University Press of Mississippi Comics Art in the Caribbean

Comics Art in the Caribbean introduces readers to the vibrant but long-overlooked world of Caribbean comics, cartoons, and animation. Scholar John A. Lent, a pioneer in global comics studies, offers the first comprehensive survey of the region’s artists and traditions, spanning fourteen countries and territories across Spanish-, English-, French-, and Dutch-speaking communities. This richly illustrated volume explores political and gag cartoons, comic books, strips, animation, webtoons, caricature, and a wide range of genres―humor, adventure, propaganda, superhero tales, crime, romance, and more. Drawing from seventy-eight interviews with artists and industry figures, on-site research in studios, archives, and exhibitions, and deep historical analysis, Lent uncovers both the challenges Caribbean artists face and the creative resilience that fuels their work. Five vivid vignettes add color to the story, from cartoons smuggled out of prison to Cuban cigarette-pack art, a Dominican cartoonist’s philosophy, the dual careers of a Bermudian artist, and the transformation of a single character into an entire art style. Comics Art in the Caribbean fills a critical gap in global comics scholarship while offering readers an engaging, original, and entertaining journey through a diverse cultural landscape.