English 495: Senior Seminar in Literature:

Intensive study of a major author, or of a theme or sub-genre

Spring 2015

ENGL 495SH:
The Comic Book Superhero
Moodle site, including full syllabus:

http://moodle.csun.edu
Class blog:

http://comicsatcsun.weebly.com
Class #19097, MW 11:00am to 12:15pm, JR 319
Prof. Charles Hatfield
Office: ST 735; Ph. 818.677.3416 (CSUN x3416)
charles.hatfield@csun.edu
Office hours: Mon 2:00-4:00pm; Wed 9:00-10:00am; Wed 2:00-3:30pm (except Feb. 4, Mar. 4,
Apr. 1, & May 6I have a Faculty Senate commitment on those days)
OVERVIEW: We will study the history, narrative and artistic conventions, audiences, and cultural
significance of the costumed superhero genre, with emphasis on its original medium, the comic
book. From the genres first boom in the late 1930s and early 40s, through its revival in the 60s,
to its revision and elaboration sinceand its enormous presence in films, TV, videogames, and
other media todaywell examine the superhero in cultural, ideological, and aesthetic terms.
Preparatory: Senior standing; either two Lower Division courses in literature, or 3 units of Lower
Division literature and ENGL 355. This is a reading- and writing-intensive, research-based course

that requires regular use of Moodle and blogs.

Objectives
By the end of 495SH, you should have demonstrated the ability to participate in and engage
critically with the scholarly discourse regarding the superhero genre. This means the ability to
converse intelligently about the genre, to recognize controversies posed by the genre, and to
construct cogent, well-supported critical analyses of works and issues crucial to the genre.
Pursuant to that goal, you should work throughout the course to achieve the following specific aims:

Broad familiarity with the history of the superhero as a genre from the early 20th to the
early 21st century, including major periods, trends, and figures.

The ability to discuss, analytically and critically, the most

common conventions of the genre, including character types,
plots, settings, and other narrative and artistic conventions.

The ability to discuss, analytically and critically, the political,

ethical and ideological implications and influence of the genre.

Familiarity with fandom as a vital participant in supporting and

defining the genre.

General familiarity with the history of comic book publication,

distribution, retailing and reception from the mid-1930s to
today, including the rise and impact of the comic book
specialty shop.

Requirements
Class participation. 20% of your grade.
Blog: Each of you will create and maintain an individual blog
devoted to superhero studies. This blog will be the platform
for much of your work in 495SH. It must include a number of
required elementssuch as weekly responses to the
readings, as well as the creation of your own superhero by
the end of termbut its look and much of its content and
direction will be left up to you. Constant maintenance of
your blog will be essential to participating in class and
learning the material. Blogs should be set up by the second week of
class, and running smoothly (in a regular rhythm) by Feb. 1. More detailed
guidelines are available in our online syllabus, via Moodleexpect several unusual tasks! 30%.
Discussion Leading: Twice during the term, you will be responsible for launching and directing,
in partnership with a classmate, our in-class discussion of an assigned reading or readings
(signups will start right away). To that end, youll have to post discussion prompts online well
before class, and kick off and guide our conversation for the first 15 to 20 minutes. 20%.
Critical Paper: By semesters end, youll produce a research-based argumentative essay that
engages critically with the superhero genre in terms relevant to our course. This essay should
be a self-directed project that serves as a capstone for your experience in 495SH. Its focus
may be generic, aesthetic, sociocultural, and/or ideological. In format and length, the essay
should be such as could be presented at a research symposium (8 to 9 pages). Ill expect you
to blog a 300-word proposal for the paper, along with an annotated bibliography of at least four
sources, by March 30, and to post a draft of the paper to your blog by April 22. 30%.

Readings
Besides quite a few required articles and comics in PDF (available via Moodle), as well as comics
and possibly other texts you select for your own study, well be using the following titles (many of
whichE are available as e-books as well as in print). Note: Earth-2 Comics in Northridge will offer you
a student discount of 15 percent on these booksjust take this sheet and your student ID with you!
Hatfield, Heer, & Worcester, eds., The Superhero Reader (UP of Mississippi)E
Hoberek, Considering Watchmen: Poetics, Property, Politics (Rutgers UP)E
Kane, Finger, Robinson, et al., Batman Chronicles Vol. 1 (DC)E
Marston & Peter, Wonder Woman Chronicles Vol. 1 (DC
possibly out of print, but crucial for our purposes!)
Marvel Unlimited digital subscription, $10/month (gives
access to Marvel comicstalk to me re: any tech concerns)
Miller, et al., Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC)E
Moore, Gibbons, & Higgins, Watchmen (DC)E
Morrision, Quitely, & Rich, All-Star Superman (DC)E
Sadowski, ed., Supermen! (Fantagraphics)
Siegel & Shuster, Superman Chronicles Vol. 1 (DC Comics)E
Wilson, Alphona, et al., Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal (Marvel)E
Yang & Liew, The Shadow Hero (First Second)E
Plus: several recommended critical texts TBA in class.

Credits: Superman by Shuster, Planetary by Cassaday, Black Panther by Kirby & Sinnott, Wonder Woman by Peter