|
BOBC |
 |
 |
 |
|
Barbour, Loren. "‘Nemeses! Dragons! Symbolism!’: Queering the fantasy hero narrative in Nimona." Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics (2020): 1–13. Added by: joachim (7/23/20, 3:23 PM) Last edited by: joachim (7/23/20, 3:25 PM) |
 |
| Resource type: Journal Article Language: en: English Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1080/21504857.2020.1786418 BibTeX citation key: Barbour2020 Email resource to friend View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: "Nimona", Fantasy, Gender, Stevenson. Noelle, USA Creators: Barbour Collection: Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics |
Views: 63/1207
|
| Attachments |
| Abstract |
|
Of the available narratives in fantasy fiction, the noble hero clashing with a maniacal villain – often over a helpless damsel – is easily recognisable and easily critiqued for its reliance on patriarchal, heteronormative logic and binary notions of good and evil. Noelle Stevenson’s charmingly queer graphic novel Nimona takes the additional step of reorienting the familiar commitments, relations, and actions of the fantasy hero to invite its characters (and readers) to reimagine the human beyond the parameters of what the genre typically allows it to be. This article reads Nimona as a ‘monster’ figure whose presence instigates the reformulation of fantasy masculinity made available to both ostensible hero and ostensible villain. It analyzes the consequences of Nimona’s marginalisation and the implications of Stevenson’s representation of queer trauma. Ultimately, I suggest that through the comics medium, Stevenson reinvents the fantasy genre as a site of inquiry that encourages self-reflection and asks all who engage it what we have overlooked in its traditionally straight world.
|