Graphic Math: A Collection of Interviews With Authors and Illustrators of Mathematically Themed Graphic Novels

Abstract

Graphic novels are increasingly being used for scholastic purposes across the curriculum as supplements or replacements for traditional textbooks. In particular, there are a number of graphic novels that explore mathematical concepts in algebra, calculus, statistics, and even graduate level studies. This article presents interviews with several noteworthy authors and illustrators of mathematically themed graphic novels in effort to provide insight into how they developed their storylines and visuals to incorporate mathematical concepts. The authors and illustrators interviewed include Larry Gonick of the educational graphic series The Cartoon Guide to (Gonick and Smith, 1993; Gonick and Huffman, 2008; Gonick, 2012; Gonick, 2015), Robert Lewis and Jennifer Granville of Prime Suspects: The Anatomy of Integers and Permutations (Granville and Granville, 2019), Apostolos Doxiadēs of Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth (Doxiadēs et al., 2009), and Gene Luen Yang of Secret Coders (Yang, 2015). Several of the interviewees created graphic novels for scholastic purposes and were therefore guided by pedagogy, while others let the story be their guide. Despite these differences, the combination of interviews offers advice and suggestions for writers, illustrators, and educators interested in creating or using mathematical graphic content.