Beyond the Classic Comic Book: Trent Prof Releases New Book
Where there are superheroes, you will find Trent’s George Kovacs
When it comes to comic books, Dr. George Kovacs is still a bit of a kid; maybe not hiding alone, with a flashlight, under the covers late at night, but definitely with the grin and satisfaction of a new discovery that takes the mind on grand adventures.
Four years ago, the assistant professor in Ancient History and Classics at Trent University shared his passion through Classics and Comics – a book exploring the intersection between comic books and classical antiquity. Now a second volume is out, dubbed Son of Classics and Comics.
Professor Kovacs has collaborated with C.W. Marshall of the University of British Columbia, who shares co-editing credits on both books. They’ve been working on this volume since the first book came out.
“Son of Classics and Comics does a lot of work developing the ideas laid out in the first volume,” says Prof. Kovacs. Where the first focuses on establishing the nature of the comics medium with case studies in, largely, Western superhero comics, this sequel is much more global in scope. It includes multiple chapters on Japanese comics (manga), as well as three different chapters on Asterix, arguably the most successful French-language comic strip ever.
The volume also starts to look at other related media. There is a chapter on British political cartoons, as well as on independent comics.
Prof. Kovacs was a student at Trent back in the class of 1999, with a BA in Classics and English Literature, then returned as part-time faculty in 2007, and moved up to full time the following year.
He says he had always enjoyed comics as a kid, but later, as he was writing his Masters' thesis at Memorial University, his graduate supervisor started slipping some of his favourite comics in with other readings. That supervisor was C.W. Marshall, who he had initially met while at Trent at the start of his undergraduate degree.
“Years later, when I had the idea to put together a panel exploring classics and comics, he was the first person I turned to for advice. We ended up editing two books on the topic.”
Earlier this month, there was a small departmental function in Ancient History and Classics to mark the release of the new book. Kovacs gave a small presentation on the two books together, and says while the event was small, the audience was very excited and welcoming.
Next, he says there may be collaboration with Marshall on a new volume.
“Marshall and I always have other irons in the fire, and we need to feel we have the time to dedicate to such a project. The introductory chapter for Son of Comics and Classics included a lengthy list of antiquity-based comics that had come out since the previous volume.
“There is definitely room for more...classical antiquity has been exploding in popular culture in recent years. If we take our time, I am sure that other scholars will pick up the gauntlet.”