Oh! What a tangled web we weave…

Where Geeks, librarians and

databases collide!

Web of Spider-Man # 70

Caitlin ArndtPratt SILS

27 April 2010

Comics are serious business

• Over the past 20 years, comics have gained recognition as valuable cultural artifacts.

• How do we, as Information Professionals, deal with the ultimate in low-culture, high-maintenance materials?

So what’s the big deal?

• Comics are not made to last.

• Little consistency among titles, series and creators

• Single Issues, Trade Paperbacks, Digital Comics…

ALA Graphics: Batgirl Poster

What can Marvel do?

Projects to watch out for:Marvel Digital

Comics

What can Marvel do?

Projects to watch out for:Marvel Digital

ComicsIntellectual

Property Hub

What can Marvel do?

Projects to watch out for:Marvel Digital

ComicsIntellectual

Property HubDon’t Forget the

Library!C.Arndt 2010

Desperately seeking Metadata…

We turn to…

OHOTMU

• Outdated• Lacks useful

information for catalogers

• Lots of redundancy

Just a few Spidey Titles

Not to mention all the spin-offs and crossovers…

Created by: Dean Clayton & Peter Luzifer

It's complicated...

“Punisher” a.k.a.

Frank CastiglioneFrank CastleCharles Fort

Francias StrongholdJohnny TowerBig NothingMr. Smith

Frank RookAnd that’s just mainstream continuity!

One Possible Solution

• Go to the geeks!

Geek:

“A person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest”

(via The New Oxford American Dictionary)

Marvel Database Project

Any Questions?

All Images from Marvel Database Project unless otherwise noted.