Comics (blending words and pictures to tell stories) stretch from cave paintings and the Bayeux Tapestry to today’s Batman and Spider-Man. Far more than superhero tales, comics are a versatile literary artform, capturing intimate and epic stories, social issues, and cultural moments through panels and word balloons. In this course, we will trace their history, explore their power, and read and discuss works including Understanding Comics, Watchmen, Maus, Fun Home, and Persepolis.

Arnold Blumberg, PhD is a publisher, author, artist, and pop culture historian. He has taught courses in media literacy and other cultural topics at University of Baltimore and other Baltimore colleges. Blumberg spent fifteen years in the comic book industry, curated a pop culture museum, and currently runs his own publishing company, ATB Publishing.

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