Abstract

This presentation introduces research into the discursive dimension of comics that emerges from paratexts accompanying and framing the main narrative—those tied to a comic’s content and form, and others shaping broader contexts of reception and interpretation. The analysis covers a range of paratexts: author commentaries, forewords, afterwords, editorial materials such as covers, blurbs, and notes, as well as media and fan interpretations influencing the circulation and impact of comics. Using a close reading method tailored to comic art and enhanced by a mediolinguistic perspective, the talk demonstrates how paratexts co-create meaning, affect reception, and shape the discourse around the comic medium. Drawing from Genette’s theory of paratext as a “threshold,” it highlights how these elements function as productive contact zones between creators and readers, defining the cultural, interpretive, and aesthetic boundaries of comics.