Comics”

Fabio Mourilhe, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

2. “Caliber (2008), or Arthur’s Mystical Six-Shooter and the Gunslingers of the O.K. Corral”

Karen (Casey) Casebier, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

3. “Arthurian Themes in DC Comic’s Demon Knights (2011-)”

Jason Tondro, University of California, Riverside

Contents Update for Superheroes of the Round Table

McFarland has yet to provide further details on Jason Tondro's upcoming book Superheroes of the Round Table: Comics Connections to Medieval and Renaissance Literature, but I came across the following list of contents in the Library of Congress online catalog:

• Introduction 
• Double identities and Arthegall's Yron Man
• Kirby's masque
• "By my so potent art"
• Arthur, the four-color king
• Grant Morrison's Grail quest

Sadly a new subject heading was not created for the volume as occurred for studies of medieval film, and the book is listed instead under the following headings:

• Comic books, strips, etc.--History and criticism
• Heroes in art 
• English literature--Early modern, 1500-1700--History and criticism
• Renaissance--England
• Art and literature

Note also (a fact also true with studies of medieval film) the lack of cross-reference to studies on medievalism and, perhaps, most confusing any cross-reference to either Arthurian or medieval subjects.  

Medieval Comics at NEPCA

Three papers devoted to medieval-themed comics will be presented in November at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Northeast Popular Culture/American Culture Association at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury Connecticut, from 11-12 November. The complete program is now available online.

FRIDAY, 11 NOV., 4-5:30 PM
8) Science and Technology I/Symposium: Geeks, Gadgets and Games: The Influence of Technology on Media Entertainment in Contemporary Culture (ROOM: WHITE 024)

PAPER 1 OF 3: “From Mighty Thor to Thor: Problematizing the Inherent Societal Values and Individual Identities of “Geek” Culture Artifacts Appropriated by Mainstream America” – Jessica Eckstein and David Kazibut, Western Connecticut State University

SATURDAY, 12 NOV., 8:30-10 AM

6) Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Legend II: Legends Old and New (ROOM: WARNER 320)

PAPER 3 OF 4: “What Do Vampires Have to Do with the Holy Grail? The Transformation of the Grail Legend in Undead Arthuriana”—Michael A. Torregrossa, The Virtual Society for the Study Of Popular Culture and the Middle Ages

SATURDAY, 12 NOV., 1:30-3 PM

2) Comics and Graphic Novels II: Damsels Causing Distress (ROOM: WARNER 226)

PAPER 2 OF 4: “Vampiric Viragoes: Villainizing and Sexualizing Arthurian Women in King Arthur v. Dracula (2005) and Madame Xanadu (2008)”—Kate Allocco, Western Connecticut State University

Thor DVD/Blu-ray Update

Amazon still has not posted the details on the extras for the Thor DVD and Blu-ray releases, but, as the film was released to home video this week, helpful Amazoners have posted images of the back cover of each. Here are the details as I can best surmise. Notice that the DVD release does include some important extras, notably the director's commentary, (but not everything) also featured on the Blu-ray:

DVD:
-4 Deleted Scenes
-Road to Avengers Featurette
-Director's Commentary


Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy:

-Director's Commentary

-Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant HD

-7 Featurettes HD

-11 Deleted Scenes HD

-And More!

Comics Get Medieval at Kalamazoo Last Call

We're still looking for some papers for "The Comics Get Medieval at Kalamazoo" round table. If interested, please see the initial call for details.

Thor on DVD/Blu-Ray

Still no update on the extras for the upcoming release of the Thor feature film due out on DVD and Blu-Ray on 13 September 2011. However, the three-disc version with Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, and DVD (plus digital copy) will include (according to Amazon):

- Commentary by director Kenneth Branagh
- Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (HD)
- Featurettes (HD)
- "Road to the Avengers" (HD)
- 11 Deleted Scenes with optional commentary (HD)
- Trailers (HD)

I expect the DVD will either be a bare-bones release or include only some of these extras, as is now typical.

Jersey Thor

This has to be seen to be believed. From Cartoon Network's parody show Mad:

Thor Blu-Ray Trailer

Marvel has released a trailer for the Blu-Ray/DVD release of the Thor feature film, though there is still no information about the distribution of the extras on each.

The Art of Thor

Marvel Worldwide has released The Art of Thor to coincide with the recent release of the Thor feature film. The book is a comprehensive guide to the making of the film (from concept art to finished film) and is written by Matthew K. Manning with commentary by the production crew, cast, and, Thor creator. Stan Lee. Thor writer and artists Walter Simonson provides a forward. A series of images from the book are available at the Marvel Store, but it is now out of stock there. Other online distributors, like Amazon, still have copies available.

CFP "The Decorated Page" of Medieval Images and Graphic Novels (Kalamazoo) (9/15/11)

My thanks to Gene Kannenberg's Comic Research & Stuff Blog for the head's up here, as I totally missed this in the Kalamazoo CFP list:

"The Decorated Page" of Medieval Images and Graphic Novels (9/15/11; Medieval Congress, May 2012)
full name / name of organization: International Medieval Congress in Kalamazoo, Michigan
contact email: dominique.hoche@westliberty.edu or dominique.hoche@gmail.com
http://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/node/42046

"The Decorated Page" of Medieval Images and Graphic Novels: "Sequential Theory" in dialogue with medieval art
International Medieval Congress in Kalamazoo, Michigan
10-13 May 2012

We can follow the history of the “Decorated Page” from illuminated medieval manuscripts to the graphic novel, but what if we skip the pesky intervening years from one to the other? That is, what can the theories and analysis of medieval manuscripts, wall paintings or other medieval visual mediums tell us about how we read the graphic novel, and how might the theories behind contemporary graphic novel analysis help us read medieval illustrations and art?

Standing on the shoulders of traditional analysis of medieval images, the use of the visual theories that support analysis of the graphic novel is a way of engaging the images in a postmodern (post medieval) way. Interpreting a manuscript image is probably the most common use, but we can see the potential of “sequential imagery” analysis being used on wall paintings, sculpture, frescoes, friezes and icons.

We invite papers on a wide range of issues and fields, but the dialogue must be between graphic novel theory/practice and medieval art. Proposals should be 300+ words and must clearly indicate the significance, line of argument, principal texts and relation to existing scholarship (if possible). Email the proposal in the body of the message, a 50 word bio note, and a completed Participant Information form (http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/submissions/index.html#PIF) to Dominique Hoche at dominique.hoche@westliberty.edu or dominique.hoche@gmail.com . Due September 15, 2011.

For general information about the 2012 Medieval Congress, visit: http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/