Comic Book Guy is a character in The Simpsons who plays to all of the stereotypes of a comic book fan: middle-aged, overweight, super-nerdy and male. Dr Mel Gibson, who researches comics and gender - and herself a lifelong comic fan – is working with several festivals to challenge this stereotype. This includes Thought Bubble, the UK’s largest and most high profile comic and graphic novel festival, which made use of Dr Gibson’s research in developing the festival’s appeal to a female audience.
Gibson is based in the Childhood Studies, within the Faculty of Health and life Sciences at Northumbria University. She specialises in teaching and research relating to children, young people, literature and media with a particular interest in visual literacies. Her research on women and comics contributed to the development of Thought Bubble’s distinctive approach, most evidently in the emphasis of gender-related elements in the programming of its annual festival.
Gibson’s body of research on the roles of women and girls in the world of comics was shared with festival staff, including the festival director, Lisa Wood. The research confirmed what Wood, another woman passionate about comics, suspected about the potential scope for attracting female comic readers to the festival. Growth could be fostered via creating a distinctive tone and marketing of the festival and also by emphasising women creators in the programming.
This led directly to Gibson organising and chairing a regular “Women in Comics” panel for the festival that debated issues of gender and diversity. This has become an increasingly important aspect of the festival, attracting major women comic creators such as Alison Bechdel, Robin Furth and Mary Talbot and with its audience rising from 60 in 2009 to a 250 in 2012. The panel topics have been consistently shaped by Gibson’s research findings, which have been used to form the agendas that are addressed by each of the panels..
Lisa Wood, Director of Thought Bubble, confirms how Dr Gibson’s research and the “Women in Comics” panel has changed the festival: “ The panel has been a distinctive feature of Thought Bubble and that the celebration of female creators has acted as a ‘shop-front’ for the festival, showing visitors and guests that this is a female friendly event.”
Case studies
- Data mining technique developed at Northumbria helps call centre improve efficiency
- Record-keeping strategies for the digital age
- Northumbria University researchers help people with Parkinson’s to walk
- Making it work: involving older people in their own care
- Conserving modern art
- Northumbria researchers help large corporates improve their products
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- Virtual city provides an interactive platform for architects, planners, heritage and the arts
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- 20th Century Design from Shipley to New York
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- Books and pop music: challenging conventions that define high and low culture
- Before Depression - a literary perspective on mental health
- Re-assessing own language use in English language teaching
- Improving survival and wellbeing in times of disaster
- Social justice for migrant workers
- Understanding the Scottish Diaspora
- Critical thinking in the digital era
- Northumbria University researcher inspires physics students
- Northumbria researchers advise government on breakfast clubs
- Paving the way for peer-to-peer health advice
- Brief chat with GP helps heavy drinkers cut down
- North East maintains its ‘voice’ in Central Government
- Reducing homelessness among young adults
- Athletes benefit from the therapeutic qualities of cherry juice
- Recognising the needs and interests of women and children in disasters
- Student Law Office Benefits Students and the Community
- Bringing 18th century literature to a modern audience
- Northumbria researchers help tool manufacturer cut costs and increase product lifetime
- Supporting the Solar Energy Market
- Northumbria researchers help give Gibraltar its first official address register
- A warm welcome for female comic book fans
- A KTP with North Tyneside Council transforms sheltered housing
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Archives to Action: Historical Evidence for Policy Reform
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Viruses of Microbes-UK (VoM-UK) Conference 2026
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Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence and Abuse Conference 2026
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