Singular Sensations

This book explores the evolution and significance of single-panel comics, revealing their complexity and impact on the broader comic landscape. Singular Sensations is a critical examination of this art form.

What do The Family Circus, Ziggy, and The Far Side have in common? They are all examples of single-panel comics, a unique and seemingly simple form that has been utilized by cartoonists in diverse and innovative ways. Singular Sensations is the first comprehensive critical study dedicated to exploring this significant yet often overlooked art form in the world of cartoons. Michelle Ann Abate takes readers on a journey through the evolution of the American single-panel comic, beginning with the political cartoons of Thomas Nast and R.F. Outcault’s pioneering Yellow Kid series from the nineteenth century.

In her subsequent chapters, Abate delves into a variety of styles and themes, examining everything from the witty cartoons of The New Yorker to the offbeat humor of contemporary comics like Bizarro. By doing so, she offers an essential correction to the traditional view of comics as merely “sequential art,” shedding light on the intricacies, creativity, and impact of the single-panel comic format. This exploration reveals how such comics contribute to the broader landscape of cartooning.

Singular Sensations engages with a rich tapestry of historical contexts, sociopolitical themes, and artistic expressions, illustrating that the comics we cherish today owe much to the single-panel genre. Abate’s work elevates the single-panel comic from the sidelines of comic history into a central position, highlighting its importance and influence in shaping the medium as we know it.