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Comics as a Product of Modern Mass Media Culture

Comics as a Product of Modern Mass Media Culture

January 17, 2025

Comics have become an integral part of modern mass culture. They don’t just tell stories but also visually express complex ideas, emotions, and societal issues. By blending elements of literature and visual art, comics appeal to a wide range of age groups and interests. This versatile genre serves not only as a source of entertainment but also as a tool for education, historical analysis, and social commentary.

The VILNIUS TECH library offers a rich selection of comics, showcasing the genre’s diversity – from timeless classics to contemporary narratives on human rights and science fiction worlds. We also recommend the book authored by our lecturers, Dr. Tomas Mitkus and Vaida Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė, which delves into the art of comic creation.

These books are available through the VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library.


	Komiksai: pažink ir kurk (Comics: Discover and Create) / Tomas Mitkus, Vaida Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė . The book is written in Lithuanian. This book explores the origins and evolution of the comics medium, providing insights into the techniques of comic creation, as well as an evaluation of its strengths and challenges. It also offers practical guidance on coloring comics, adding speech bubbles, designing captivating covers, and the process of publishing and distributing your own comic book. Targeted at aspiring comic creators, beginners eager to learn about comics, and enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding, this publication serves as both an informative guide and a source of inspiration.
	Komiksai: pažink ir kurk (Comics: Discover and Create) / Tomas Mitkus, Vaida Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė . The book is written in Lithuanian. This book introduces the stages of the emergence and development of the comics medium, techniques for creating comics, and an assessment of their strengths and challenges. It also offers practical tips on coloring comics, adding speech bubbles, designing an engaging cover, and publishing and distributing your own comic book. The publication is aimed at comic creators, beginners interested in comics, and enthusiasts seeking to deepen their knowledge.
	Watchmen / Alan Moore, writer; Dave Gibbons, ill./letterer. John Higgins, colorist. Watchmen created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The book is written in English. Watchmen is considered one of the most significant comics in history. It is a dystopian tale set in an alternate 20th-century America, where superheroes exist as state-controlled agents. The comic explores human nature, moral codes, and global politics. Its influence has spread into literature, film, and television, becoming an integral part of popular culture.
	The Complete Maus / Art Spiegelman The book is written in English. Maus is one of the most significant comics about the Holocaust. Art Spiegelman tells the story of his father's experiences, using metaphorical characters: Jews are depicted as mice, and Nazis as cats. It is the first comic to win the Pulitzer Prize and is still regarded as a benchmark for how comics can convey historical trauma.
	They called us enemy / written by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott ; art by Harmony Becker. The book is written in English. This autobiographical comic tells the story of George Takei's childhood in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. It is a sensitive narrative about loss, family, and the fight for justice. The book has gained international recognition as an important work in the context of human rights history.
	Žiūrėti ir būti žiūrimai : feministinės kino teorijos sąvokos ir komiksai (Watching and Being Watched: Concepts of Feminist Film Theory and Comics) / Natalija Arlauskaitė, Miglė Anušauskaitė. The book is written in Lithuanian. The book Watching and Being Watched, which combines the writings of Natalija Arlauskaitė and the comics of Miglė Anušauskaitė, introduces key concepts of feminist film theory. Why is this necessary? Because cinema creates, repeats, and alters the world’s image, one that is permeated with stereotypes and various hierarchies. This book offers a vocabulary to help recognize, analyze, and (equally importantly!) laugh at cinema, the roles assigned to us within it, and our viewing experiences. As the authors say, "We created this book because we wanted thinking about film to be just as enjoyable as watching it."
	Astro Boy omnibus. [V.] 1 / by Osamu Tezuka ; translation and introduction Frederik L. Schodt ; lettering and retouch Digital Chameleon. The book is written in English. Osamu Tezuka, often called the "father of manga," created Astro Boy – a story about a robot boy who fights for peace and justice. This work not only captivates a young audience but also raises important questions about the relationship between humanity and technology, as well as the ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence.
	Apie tironiją : dvidešimt pamokų iš dvidešimtojo amžiaus : komiksas (On Tyranny Graphic Edition Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century)/ Timothy Snyder ; iš anglų kalbos vertė Viktoras Bachmetjevas ; iliustravo Nora Krug The book is written in Lithuanian. This graphic novel is an adaptation of Timothy Snyder's book, exploring lessons from 20th-century historical events to help protect against authoritarian regimes. Nora Krug’s illustrations add a unique visual expressiveness to the work. This comic is both educational and suitable for history enthusiasts as well as readers seeking deeper insights into the fragility of democracy.
	Istorijos skanėstai / Skanėstus surinko ir aprašė Audronė Meškauskaitė ir Aurina Venislovaitė ; piešė Inga Dagilė. (History’s Treats/Collected and described by Audronė Meškauskaitė and Aurina Venislovaitė; illustrations by Inga Dagilė). The book is written in Lithuanian. History’s Treats presents fascinating snippets from Lithuania's past. Serious historians might argue that these are not of great significance and that there are far more important events. However, the more important ones are neatly organized in textbooks, and the young reader will inevitably come across them one day. In the meantime, why not indulge in a little historical snack and discover that history has many flavors? Sometimes it’s sour, sometimes bitter, and at times even quite sweet. Enjoy the reading! This book won the 2018 Best Non-fiction Book Award at the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Lithuania Section awards. It was nominated in the Teen Book category of the "Book of the Year 2019" campaign. In the 2018 Book Art Competition organized by the Ministry of Culture, the book’s illustrator, Inga Dagilė, received a diploma.
	Comics and sequential art : principles and practices from the legendary cartoonist / Will Eisner. The book is written in English. Will Eisner is one of the twentieth century's great American artists, a man who pioneered the field of comic arts. Here, in his classic Comics and Sequential Art, he refines the art of graphic storytelling into clear, concise principles that every cartoonist, comic artist, writer, and filmmaker meeds to know. Adapted from Eisner's landmark course at New York's School of Visual Arts, Comics and Sequential Art is an essential text filled with invaluable theories and easy-to-use techniques. Eisner reveals here the fundamentals of graphic storytelling. He addresses dialogue, anatomy, framing, and many other important aspects of the art form. Fully updated and revised to reflect current practices and technology, including a section on digital media, this introduction to the art of comics is as valuable a guide as it was when first published.
	The dreamer : [a story from the birth of comic books] / Will Eisner. The book is written in English. The Dreamer is a semi-autobiographical work by Eisner, where he recounts the beginning of his career in the comic book industry, particularly the years spent creating The Spirit. The book not only reveals the author's personal perspective on the industry but also showcases the development of the comic book world in the mid-20th century. It is an inspiring story about the creative struggles of artists and the challenges of the industry.

You can borrow books to take home through the VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library. After receiving a notification about your prepared order, come to pick up the publications at the designated location: the Central Library (1st floor lobby) or the reading room in your faculty.

More books can be found in the VILNIUS TECH virtual library.