Comics Strike Back! Digital Forms, Digital Practices, Digital Audiences

Abstract

Digital comics, marked by their dynamic evolution, encompass a wide range of narrative styles, artistic techniques and interactive features. They hold the potential to transform how we engage with digital and virtual spaces, carrying significant implications for society, culture and politics. The investigation conducted in this Special Issue aims to shed light on the dynamic interplay between comics and digital technology, examining how it redefines traditional narratives and practices and contributes to a reshaping of our understanding of society and culture. This editorial note functions as an introduction to the topic of digital comics and it has the objective of outlining the rationale of the Special Issue, which is organized into three sections, focused on the forms, practices and audiences of digital comics. The first section delves into the historical and cultural context of digital comics, tracing their evolution from early computer-generated works to contemporary digital productions. The second section explores the creative aspects of digital comics, including the integration of multimedia elements and the challenges of translating digital formats into print. The final section investigates the relationship between digital comics and their audience, examining how social media and digital platforms influence the creation, distribution and reception of digital comics. We argue that the comprehensive analysis that this Special Issue proposes unravels and analyses the multifaceted nature of digital comics, making a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse surrounding this dynamic medium. It underscores the necessity for the methodical combination of interdisciplinary research perspectives to navigate the complex interplay between analogue and digital practices, forms and technologies, cultural paradigms, and forthcoming developments.