Imagined Horrors

The Gothic Image in Poe Comics

Abstract

This zine explores how the art of comics offers unique ways of representing “the gothic” in graphic form. We look specifically at adaptations of the work of Edgar Allan Poe and the techniques comics artists use to represent the unseen, interior, often abstract or conceptual horrors that the gothic evokes. Unlike those physical, bodily horrors so popular in many modern horror comics and films, the gothic offers unique challenges and opportunities for artists. We draw on literary theory of the gothic and practical examples from comics artists who have adapted Poe’s works to explain the central concepts and offer examples of their illustration. Our main questions include: What does the art of comics offer to representations of the gothic and how do contemporary comics artists meet the challenge of conveying Poe’s unique artistic sensibilities in graphic form? We offer a few answers to these questions using a combination of collage, quotation, and original artwork. This project also offers a unique opportunity for collaboration between a librarian-scholar and a student artist, each bringing their own perspectives on the work.