Names I Dropped on Sunday Afternoon

For yesterday’s SCBWI New England workshop on how comics writing differs from picture-book writing, I created a handout listing how-to books, studies, and web resources I’ve found useful. But I didn’t create a full list of the titles that I showed or mentioned as examples. Some people asked about those, so I’ve assembled this nearly-exact reading list.

comics work by comics theorists
Will Eisner, The Spirit series
Will Eisner, A Contract with God
Scott McCloud, Zot! series

heavily illustrated novels that aren’t quite comics
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Ruth McNally Barshaw, Ellie McDoodle series
Greg Fishbone, Penguins of Doom
Lucinda Landon, Meg Mackintosh series
Jules Feiffer, The Man in the Ceiling
Brian Selznick, The Inventions of Hugo Cabret

picture books that use comics techniques
Peter Spier, Noah’s Ark
Susan Meddaugh, Martha Speaks and sequels
Maurice Sendak, In the Night Kitchen
Jules Feiffer, Meanwhile

comics for young readers and teens
Ann M. Martin and Raina Telgemeier, Baby-sitter’s Club series adaptation
Eleanor Davis, Stinky
Eleanor Davis, The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook
Matthew Loux, Salt Water Taffy series
David Hutchison, Oz: The Manga adaptation
Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale, Calamity Jack
Keith Giffen, John Rogers, et al., Blue Beetle series
Linda Medley, Castle Waiting series
Jeff Smith, Bone series
Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! series
Eric Shanower and Skottie Young, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz adaptation
David Petersen, Mouse Guard series
Lora Innes, The Dreamer series
Matt Phelan, The Storm in the Barn

comics for teens and adults
Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Cameron Stewart, et al., Batman and Robin series
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Watchmen
Beth Varon, Robot Dreams
Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, Y: The Last Man series
Neil Gaiman, Sandman series
Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, The Killing Joke
Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze