Abstract
This article answers the question, ‘What are the pathways that Australian creators of comic books and graphic novels commonly follow in order to be published by international publishing houses?’ This research question is significant because it combines two historically distinct fields of research—comics studies and publishing studies—and because it identifies the business practices that determine the comic books and graphic novels by Australian creators that are read by both Australian and international audiences. This article reveals that the interactions of creators and publishing professionals prior to a submission have a formative influence on the pathways to successful publication.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
August J. Writer/director disagreements.’ John August (blog), September 10, 2003. https://johnaugust.com/2003/writerdirector-disagreements.
Hatfield C. Indiscipline, or, the condition of comics studies. Transatlantica. 2010. https://doi.org/10.4000/transatlantica.4933.
Henningsgaard P. Not your average reader: interviewing literary agents, editors, and publishers. Particip J Audience Recept Stud. 2019;16(1):663–79.
Huxley D, Ormrod J. Editorial. J Graph Nov Comics. 2010;1(1):1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/21504851003798496.
Jacobs D. Comics studies as interdiscipline. In: Aldama FL, editor. The Oxford handbook of comic book studies. New York: Oxford University Press; 2020.
Maynard AL. A scene in sequence: Australian comics production as a creative industry 1975–2017. PhD diss., University of Adelaide; 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/112807.
McMerrin M. Recognising the screenwriter: agency and authorship. In: Adaptation. Bachelor of Communications Honours, Edith Cowan University; 2005. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2384&context=theses_hons.
Murray PR. Behind the panel: examining invisible labour in the comics publishing industry. Publ Res Q. 2013;29:336–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-013-9335-2.
Murray S. Publishing studies: critically mapping research in search of a discipline. Publ Res Q. 2007;22(4):3–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-007-0001-4.
Sarris A. Notes on the auteur theory in 1962. In: Mast G, Cohen M, Braudy L, editors. Film theory and criticism: introductory readings. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 1992. p. 585–8.
Schumer A. The auteur theory of comics. Int J Comic Art. 2012;14(1):474–84.
Weber M, Mannion A. Discipline and publish: disciplinary boundaries in publishing studies. In: Mannion A, Weber M, Day K, editors. Publishing means business: Australian perspectives. Melbourne: Monash University Publishing; 2017. p. 116–29.
Yu J. Comic book artist Nicola Scott jumps ship from DC to start her own black magick. Sydney Morning Herald, September 26, 2015. https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comic-book-artist-nicola-scott-jumps-ship-from-dc-to-start-her-own-black-magick-20150923-gjt7do.html.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Appendices
Appendix A: Creators Interviewed and Texts Discussed
Creator Interviewed (Role) | Text Discussed | Year | Publisher | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fil Barlow (Writer/Artist) | Zooniverse #1–6 | 1986–1987 | Eclipse Comics (USA) | CB |
2 | Dark Horse Down Under #1 (Aquarine) | 1994 | Dark Horse Comics (USA) | CB Anth | |
3 | Island #10 (Gatcheralis), #12 (Zooniverse), #13 (Yippo The Magic Zoon) | 2016 | Image Comics (USA) | CB Anth | |
4 | Fil Barlow (Cover artist) | Prophet #37 | 2013 | Image Comics (USA) | CB |
5 | Fil Barlow and Helen Baier (Writer/Artist) | 8house #4–5 (Yorris) | 2015 | Image Comics (USA) | CB |
6 | Queenie Chan (Writer/Artist) | The Dreaming 1–3 | 2005–2007 | Tokyopop (USA) | GN |
2005–2007 | Desen Yayınları (Turkey) | ||||
2007 | Tokyopop (Germany) | ||||
2007–2008 | Akileos (France) | ||||
2007–2008 | Egmont (Finland) | ||||
2008 | Domino (Russia) | ||||
The Dreaming 1 | 2006 | Arashi (Netherlands) | |||
7 | The Fabled Kingdom | 2018 | Zanir (Czechoslovakia) | GN | |
8 | Queenie Chan (Artist) | Odd Thomas 1–3 | 2008–2012 | Del Rey (USA) | GN |
Odd Thomas 1 | 2010 | Music And Entertainment Books (France) | |||
2013 | Sine Qua Non (Poland) | ||||
9 | Gary Chaloner (Writer/Artist) | Jackaroo #1–3 | 1990 | Eternity Comics (USA) | CB |
10 | Planet of the Apes: Urchak’s Folly #1–4 | 1991 | Malibu Graphics (USA) | CB | |
11 | Dark Horse Down Under #1–3 (Jackaroo, The Undertaker) | 1994 | Dark Horse Comics (USA) | CB Anth | |
12 | Will Eisner’s John Law: Dead Man Walking | 2004 | IDW Publishing (USA) | CB | |
13 | Gary Chaloner (Artist) | Badger #58 | 1990 | First Comics (USA) | CB |
14 | The Olympians #1–2 | 1991 | Epic Comics (USA) | CB | |
15 | Astro City #28 | 2015 | DC Comics (USA) | CB | |
16 | Matt Coyle (Writer/Artist) | Worry Doll | 2007 | Mam Tor Publishing (UK) | GN |
2016 (reprint) | Dover Publications (USA) | ||||
17 | Matt Coyle (Artist) | Registry of Death | 1996 | Kitchen Sink Press (USA) | GN |
18 | Dave de Vries (Writer/Artist) | Southern Squadron #1–4 | 1990 | Aircel Comics (USA) | CB |
19 | Full Throttle #1–2; Bodyguard #1–3 | 1990–1991 | Aircel Comics (USA) | CB | |
20 | Puppet Master #1–4; Puppet Master: Children of the Puppet Master #1–2 | 1990–1991 | Eternity Comics (USA) | CB | |
21 | Dave de Vries (Writer) | Suicide Squad #44 | 1990 | DC Comics (USA) | CB |
22 | Fathom #1–3; Strikeforce: America #1 | 1992 | Comico (USA) | CB | |
23 | Star Trek #34; Green Lantern Annual #3; Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #8; Black Lightning #9–13 | 1992–1996 | DC Comics (USA) | CB | |
24 | The Thing From Another World: Eternal Vows 1–4 | 1993–1994 | Dark Horse Comics (USA) | CB | |
25 | Eternal Warrior Yearbook 1; Magnus, Robot Fighter #34, #47, #48 | 1993–1995 | Valiant (USA) | CB | |
26 | The Phantom: Ghost Who Walks #1–3; Marvel Comics Presents #148, #162–165 | 1994–1995 | Marvel (USA) | CB | |
27 | Julie Ditrich (Writer) | ElfQuest: Wavedancers #1–6 | 1994 | Warp Graphics (USA) | CB |
28 | Dart #1–3 | 1996 | Image Comics (USA) | CB | |
29 | Jason Franks (Writer) | Six Smiths 1 | 2010 | Slave Labour Graphics (USA) | CB |
30 | Six Smiths 1–2 | 2015 | Caliber Comics (USA) | CB | |
31 | Chris Gooch (Writer/Artist) | Bottled | 2017 | Top Shelf Productions (USA) | GN |
2021 | Huber Éditions (France) | ||||
32 | Deep Breaths | 2019 | Top Shelf Productions (USA) | GN | |
33 | Under-Earth | 2020 | Top Shelf Productions (USA) | GN | |
2022 | Huber Éditions (France) | ||||
34 | Mat Groom (Writer) | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Anniversary Special #1 | 2018 | BOOM! Studios (USA) | CB |
35 | Self/Made #1–6 | 2019 | Image Comics (USA) | CB | |
36 | Tales From the DC Dark Multiverse: Teen Titans The Judas Contract #1 | 2020 | DC Comics (USA) | CB | |
37 | The Rise of Ultraman #1–2 | 2020 | Marvel Comics (USA) | CB | |
38 | DC’s Crimes of Passion #1 | 2020 | DC Comics (USA) | CB Anth | |
39 | Nathan Jurevicius (Writer/Artist) | Scarygirl | 2009 | Allen & Unwin (Australia) | GN |
2010 | Last Gasp (USA) | ||||
2012 | ARX (Brazil) | ||||
40 | Junction | 2015 | Koyama Press (Canada) | GN | |
41 | Birthmark | 2016 | Koyama Press (Canada) | GN | |
42 | Lee Lai (Writer/Artist) | Stone Fruit | 2021 | Fantagraphics (USA) | GN |
2021 | Brow Books (Australia) | ||||
TBC | Éditions Sarbacane (France) | ||||
43 | Shane McCarthy (Writer) | Detective Comics #797–799, #815–816; Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #185–189 | 2004–2006 | DC Comics (USA) | CB |
44 | Zombies! Feast #1–5; All Hail Megatron #1–12; Transformers Spotlight: Blurr; Transformers Spotlight: Cliffjumper; Transformers Spotlight: Drift | 2006–2009 | IDW Publishing (USA) | CB | |
45 | Dark X-Men The Beginning #1; Deadpool Team Up #886 | 2009–2010 | Marvel (USA) | CB | |
46 | Transformers: Drift TPB; Mars Attacks: The Transformers; Transformers: Drift—Empire of Stone | 2011–2015 | IDW Publishing (USA) | CB | |
47 | Bruce Mutard (Writer/Artist) | The Bunker | 2003 | Image Comics (USA) | GN |
48 | The Sacrifice | 2008 | Allen & Unwin (Australia) | GN | |
2021 | Avant-Verlag (Germany) | ||||
49 | The Silence | 2009 | Allen & Unwin (Australia) | GN | |
2013 | Çà et Là (France) | ||||
50 | Bully Me | 2019 | Çà et Là (France) | GN | |
51 | Pierre-Jacques Ober (Writer/Artist) and Jules Ober (Artist) | The Good Son: A Story from the First World War, Told in Miniature | 2018 | Seul Jeunesse (France) | GN |
2019 | Candlewick (USA) | ||||
2019 | Walker Books (Australia) | ||||
52 | [Untitled] | TBC | Seul Jeunesse (France) | GN | |
53 | Tommi Parrish (Writer/Artist) | Perfect Hair | 2016 | 2d Cloud (USA) | GN |
54 | The Lie and How We Told It | 2018 | Fantagraphics (USA) | GN | |
2018 | Cambourakis (France) | ||||
2019 | Timof i cisi wspólnicy (Poland) | ||||
2019 | Astiberri Ediciones (Spain) | ||||
55 | Dean Rankine (Writer/Artist) | Simpsons Comics #180, #182, #183, #184, #186, #200, #211, #225, #228; Bongo’s Two One-Shot Wonders in One; Bart Simpson’s Pal, Milhouse #1; Simpsons Winter Wingding #7, #10; Futurama Comics #62; Bongo Comics Free-For-All 2013 & 2014; The Malevolent Mr. Burns #1; Bart Simpson Comics #78, #80, #82, #83, #87, #89, #91, #94, #95, #98, #99; The Greatest Bartman Stories Ever Told #1; Jimbo Jones #1; The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #23; The Mighty Moe Szyslak #1; Chief Wiggum’s Felonious Funnies #1 | 2011–2018 | Bongo Comics (USA) | CB |
56 | Rocky & Bullwinkle: As Seen On TV #1–2; Oggy and the Cockroaches #1–4; Underdog and Pals #2 | 2019–2020 | American Mythology (USA) | CB | |
57 | Dean Rankine (Artist) | Hellboy Winter Special 2016 #1 | 2016 | Dark Horse Comics (USA) | CB |
58 | I Hate Fairyland #13 | 2017 | Image Comics (USA) | CB | |
59 | Invader ZIM #40 | 2019 | Oni Press (USA) | CB | |
60 | Dean Rankine (Cover artist) | Rick and Morty #1 | 2018 | Oni Press (USA) | CB |
61 | Madeleine Rosca (Writer/Artist) | Hollow Fields 1–3 | 2007–2009 | Seven Seas Entertainment (USA) | GN |
62 | The Clockwork Sky | 2012–2014 | Tor (USA) | GN | |
63 | Hollow Fields 4 | 2016 | Seven Seas Entertainment (USA) | GN | |
64 | Christopher Sequeira | Justice League Adventures #12; #23; 9–11: Artists Respond | 2002 | DC Comics (USA) (9–11 published by Dark Horse Comics as a collaboration between houses) | CB |
65 | Astonishing Tales #1 (Making An Appearance) | 2009 | Marvel (USA) | CB Anth | |
66 | X-Men: Curse of the Mutants: X-Men vs Vampires #1 (I’m Gonna Stake You, Sucka) | 2010 | Marvel (USA) | CB Anth | |
67 | The Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes—Chimera | 2016 | Black House Comics (Australia) | CB | |
2016 | Caliber Comics (USA) | ||||
68 | Justice, Inc.: The Avenger | 2016 | Dynamite Entertainment (USA) | ||
69 | Campbell Whyte (Writer/Artist) | Home Time 1–2 | 2017–2020 | Top Shelf Productions (USA) | GN |
Appendix B: Other Creators and Texts
Creator (Role) | Text | Year | Publisher | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mirranda Burton (Writer/Artist) | Hidden | 2011 | Black Pepper (Australia) | GN |
2013 | La Boîte à Bulles (France) | GN | ||
Trudy Cooper and Doug Baine (Writer/Artist) | Platinum Grit | 2009 | Image Comics (USA) | GN |
Pat Grant (Writer/Artist) | Blue | 2012 | Top Shelf Productions (USA) | GN |
Simon Hanselmann (Writer/Artist) | Megg, Mogg and Owl series | 2014–2020 | Fantagraphics (USA) | GN |
Ariel Slamet Ries (Writer/Artist) | Witchy | 2019 | Lion Forge Comics (USA) | GN |
Nicola Scott (Artist) | Various comic books | 2004–2018 | Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Marvel (USA) | CB |
Tom Taylor (Writer) | Various comic books | 2008–2020 | Boom! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, Marvel (USA) | CB |
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spence, P., Henningsgaard, P. International Publication Pathways for Australian Comic Books and Graphic Novels. Pub Res Q 38, 189–208 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-021-09855-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-021-09855-0