ImageTexT: Interdisciplinary Comics Studies

On behalf of General Editor Donald Ault and the Editorial Staff of ImageTexT, I am pleased to announce the publication of _ImageTexT: Interdisciplinary Comics Studies_ Volume 2 : Issue 2 (Winter 2005).

This issue features an original animation, critical essays, and a series of reviews:

• "Theological Compatibilism & Animation: Vessel of Wrath" by Nathan Gilder -- Animation and exegesis expressing a complex theological idea through the medium of animation.
• "Beyond the Balloon: Sound Effects and Background Text in Lynn Johnston's For Better or For Worse" by Suzanne Covey -- A discussion of CBML (Comic Book Markup Language) and the difficulties of negotiating text/image hierarchies in Lynn Johnston's use of 'sound words'.
• "Ecofeminist Themes in Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri's _Morbus Gravis_" by Matthew Jones -- A semiotic analysis informed by ecofeminist theory performed on SerpieriÕs _Morbus Gravis_ series of erotic graphic novels.
• "The Tides of History: Alan Moore's Historiographic Vision" by Sean Carney -- A thorough engagement of critical themes of history and philosophy in Alan Moore's work, paying particular attention to _Marvelman_, _Swamp Thing_, _From Hell_, and _Promethea_.
• "Gothic Oedipus: subjectivity and Capitalism in Christopher Nolan's _Batman Begins_" by Mark Fisher -- A discussion of the historical development of the Batman idea in light of its recent revisions in the film _Batman Begins_.
• "Review of _Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society_" by James R. Fleming
• "Review of Raeburn's _Chris Ware_" by Emma Tinker
• "Old Comics and Current Technology Combine to Form New Hybrids", Review of _40 Years of The Amazing Spider-Man_ and _44 Years of Fantastic Four_ by James Bucky Carter
• "2005 Comic-Con Shines a Light on Eisner: A Look at Two Documentaries and a Tribute" Review of: 2005 International Comic-Con in San Diego by Vanessa Raney

Our next issue will follow the theme of the upcoming conference on Comics and Childhood (http://www.english.ufl.edu/comics/2006/), and other issues planned for 2006 include themed issues on William Blake and Comics as well as Neil Gaiman's work.