Welcome to
The Institute for Comics Studies

The Institute undertakes its mission to promote the study, understanding, recognition, and cultural legitimacy of comics through communication within the scholarly, professional, and fan communities, and with the general public.  The Institute holds academic conferences and brings scholars and professionals together to discuss comics in public venues such as comic book conventions; indexes scholarly and other secondary materials; promotes comics scholars and their work; coordinates and enables comics research collection development; and acts as an umbrella organization for other comics-oriented organizations, institutions, and academic programs.

Ask not what you can do for ICS, ask what ICS can do for you.

The Institute seeks to serve the comics community in the realization of their missions, projects, and ambitions.

The activities of the Institute fall into four areas:
  • Communication: The building of relationships between and among the comics industry, the comics academy, and the public.

  • Knowledge: The creation of new knowledge and understanding via scholarly activity.

  • Expertise: The promotion of comics scholars within academia and the media.

  • Support: The development of programs, positions, funding, and research collection in the academy.