The challenge of communicating complex problems : can art succeed where academia fails?

Graphic novels and comic books are often thought about as pulp fiction aimed specifically at adolescent males: their characters are usually armed with superpowers and rescue beautiful women. Over the last 20 years, however, comics have grown up‘ and it is increasingly acknowledged that these works have a presence within literary culture. This paper considers the role of graphic novels and comic books within the broader context of popular culture – looking at the unique mechanism of communication they offer as they bring together words and graphic images. Further, I consider the insights of graphic novel authors who are using this cross section of literature and art to discuss and confront some of today‘s key challenges, including racism and climate change. Focusing on two specific works – Vertigo‘s Y: The Last Man and the short novels of Australian independent artist Pat Grant – I consider how this medium raises these issues and the dystopian futures that often are perceived to inevitably follow.