Course Title: From Ink to Screen: A Study of Comics and Their Films Course Description: Comic Books started a world-wide phenomenon from their early inception as “Funny Pages” to the more modern Graphic Novel. They have been vilified, suppressed, banned, and raised to an art form. The class will attempt to define the nature of the comic book and why they receive such positivity in today’s world as opposed to the history of their banishment as “real” literature and how they have been adapted into some of the top grossing films of all time. An analysis of the “types” of comic heroes will begin the class that will culminate in the discussion of the cultural impact of the comic.

Course Goals: Upon completion of the course, the student will to able to:

 analyze the impact of popular culture  discuss alternative literature  discuss alternative art  apply archetypal criticism to literary sources  discuss social issues/problems addressed in artistic mediums

Evaluation:  Completion of assigned readings.  Quizzes and Tests.  Several short response papers based on films with reference to readings.  Essays.  One long project.

Texts From Ink to Screen: A Study of Comics and their Films. Provided by instructor Selections from the following: The Ten-Scent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu Film and Comic Books by Ian Gordon Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America by Bradford W. Wright Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes by Chris Knowles and Joseph Michael Linsner Comics To be provided by the instructor.

Films and Videos: The History Channel: A History of Comics Fool/Innocent – Spiderman Alien – Superman Spiderman I Superman: The Movie Spiderman II Superman II Spiderman III Superman: Doomsday Cowboy – Iron Man Superman Returns Iron Man I Look Up on the Sky: A History of Superman Iron Man II Rogue/Vigilante – Batman Behemoth/Jekyll and Hyde – Hulk Batman: Tim Burton The Incredible Hulk – Ang Lee Batman Begins The Hulk Batman: The Dark Night Planet Hulk Police – Green Lantern God – Thor Green Lantern: First Flight Hulk Vs. Thor Green Lantern Thor Amazon – Wonder Woman Patriot – Captain America Wonder Woman Animated Film The Avengers Movie - Animated Captain America: The First Avenger