Description
This follow-up study by Robin Moeller and Marilyn Irwin looked at a best seller list of graphic novels to answer the following research questions: Do the graphic novels include individuals with disabilities? If disabilities are present, what disabilities were most often featured? What is the gender of the individual(s) with disabilities? Is there a positive portrayal of the person with a disability? Are there differences between the portrayal of disability in a graphic novel from a best seller list and one approved by librarians? Disabilities were present in an overwhelming majority of the twenty-nine graphic novel titles examined in this study; however, the individuals were again primarily portrayed using negative stereotypes. The conclusions are that authors, illustrators, and publishers of graphic novels, whether the works are recommended by librarians or are best sellers, do not provide realistic representations of people with disabilities.