Hassler-Forest Dan Hassler-Forest & Goggin Joyce Goggin 
Rise and Reason of Comics and Graphic Literature [PDF ebook] 
Critical Essays on the Form

These 15 essays investigate comic books and graphic novels, beginning with the early development of these media. The essays also place the work in a cultural context, addressing theory and terminology, adaptations of comic books, the superhero genre, and comic books and graphic novels that deal with history and nonfiction. By addressing the topic from a wide range of perspectives, the book offers readers a nuanced and comprehensive picture of current scholarship in the subject area.