Whose Cultural History? The problem of Firsts

Paper explored how disputes over the origins of comics have become key to the way they are perceived in different nations. In particular, the traditions of the United States and of Francophone Europe have come into sharp relief, and led to an often bitter intellectual stand-off over ‘ownership’ of the comic as a concept. Looked at competing claims regarding the ‘first comic’, and especially the focus on 19th century cartoonists such as the Swiss Rodolph Topffer and the American Richard Outcault.

Roger Sabin

Research Interests

Cultural history, cultural studies, subcultural studies, film and television studies. Specialisms: comics, graphic novels, manga; punk and counterculture; 19th century entertainment; television crime drama. Cultural theory, especially postmodernism in history.
Current Research

Currently completing one book and co-authoring two others. The sole-authored book is about 19th century ‘funny papers’/comics, and in particular the character 'Ally Sloper', the first comics superstar. The other two concern TV crime drama: one is about The Wire, and one about the history of the genre. Also, various smaller-scale projects involving comics, graphic novels, manga and other areas listed above.

Previous books include: As Author: Comics, Comics and Graphic Novels (Phaidon); Adult Comics: An Introduction (Routledge); The Lasting of the Mohicans (University Press of Mississippi – co-authored with Martin Barker). As Editor: Punk Rock: So What? (Routledge); Below Critical Radar: Fanzines and Alternative Comics 1976-Now (Codex - with Teal Triggs); The Movie Book (Phaidon – with Michael Newton).