Digital Comics artist Marcus Williams in conversation with GSU Librarian Jennie Law
By Jennie Law & Brittany Newberry
Georgia State University (GSU) Library’s Comics & Archives program provides students with opportunities to learn from local comic book professionals and showcases various comic creators based in Georgia. Established in the fall of 2022 by Brittany Newberry, GSU’s Music & Pop Culture Archivist, and Jennie Law, a GSU Perimeter librarian and comics historian, the program is held twice annually—once in the fall and once in the spring. Past events have featured notable individuals such as Shadia Amin, Andrew Aydin, June Brigman, Georges Jeanty, Dexter Vines, and Marcus Williams. Each session includes an interview conducted by Law, a student Q&A facilitated by Newberry, a live demonstration of drawing or writing, and a comics signing opportunity.
Inker Dexter Vines answers attendees questions moderated by GSU Archivist Brittany Newberry
The program also aims to highlight the GSU Archives’ comic collection, which currently comprises approximately 2,500 comics from publishers including DC Comics, Marvel, Archie, Charlton, and various independent publishers. The collection encompasses a wide range of genres, such as superhero stories and romance, published between 1944 and 2020, with a concentration of titles from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Historically, comics and their creators have not been widely represented in archival collections. Law and Newberry hope that initiatives like this will emphasize the importance of including this form of art and its creators in more formal archival and scholarly contexts.
Comics & Archives is open to the public and the university community. Many attendees are students who bring their own sketch pads or digital devices and participate in drawing during the sessions. Participants also have opportunities to learn about industry pathways, portfolio development, and techniques for improving their craft.
To learn more about the Georgia State University Library, go to https://library.gsu.edu/.
