What can we learn from science in fictional comics about the cultural meanings of science?
We are academics, science communicators and comics nerds dedicated to unpacking everything about science that we can learn from graphic fiction and comics! Science is an extraordinary part of our human culture and inspires and influences human storytelling in every popular culture medium. Fictional comics science explores and envisions science and technology in innovative and unique ways, and follows the traditions of science fiction, offering up new ideas and science stories that could be. This iterative, and oftentimes collaborative, feedback cycle of stories inspiring humans and humans then inspiring stories, can allow us to see how representations and dynamics of science in comics reflect and shape the world around us.
To what extent are science stories in fictional comics a means of communicating science? What makes the popular genres of science fiction and postapocalyptic comics particularly suitable and interesting mediums for conveying ideas about science? What role does humour play in science in comics?
Academic ‘Science in Comics’ Publications
Are you interested in exploring science in comics, but don’t have a clue where to start? Here are some resources to help you get started! This is the place where you can discover the publications of our research group – about scientists, about science topics and about visions of our scientific future in comic books and comic book adaptations.
Visual Science Storytelling, Sequential Art & Illustrated Science Communication – Beyond Academia
In 2024, we launched a new series in the peer-reviewed online journal w/k – Between Science and Art dedicated to the discussion of art forms that use images in a particular order and/or illustrations to tell visual stories about science (or) for the purpose of communicating science.
‘Science in Comics’ Events
Discover our academic publications and (public) academic events around science in comics!
Reading List & Student Projects
To get you started and/or inspired, explore our suggested readings! COMING SOON!
Comic book photos with (L to R): Professor Jochen Brocks (Biogeochemistry) │Dr Dan Santos (Science Communication/Biohacking/Synthetic Biology) │Crystal-Leigh Clitheroe (Science Communication) │Professor David Tscharke (Virology)│Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens (Science Communication/Popular Entertainment Studies) in CPAS Building, Acton, Canberra, ACT, Australia 16 May 2024 (Nic Vevers/ANU).
