Places comics studies in lively dialogue with landscape art and regional studies to shed new light on the Hudson River Valley as an artistic, social, cultural, and natural environment.

Drawn by the River engages readers in a lively exploration of the interplay between comics and regional culture. Connecting comics, cartoons, and animated films to Hudson River School landscapes and to the valley’s industrial history, Drawn by the River demonstrates the varied and overlapping ecosystems that have generated creative work in the area. The book tells of the massive impact of the Western Printing facility, the stunning success of the valley-based creators of the fantasy series ElfQuest, the surprising connections between landscapes and comic art, and the experiences of comics writers, artists, and editors past and present who have called the Hudson River Valley home. Richly illustrated with over one hundred images, Drawn by the River provides new frameworks for understanding comics and the culture, history, and community of the Hudson River Valley.

"Drawn by the River provides an imaginative entrée into several forms of artistic creativity born of the Hudson River Valley. The text is lively, engaging, and as much fun as some of the comics and cartoons it explores." — Katherine Manthorne, Graduate Center, City University of New York

"This book offers a great deal of useful information on various intersections between Hudson Valley history and comics-related activities, from the genealogies of the arts to the socioeconomics of their production. Of particular interest are the original interviews with comics’ creators." — Peter Antelyes, Vassar College

"Drawn by the River explores the relationship between visual cultural, material history, and physical environment through the lens of comics produced in the region by artists with direct or indirect connections to specific places that are significant to their work." — John Edward Martin, University of North Texas

Moira Fitzgibbons is Professor of English at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, New York. Her research and teaching engage with comics studies, medieval literature, disability studies, and the history of the English language.