Sequentials Call for Comics

The Trace Innovation Initiative, a research endeavor maintained through the University of Florida’s Department of English, is proud to produce Sequentials, a hub for scholarship presented in comics form. Following Scott McCloud’s 1993 publication Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, as well as other visual comics scholarship from authors such as Nick Sousanis and Neil Cohn, Sequentials solicits and publishes interpretations of various academic subjects or themes drawn and explained through the comics medium. As a Trace Initiative project, Sequentials contributes to the flourishing field of comics scholarship and seeks to expand the production and circulation of knowledge.

This long-term project asks contributors to (re)imagine the meanings of both the subject they are drawing about and the form that their interpretation takes. By encouraging contributors to conceptualize their work in a distinctly visual way, this project highlights the creative capabilities of comics as a medium and reflects Trace's overall focus on innovative research, writing, and knowledge production.

Sequentials invites scholars, artists, and critics to submit original visual scholarship on any academic, social, or artistic subject. Submissions may be of any length and may be either a large, single image or a series of “pages” to be displayed sequentially. All submissions will be blind reviewed by the Sequentials editorial team and outside reviewers. Accepted comics for the General Forum will be published online as part of the journal's next themed issue.

We strongly encourage contributors to consider how the comics form can interpret, envision, or reflect meanings associated with the given topic. To submit, please follow the directions outlined by Submittable. Any questions or comments can be referred to the Sequentials editorial staff at sequentials@english.ufl.edu.

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