Comics and graphic novels are frequently at the center of book challenges but what makes this format such a common target?

As part of the University Libraries’ Banned Books Week programming, join librarians Amanda Lowe and Kaci Wilson for an interactive conversation about comics, censorship, and the freedom to read. Together, we’ll look at frequently challenged titles, explore why visual storytelling can make comics particularly vulnerable to censorship, and consider what happens when individual images or panels are removed from the context of a larger story.

Along the way, attendees will have opportunities to put their own assumptions to the test, explore challenged comics and graphic novels, and join the conversation about intellectual freedom and who gets to decide what we read. Whether you’re a longtime comics reader or simply curious about why graphic novels keep appearing on banned and challenged book lists, all are welcome.