In this time of legitimation crisis, it is crucial to examine the status of the cultural productions involved, irrespective of their position in the market as, until recently, leading or, inversely, minor productions. Singling out comics proves to be particularly pertinent, especially in the light of comics criticism since the discussion about the cultural standing of comics has been – and continues to be – of interest for critical discourses in French as well as English. Stemming from one or the other of these two discourses, the contributions collected in this anthology tackle the question of legitimacy by focusing on one of the following key aspects: the work, the author, the public, the school, the history, the art. This volume is the first of two volumes on the diverse forms of engagement in the comics field.
