Summer Syllabus: “21st Century Comics”

It’s been hectic enough around here that I’ve neglected to post the syllabus for my comics class this summer, rebranded this time around as “21st Century Comics” due to some repeat students in the class. Check it out! Here’s the week-by-week reading schedule:

DATE
READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS


M
5/20
Introduction to the Course

Action Comics #1 (in class)


T
5/21
Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics, chapters 1-4


W
5/22
The Silver Age

Superboy #1 [D2L]

Umberto Eco, “The Myth of Superman” [D2L]

Fantastic Four #1, Tales of Suspense #39, X-Men #1, and Hulk #1 [D2L]


Th
5/23
The Bronze Age and the Dark Age

The Amazing Spider-Man #121 and Iron Man #128 [D2L]

Saul Braun, “Shazam! Here Comes Captain Relevant” [D2L]

Spencer Ackerman, “Iron Man vs. the Imperialists” [D2L]

Watchmen (film clips) (in class)

Batman v. Superman, The Marvel Cinematic Universe, etc. (in class)







M
5/27
MEMORIAL DAY—NO CLASS


T
5/28
Warren Ellis and John Cassady, Planetary, Book One (first half)


W
5/29
Warren Ellis and John Cassady, Planetary, Book One (second half)


Th
5/30
Warren Ellis and John Cassady, Planetary, Book Two (whole book)







M
6/3
Mark Millar and Dave Johnson, Superman: Red Son (first third)


T
6/4
Mark Millar and Dave Johnson, Superman: Red Son (whole book)


W
6/5
G. Woodrow Wilson and Adrian Alphona, Ms. Marvel, vol. 1


Th
6/6
G. Woodrow Wilson, Jacob Wyatt, and Adrian Alphona, Ms. Marvel, vol. 2


Sat
6/8
TAKE-HOME MIDTERM EXAMS DUE BY 5 PM







M
6/10
Chris Ware, Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth (first half)


T
6/11
Chris Ware, Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth (second half)


W
6/12
Chris Ware, Building Stories (workshop)


Th
6/13
Chris Ware, Building Stories (discussion)







M
6/17
Ben Passmore, “Your Black Friend”

Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis 1 (first half)


T
6/18
Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis 1 (second half)


W
6/19
Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis 2 (whole book)


Th
6/20
David Mazzhuchelli, Asterios Polyp (first third)







M
6/24
David Mazzhuchelli, Asterios Polyp (second third)


T
6/25
David Mazzhuchelli, Asterios Polyp (whole book)


W
6/26
Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Daytripper (first half)


Th
6/27
Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Daytripper (second half)

Thierry Groensteen, “Why Are Comics Still in Search of Cultural Legitimization?”


Sat
6/22
TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAMS DUE BY 5 PM