Comics Studies at Portland State University

10/31/2018

Hello, everyone. We've updated the Comics Studies Internship page with the application information for Winter Term internships at CBLDF and Dark Horse Comics.

The Comics Studies Program encourages students to seek hands-on experience through internships with companies and professionals in Portland’s extensive comics industry. The program has relationships with local comics companies including Milkfed Criminal Masterminds, Dark Horse Comics, and Oni Pres...

10/05/2018

Shannon Wheeler at Chaparral Books
October 10th, 6:30–8:00pm

Shannon Wheeler, a cartoonist for The New Yorker and the best-selling author of "Sh*t My President Says: The Illustrated Tweets of Donald J. Trump," will speak – and draw – on the evening of October 10th at Chaparral Books from 6:30-8:00pm. The store is located at 1975 SW 1st Avenue, at the southeast edge of the Portland State University campus and Lovejoy Fountain Park.

The event is free and will be wildly entertaining.

Wheeler, an adjunct professor at PSU, has twice won Eisner Awards for his wit and illustrations. His book of cartoons lampooning Trump’s Twitter feed has sold more than 40,000 copies.

In July, Image Comics published his latest work, "Memoirs of a Very Stable Genius." Over the years, Wheeler has also collaborated with Mark Russell on "God is Disappointed in You," and with Steve Duin on "Oil and Water," a graphic novel exploring the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon environmental disaster.

06/29/2018

FALL INTERNSHIP: DARK HORSE COMICS

Dark Horse Comics, one of the largest comics companies in the country, is offering academic internships with its editorial team. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: managing paperwork, maintaining editorial files, researching reference material, maintaining quality control, proofreading, and communicating with freelancers. Candidates should have excellent communications skills, strong organizational and administrative capabilities, basic computer skills, and the ability to work independently.

Prospective applicants should apply by: August 15, 2018.

Positions available: 1-2 (per term)

Length of internship: 1 academic term

Hours: 15 hours per week average

*Applicant must be eligible to receive academic credit to apply.*

Prospective applicants should direct a resume and cover letter detailing your interest plus references to [email protected] by 5pm on August 15, 2018. Please note: “Attention: Editorial Internship” in the subject line.

06/29/2018

SUMMER INTERNSHIP: MILKFED CRIMINAL MASTERMINDS

Milkfed Criminal Masterminds, brainchild of award-winning writers Kelly Sue DeConnick (BITCH PLANET, PRETTY DEADLY) and Matt Fraction (CASANOVA, S*X CRIMINALS), is offering an academic internship learning the business of comics. Interns will experience the genesis of a comic book from the initial concept to the printed page with opportunities to participate in the process along the way. Duties will include, but are not limited to: reading over lettering, writing synopses, observing/participating in story discussion and general office duties. Previous office experience is preferred but not required. The ability to work well with others and a love of story are encouraged!

Prospective applicants should direct a resume and cover letter detailing your interest plus references to [email protected].

(Please note if you will have a vehicle/bicycle available. Our location is not easily accessible by public transit. Additionally, please note if you have any allergies and/or food restrictions...the office is in the house along with 2 kids, 2 dogs, a cat and a lizard.)

Positions available: 1 (per term)

Length of internship: 1 academic term (semester/quarter)—from 7/16/18 through 9/14/18.

Hours: 16 hours per week average

*Applicant must be a postbac or graduate student and be eligible to receive academic credit to apply.*

Application Due Date: July 5, 2018.

05/29/2018

There is a Junior Designer opening with Fantagraphics. For more information, view the job listing on Craigslist.

Come work for the Publisher of the World's Greatest Cartoonists! Fantagraphics Books is now accepting applications for a Junior Design position. This is a full-time, hourly position in our office....

05/25/2018

This morning (May 25th), emergency services responded to a hit and run situation on Montgomery and 6th where several people were injured. In response to this tragedy, we would like to remind students of the on-campus resources available, including:

PSU Emergency Alerts: https://www.pdx.edu/alerts
SHAC’s Counseling Services: https://www.pdx.edu/shac/counseling
C.A.R.E Team: https://www.pdx.edu/dos/care-team-coordination-assessment-response-education
(Portland community resource) TriMet Service Alerts: https://trimet.org/m/alerts/

And as always, the Cultural Resource Centers (https://www.pdx.edu/cultural-resource-centers/) are open to all students who may need space to process.

03/08/2018

CALL FOR PAPERS:

5th. International Brazilian Conference on Comics - 5as. Jornadas Internacionais de Histórias em Quadrinhos

University of São Paulo, São Paulo - Brazil / August 22-24

Escola de Comunicações e Artes/ School of Communications and Arts

The Jornadas Internacionais de Histórias em Quadrinhos is the most important academic Conference in comics in Brazil, congregating from two to three hundred researchers and students from all around Brazil and South American countries in past events.

Professor John Lent, British scholar Paul Gravett and Dr. Randy Duncan were our keynote speakers in 2013, 2015 and 2017, respectively. Other international guest speakers were Trina Robbins (2013), Dr. Nick Sousanis (2015) and Daniele Barbieri (2017).

Deadlines:
Abstract Submission: April 05, 2018
Notification: April 30, 2018
Conference: August 22-24, 2018
Full Paper Submission: September 28, 2018

We welcome proposals from scholars all around the world. Each participant may submit up to two papers, provided that one of them as a co-author. Proposals made in partnership should have a maximum of three authors (author + co-author + co-author). All abstracts are externally peer-reviewed. The abstract should contain clear information about the topic. Each abstract should have a title, be between 200 and 300 words and be followed by 3 keywords, separated by semicolons. The abstracts should present, minimally, the purpose of the communication, the object or subject to be worked and the theoretical framework involved. The paper should fit into one of the following thematic axes:

· Comics, Education and Culture

· Comics, History and Society

· Comics, Language and Literary Genres / Discursive

· Comics, Literature & Art

· Comics, Communication and Market

· Comics, New Media and Technology

The papers will be grouped into different sessions and should be presented in Portuguese, Spanish or English. Each presentation has a time limit of 15 minutes, and presenters are expected to deliver the basic ideas of the paper. Following a group of papers, each session will have a round of questions up to 30 minutes.

Along with the keynote speaker and panels the Conference will feature a special Book Signing Session featuring authors of new scholarly books dedicated to Comics. Further guests and keynote speaker to be announced.

Registration fee payment: You can pay cash at the conference place.

For more information regarding the Conference feel free to contact us at [email protected]

http://www2.eca.usp.br/jornadas/

The Conference official illustration was created by cartoonist Will Sideralman honoring the Brazilian researcher on comics, Alvaro de Moya (1930-2017).

02/15/2018

The PSU Honors College is hosting an event with Joe Sacco on February 28th from 5:00–6:30pm in Smith Memorial Student Union Room 327/328.

02/09/2018

Jim Gibbons (writer/editor), is starting an email newsletter that will deliver bits of insider comics industry advice once or twice a month. Here’s the link to sign up.

Jim Gibbons Email Forms

12/22/2017

In case you didn't know, the English Department is moving out of Neuberger Hall for a major renovation. Here's the information you'll need to find your way around during the move.

In January 2018, the English Department will be opening in temporary quarters in Stratford Hall and other locations around campus during a planned eighteen-month renovation of Neuberger Hall. A faculty and staff directory can be found below.

08/29/2017

Here's an excellent interview with Andrea Gilroy, who will be teaching ENG 490/590 (Comics History) this fall. There are still spots open in Dr. Gilroy's class for any students who may be interested in her approach to comics studies!

The fifth in our conversations with comics scholars. This time with Dr. Andrea Gilroy, discussing how the tensions between image and text in comics reflect the messiness of identity, and how Ninja …