Famous Graphic Novelists
Book Knowledge
and Analysis
Themes
History of Comics
Mystery
100

This American writer was famed for being the first to publish original comic book rather than the classic reprinted comic strips in newspapers. Additionally, he/she founded DC comics.

Malcolm Wheeler

100

How is time arranged in the graphic novel “The Best We Could Do"?

Nonlinear

100

Name one of the two most common/prominent theme in "Daytripper"?

Death and/or rebirth, socioeconomic status

100

"Persepolis", written by Marjane Satrapi, captured the history of what nation? Additionally, why was it deemed a "banned book"

Iran, drug use and violence

100

This nation helped in introducing or "bring out" Arabian comics.

France

200

What famous German painter/printmaker was a founding member of Der Blaue Reiter ("The Blue Rider")?

Franz Marc

200

Who/What does Freddy hear hallucinations from in "Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me"? What may this represent?

Her stuffed animals

Possible answers: her own inner voice/conscience, a form of mental illness, personal rationalization

200

What theme did Thi Bui use inspiration from Art Spiegelman's works to develop in her novel "The Best We Could Do".

Intergenerational trauma

200

Fill in the blanks

In the 1960s...

Experimental cartoonists started calling themselves ______ ______

The _______ _______ was created and it allowed comic publishers to self-regulate the content of comic books. 

________ comics were used as experimental mediums (ex: Get Out) (Hint: this is a genre)


Comic Artists, Comic Code, Horror

200

What company published books such as "CosmoKnights", "They Called Us Enemy," and "Blankets"?

TopShelf

300

Frans Masereel was a European graphic novelist in the mid 20th century. What particular style of comic was he known for doing and what was a cultural benefit of such?

Wordless/Visual comics, able to be read throughout the world (no language barrier)

300

Name FIVE obstacles Maia's encounters when attempting to become genderless (hint: think societal norms/expectations, rejection, maturation, etc.). 

Shaving her legs, growing breasts, wearing girly clothes, having a certain haircut, bullying because of her preferred crush, putting on a shirt at the beach, not being accepted when trying to play with boys, getting a pap smear, misuse of pronouns, etc.

300

What theme(s) was DeForge trying to convey by using trees and twigs in "Big Kids"? How does he show it?

Twigs and Trees may symbolize maturation, changing perspective, and/or character development. He uses the complexity of art changing (simplistic vs complex), nature (trees are alive so able to grow unlike twigs), individuals could develop into the other state, increased stimuli representing the chaos of adult life

300

________ __________ is a style of newspaper that utilizes sensationalism to attract readers. The comic _______ ______, first published in 1895, coined the term.

Yellow Journalism, Yellow Kid

300

What writer was the founder of Queers and Comics? Additionally, what was the name of his/her autobiography? 

Jennifer Camper, "Juicy Mother"

400

Howard Cruse created the strip "Wendel" in the 1980s. It addressed numerous content regarding what movement? Additionally, name three areas about the movement that were covered in this comic strip.

LGBT+

Possible answers may include: AIDS, gay rights demonstrations, gay-bashing, closeted celebrities, and same-gender relationships.

400

In "Gawin's Girlfriend and the Green Knight," Bertilak gives Gawin's Girlfriend five matches, so she can survive underwater long enough to reach the Green Chapel. What do these matches do and how does it contribute to the overall lesson?

When the matches are lit, someone in her life dies (steed, father, mother, brother, and eventually, herself).

The deaths are caused by Gawin's Girlfriend trying to reach the Green Knight, and in doing so, she sacrifices the people she loves and herself. In turn, the lesson if you fully dedicate your life to someone, you may lose sight of those you love/those who love you, and ultimately, even yourself.

400

Both "Freedom Hospital" and "The Best We Could Do" share a similar theme of War. What is one similarity and one difference in how they express such?

FH: features MANY different characters and how the war impacts their lives, death has an overwhelming presence, follows the war over the course of a year 

TBWCD: focuses mainly on Bo's and Ma's experience with the war (along with their family), death noted but not as prominently, follows the war/international conflicts over many years

Similarities: both see many losses, characters' lives are greatly impacted (present and future), feuds between friends/relatives arise due to war

400

Name three characteristics of the Brazilian comic industry/Brazilian comics.

Brazilian comics were internationally friendly (diversified), commonly ignored by the government, primarily adventure based, highlighted Brazilian culture, usually abstract, comics serialized (or at least Angelo Agostini's case), Candomblé African religion and mythology was often influential, 

400

Describe/Analyze the significance of Bras's job in "Daytripper"

He is an obituary writer which is ironic because he keeps dying, so in theory, he would be writing his own obituaries. Alternatively, some may go as far as to say Daytripper of and in itself IS his obituary(ies).

500

THE ULTIMATE STAN LEE QUESTIONAIRE (YOU MUST GET THEM ALL RIGHT FOR THE POINTS)

Stan Lee's profession was not a/an __________  rather a/an ________ and was only introduced due to _________ ________ (person). He left comics to become a/an ____________ for Marvel. In the 1960s, he co-created all the Marvel superheroes EXCEPT for _______________.

Stan Lee's profession was not a/an artist but rather a/an writer and was only introduced due to Martin Goodman (person). He left comics to become a/an figurehead for Marvel. In the 1960s, he co-created all the Marvel superheroes EXCEPT for Dr. Strange.

500

"Dororo" was written around a time of tremendous turmoil in Japan. Give three examples of how that turmoil may have transferred into different aspects of the series.

Hyakkimaru having prosthetics is similar to those used to help victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. The commonality of death may reflect the mass killings during WWII. The presence of religion such as Buddha may relate to the increase need for faith and guidance in such chaotic times. The theme of money and greed may relate to the mass exploitation commoners felt. Family betrayal and disownment (ex: Lord Kagememitsu to Hyakkimaru) was not unusual during the Warring States period as loyalty and status was worth more than relationships. 

500

A core theme in both "Gender Queer" and "Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me" is the normalization of the LGBTQ+ community. What are two similarities and two differences do they have when attempting to portray this theme?

GQ: focuses more on the individual, uses much more prominent letters and colors (likely used to show the intense emotions Maia felt)

LD: focuses more on relationships, keeps with three colors (likely used to show Freddy's conflicting feelings and Laura's constantly changing mood)

Both: feature powerful, raw narration, expresses societal pressures, both navigating challenges in finding their identity, struggles with the judgement of others (friends, family, partners, etc.), constantly learning what being LGBTQ+ means to them

500

Name the impact each of these had on medieval comics: Neoclassicism, the Enlightenment, and Gothic Revival

Neoclassicism: highlighted the idea that art/drawings should capture the current political and social status around them (especially France), as well as implanting life lessons in comics.

The Enlightenment: it split the concept of rational and supernatural, and similar to neoclassicism, strived to emphasized right and wrong in art/comics. 

Gothic Revival: sought to bring back the feeling of community and tied socialist ideals in comics (Marxist critiques)

500

Name two characteristics of Surrealism and two characteristics of Expressionism.

Surrealism: inspired by the imaginative area of the subconscious, irrational, disorganized, widely varied, "dreamy", Freudian thought

Expressionism: inspired by emotions felt during an artist's personal experiences, bolder strokes (less detailed), meant to express subject matter (subjective perspective)

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