The SDSU Comic Arts Collection includes more than 100,000 published comics in addition to archival collections and ephemera, mini-comics and zines, cartoons in historic magazines, and a modest amount of original comic art. Secondary sources from the collection focus on research about comics. Primary source collection strengths emphasize alternative and independent titles, underground comix, drawn books and Modern Age comics, as well as materials that document the history of comic book culture, fandom and the creative process behind comic book production. Special attention is paid to collecting works that celebrate diversity, document the human condition and shed light on issues of social justice. Included in our holdings are the life’s work of American comic book author and cartoonist, Donna Barr, and the J. Gordon Melton Vampire Collection, which includes more than 10,000 comic books featuring vampires.
We encourage comics-related research and welcome opportunities to help you access the materials you need. Please take a look at the links on this guide and feel free to ask us for more help!
