The Routledge Introduction to Canadian Comics by Brenna Clarke Gray

The Routledge Introduction to Canadian Comics is a book for the aspiring comics scholar interested in the unique socio-cultural and literary development of comics as an art form in Canada. It is the only comprehensive textbook on Canadian comics and offers not only a thematic and historical overview of comics in Canada, but also frames how to read and write about comics and offers introductory guidance on how to approach comics scholarship. Balancing scholarly depth with an inviting, conversational style, the book demystifies how comics work as multimodal texts and examines the social, legal, and institutional forces—from censorship regimes to prize cultures—that have shaped their production and reception. Each chapter blends critical frameworks, historical context, creator case studies, and pedagogical activities designed to support classroom use. The book traces comics from their earliest use in illustrated newspapers to the dominance of the graphic novel form, with stops to attend to the rise and fall of the Canadian superhero, the power of the independent comics movement, and the importance of Indigenous and queer voices. The Routledge Introduction to Canadian Comics charts the history of comics in Canada as an art form and as a scholarly discipline, and grounds the student reader with the skills and context to contribute to the discourse themselves.