Wonder(ing) Women: Investigating Gender Politics and Art Education within Graphica

Abstract

Problems of gender representation persist within many superhero comics, but interventions of critical pedagogy with alternative sources from graphica can address certain inequalities. In this feminist review of graphica, I have selected several examples of contemporary comic books and graphic novels to introduce educators to potential sites of critical feminist public pedagogy. Graphica, if considered as sequential art as well as products of youth and adult subcultures, may be many people’s first literacy experience, and many devotees continue reading comics for their whole lives. My goal in this feminist graphica review is to introduce readers to a spectrum of comic books and graphic novels that are often peripheral to art education, gender studies, and graphica studies.