Some academics are turning to an unconventional medium to showcase their research in academic journals: Cartoons and comic strips. Maxime Bilodeau of University Affairs explains that while comics have previously been used to convey technical content to the public, using comics to formally communicate information between experts in the field is less common. These comic strips—which may be published alone or as aids to illustrate components of an article—are held to the same standards as other journal articles, requiring peer review and citations. Université du Québec à Rimouski Professor Isabelle Arseneau explained the value of the approach: “Graphic novels are intended for all kinds of audiences, including experts. The illustrations don’t dumb down the message — they reinforce it by showing the content from a different angle.”
