The word “comics” today carries a very different meaning than it did just a few decades ago.
Once a genre dominated by white, male superheroes playing out an extreme manifestation of the American dream, today the world of comics connotes a culture that spans far beyond the traditional comics of the past to include heavily detailed, literary graphic novels, and new canons of serialized comics such as manga. Themes in comic books have become modern, dark, and intellectual; comic book art has become increasingly sophisticated.
Recognizing the value of comics as a literary medium, U of T offers many courses in graphic novels — including the popular survey course, The Graphic Novel, taught in the Department of English by Andrew Lesk. The School of Continuing Studies offers a course called Creating Comics and Graphic Novels, which can be counted towards a certificate in Creative Writing. The department of religion offered a course two years ago called Jewish Comics and Graphic Novels.
In The Graphic Novel, students read a selection of modern graphic novels, and learn about the “architecture” of comics — interrogating how the various elements on the page work together, such as panels, gutters, the art, the text, and so on.
The culture surrounding comics, therefore, is largely academic; students probe the artistic, literary, and cultural meaning of comics in classroom settings. In Toronto, however, comics and graphic novels are part of a larger geek culture that is enlivened by passionate fans, longstanding comic book stores that post their regularly updated merchandise online, and events such as Fan Expo and the Toronto Comic Arts Festival.
This fan approach to comics is reflected on campus not just by students donning T-shirts expressing their allegiance to various superheroes and comics figures, but also by the formation of small communities around comics, graphic novels, and the collaborative creation of sequential art.
22 Pages is a U of T comic books club that promotes discussion of the comics medium and seeks to pair together the creative abilities of aspiring comic book writers and artists. Alex Correa, founder of 22 Pages, notes that the club is more of a community for discussion than creation: “The majority of our member [sic] prefer reading and discussing comics as opposed to creating, although we do have a handful who do.”
Comics by Julien Balbatino, Alex Correa, Khaiam Dhar, Erik O’Barr, Alicia Robinson, and Arnold Yung.
Correa hopes to shift that tendency in the next semester by offering new programming, oriented towards inspiring creators: “The most exciting thing we have planned for early 2014 are workshops and seminars for hopeful writers and artists. We hope to bring creators together so that they can have the means to create the story that they’ve always wanted.”
While Correa is skeptical of the uniqueness of the broader comics community in Toronto, he does think that the city serves the niche of independent creators well: “…Toronto does its best to shine a spotlight on independent creators by way of festivals like Canzine and, of course, [the] Toronto Comic Arts Festival.”
Toronto is home to many beloved comic book stores, some of which are near campus, such as Labyrinth on Bloor and the internationally famous The Beguiling in Mirvish Village. These shops have supported underground comics and allowed for innovative, recent graphic novels to reach Toronto and gain popularity. Various festivals and events in the city, such as Fan Expo, have pushed this momentum forward.
As the medium of comics and graphic novels expands in exciting and innovative ways, the niche culture that surrounds it also grows — slowly bringing the underground comics that once represented an outcast subculture into the mainstream literary realm. The diversity of Toronto allows for this evolving medium to thrive in the city, serving fans and creators across a broad spectrum of interests and genres.
Shops
1. The Beguiling | 601 Markham St.
Located in Mirvish Village, The Beguiling is an independent comics retailer that has made a name for itself through the sales of international and indie comics.
Photos AARON TAN/THE VARSITY
2. Hairy Tarantula | 354 Yonge St. and 6979 Yonge St.
A quickly growing shop, Hairy Trantula focuses less on comics and more on all things geeky. They recently launched a “creatororner” where customers can display art
3. Planet X | 2227 Queen St., 815 Major Mackenzie Dr. E., and 2879 St. Clair Ave. E.
With multiple locations and a diverse collection, Planet X serves markets well outside the downtown core.
4. The Silver Snail | 329 Yonge St.
Recently moved from their home of 36 years on Queen Street, The Silver Snail is a long-established shop with a loyal customer base. Plus there’s a coffee shop inside!
Conventions
1. Anime North | 650 Dixon Rd.
Held in late May at the Metro Convention centre, this fan-run festival features a flea market, programming, and more cosplay than one can imagine.
2. CanZine | 918 Bathurst St.
Organized by Broken Pencil magazine, CanZine is an annual event celebrating independent press held in October. You can find much more than comics amongst the vendors participating.
3. Fan Expo | 255 Front St. W.
Fan Expo is the largest comics event in Canada. A-list celebrities are regularly in attendance, as are the largest studios and publishers.
4. Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) | 329 Yonge St.
TCAF celebrates comic artistry every May at the Toronto Reference Library. The whole festival is free and features some of the biggest names in the comics biz.
Other spots
1. Scott Pilgrim Landmarks | Various
For fans of Brian Lee O’Malley’s ode to Toronto and young love, all of the locations in Scott Pilgrim are easily accessible by transit or foot.
2. U of T School of Continuing Studies | 58 St. George St.
During the summer, U of T offers the course Creating Comics and Graphic Novels, which is taught each year by an industry professional.
3. The Comic Book Lounge and Gallery | 587A College St.
A hybrid of shop, lounge, and gallery, this venue hosts art, workshops, and comfy furniture. The space is shared with a printing company for any enterprising comic creators.
