Comics by Subject

This collection consists of comic books and other graphic formats from the 1940s to the present day. It includes literary adaptations, movie adaptations, and original stories, largely in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and horror. It does not contain many superhero titles.

The collection is divided into four series.

Literary Adaptations contains items adapated from or inspired by specific literary sources. Many of these are from the long-running Classics Illustrated series, under several publishers: Elliot (as Classic Comics, early 1940s), Gilberton Company (1942-1962), Twin Circle (1967-1971), First Comics (1990), Acclaim Books (1997-1998), and Jack Lake Productions (2000s). Other series include Pendulum's Illustrated Classics (1970s), Marvel Classics Comics (1970s), and Marvel Illustrated (2000s). Nearly a third of these are adaptations of the stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs, including the Tarzan series and the Barsoom series (John Carter).

Comics by Subject contains items grouped by setting or with a popular central figure or mythology.

Comics by Genre contains items grouped by genre. Most are speculative fiction (historical adventure, science fiction, fantasy) or horror (including "weird" fiction). Other genres include detective, suspense, espionage, western, superheroes, and nonfiction.

Comics and Graphic Novels by Format contains irregularly sized comics and graphic novels; some are trade paperbacks, while others have magazine binding.