English 481: Special Topic – The Literature of Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Superheroes

Professor X (a.k.a. Dr. Gian Pagnucci)

Instructor Information

• Professor X’s Contact Information
• Professor X’s Office Hours

Course Information

• Semester: Spring 2007
• Banner Course Numbers: CRN 22304 (Section 011)
• Meeting Times: 4:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. (Tuesday & Thursday)
• Classroom: Leonard Hall 202 (Computer Classroom)
• Further Registration Information

Course Overview

This course will be a one-of-a-kind spectacular! Shed your mild-mannered alter ego and come live life in the action packed world of comic books. Read great stories, fight evil super villains, save the day, and still get home in time for lunch!

This course will explore the comic book as a literary art form. The course will examine the history of comic book literature, the psychological allure of comics, and the place of graphic art within society. The course will also study the nature of the acts of reading and writing comic books. The course will focus especially on the superhero genre within comic book literature. (Optional superhero training will be provided!)

Master Plan for World (or IUP) Domination

• Heroic Mission
• Superhero Code of Conduct (A.K.A. Course Work Policies)
  • Attendance Policies
    • Roster Sheet
  • Grading Policies
    • WebCT Grades
• Continuity
  • Epic Battles
    • Comic Book Project
    • Superhero Blog
  • Top Secret Documents
    • Recommended Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading
    • Recommended Reading on Comic Book Theory
  • High Tech Weaponry

Adventures

• Course Assignments
  • Key to Adventure Posting Categories
• WebCT Grades

Comic Book Collection (A.K.A. Course Units)

• Issue #1 (Collector’s Item Classic!): Super Powers
• Issue #2: The Comic Book Industry
• Issue #3: Fan Boys & Girls (Fandom)
• Issue #4: Comic Book Origins
• Issue #5: Superhero Films
• Issue #6: Secret Identities & The Hero Code
• Issue #7: Super Science
• Issue #8: The Psychology of Superheroes
• Issue #9: Alternative Comix
• Issue #10: The Marvel Civil War

Special Course Mission

We’ll use one class day to watch Ghost Rider.

We may also take one day to go to the Pittsburgh Comicon (April 27-29th).

Comic Book Web Resources

• Comic Book Companies
  • DC Comics (publishers of the characters Superman, Batman, & Wonder Woman)
  • Marvel Comics (publishers of the characters Spider-Man, the Hulk, & the X-Men)
• Comic Book Conferences, Conventions, and Events
  • Free Comic Book Day (May 5th, 2007)
  • Fourth Annual University of Florida Comics Conference
  • Pittsburgh Comicon
  • Wizard World (Philadelphia)
• Comic Book Downloads/Reproductions
  • CDisplay (software for reading electronic comic books)
  • Golden Age Comics (free comic book downloads)
  • Superdickery (site contains many comic book covers and a light-hearted history of comic books)
  • Vertigo Comics First Issue Classics (free downloads from DC Comics)
• Miscellaneous Comic Book Information
  • The Comic Book in American Culture (Dr. Michael Pemberton)
  • How to Buy Comics
  • Incredible Hulk Provocations List
  • Newsrama Comic Book News
  • Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA)
  • Will Eisner Comic Book Award History
    • 2006 Will Eisner Awards
• Recommended Books
  • Recommended Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading
  • Recommended Reading on Comic Book Theory

Superheroes in Film & Television

• Current Film & Television
  • Comics to Film
  • Heroes
  • Smallville
  • Superhero Film Guide (by Mike Vegas King)
  • Who Wants to Be a Superhero (Reality TV Show; on SciFi Channel)
  • Superhero Hype
• Previous Film & Television
  • Blade: The Series (on Spike TV)
  • Ghost Rider
  • Spider-Man III
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Comic Book Terminology

• Mary Sue (perfect female super characters)

Individual Student Web Sites

• Student Work-2007 Spring
• Student Work-2006 Summer I
• Sidekick Quiz