Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The School of Media, Language and Communication Studies (MLC) has a thriving interdisciplinary research environment in the growing field of Comics Studies.
Faculty members from both AMA and other Schools have published widely on many different aspects of Comics Studies, and we have special research strengths in autobiographical comics, superheroes, comics and politics, formalist comics studies, horror comics, censorship, gender and sexuality in comics, and transmedia adaptations including superhero movies.
In addition, the School also hosts a regular series of Comics Studies research talks by invited external speakers, which connect us to the wider academic community in the field.
Members of the faculty also frequently attend major Comics Studies conferences, including those put on by the Comics Studies Society, the International Graphic Novel and Comics Conference, Comics Forum, the International Bande Dessinée Society, the German Society for Comics Studies, and the Canadian Society for the Study of Comics.
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Filipa Antunes
- Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities - Lecturer in Humanities
- MEDIA (media equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility) - Member
- Comics Studies Research Group - Member
Person: Research Group Member, Academic, Teaching and Research
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Geraint D'Arcy
- School of Media, Language and Communication Studies - Associate Professor in Media Practice
- MEDIA (media equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility) - Member
Person: Research Group Member, Academic, Teaching and Research
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Harry Dyer
- School of Education & Lifelong Learning - Associate Professor in Education
- MEDIA (media equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility) - Member
- Comics Studies Research Group - Member
- Critical Cultural Studies In Education - Member
Person: Research Group Member, Academic, Teaching and Research
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Mariagiulia Grassilli 'African Film Archives: collaborative practices of restoration and preservation of film heritage'
Grassilli, M. (Principal Investigator) & Johnston, K. M. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/25 → 31/08/28
Project: Fellowship
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Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowships in Japanese Arts
Kaner, S. (Principal Investigator), Bogdanova-Kummer, E. (Co-Investigator), Matsuba, R. (Co-Investigator), Rousmaniere, N. (Co-Investigator) & Watanabe, T. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/25 → 31/08/26
Project: Research
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ARISE: Advancing Resilience and Innovation for a Sustainable Environment
Lorenzoni, I. (Principal Investigator), Forster, J. (Co-Investigator), Little, B. (Co-Investigator) & Richardson, C. (Co-Investigator)
Economic and Social Research Council
1/04/24 → 30/09/28
Project: Research
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Afro-Gothic; Get Out; Games; Stage; Cosmic Horror; Modern Art; Radio; Blacula; Grand-Guignol
Hand, R., 1 Apr 2026, A History of Horror, Fear, and the Uncanny. Dorling KindersleyResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Conrad, the English Literary Theatre and Grand-Guignol
Hand, R., 1 Jan 2026, Joseph Conrad and the Arts of his Time. Hampson, R. (ed.). Edinburgh University Press, p. 187-205 19 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Imaginaries of Responsible Generative AI in Secondary Education
Ross, J., Priyadharshini, E., Dyer, H., Atabey, A., Botta, C., Wilson, C. & Robertson, J., 21 May 2026, Handbook of Critical Studies of Artificial Intelligence and Education. Holmes, W. (ed.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 364-383Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
File
Prizes
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AHRC Leadership Fellow, Connected Communities programme
McKay, G. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Finalist - Outstanding Social or Cultural Impact
Johnston, K. M. (Recipient), Williams, M. (Recipient), Graham, A. (Recipient), Frith, P. (Recipient), Clayton, S. (Recipient), Arnold, S. (Recipient), Madden, C. (Recipient), Kelly, S. (Recipient) & O'Connell, K. (Recipient), 15 Feb 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Activities
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Comics Forum 2025
Darley, S. J. (Speaker), Hayward-Fitch, C. (Speaker) & D'Arcy, G. (Speaker)
13 Nov 2025 → 14 Nov 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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International Graphic Novels and Comics Conference, International Bande Dessinée Society Conference 2025
D'Arcy, G. (Organiser)
5 Jun 2025 → 5 Jul 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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SENSS Scholar Series
Dyer, H. (Speaker)
16 Apr 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
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Theatre’s thriving horror revival reflects a cultural moment of collective anxiety
26/02/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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‘It’s not sophisticated. It appeals to your lower body’: How British theatre became obsessed with horror by Holly Williams
10/07/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Musk isn’t serious about fighting, Zuckerberg says. Here’s the latest.
13/08/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution