‘The Wide Canvas of Human Drama’ : Fantasizing Antiquity Through Graphic Novel

Abstract: This paper argues that representation of classical antiquity through graphic novel runs a risk of idealizing reconstructed antiquity. In a way similar to the archaic and classical Greek representation in visual arts of the content of heroic (fragmentary) epic, 21st-century retelling in Age of Bronze fantasizes with regard to both narratology and outlook. In 1998 Eisner Award-wining cartoonist Eric Shanower started Age of Bronze, a serialized Trojan War account, 34 episodes of which have appeared up to date. The graphic novelization aims to ‘present the complete story of the world-famous War at Troy, freshly retold for the 21st century’. Its format serves to have ‘all the drama of the ancient and thrilling tradition unfold before your eyes.’ As its sources it lists Homer’s Iliad, works from classical, medieval and renaissance literature, and archaeological excavations. The artist uses different styles for episodes from various sources, thus imitating the archaic and classical vase p.... https://thersites-journal.de/index.php/thr/article/view/282

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: ‘The Wide Canvas of Human Drama’ ; volume:19 ; year:2024 ; Thersites ; 19 (2024)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Blankenborg, Ronald

Further information

• DOI: 10.34679/thersites.vol19.282
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2412130435511.373470305164
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:34 AM CEST