Comic Book Literature




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Comics, the combination of words and pictures to tell stories, has been a part of human communication for far longer than many realize, stretching from cave paintings on stone walls to the Bayeux Tapestry to the latest adventures of Batman and Spider-Man. Comics are an incredibly malleable medium, a literary artform that has too often been limited by the public perception of comics as merely a platform for four-color super-heroics. This course will trace the history of comics as a way of telling intimate and epic stories, exploring social and political issues, and capturing the cultural climate via the deceptive simplicity of panels, word balloons, and lines drawn on paper or displayed on device screens. And yes, we will also take a look at superheroes. Readings will include Understanding Comics, Watchmen, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, Fun Home, and Persepolis.

Your instructor: Arnold Blumberg
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.

Class Dates and Time: Tuesdays, March 31 through May 5
12pm Pacific | 1pm Mountain | 2pm Central | 3pm Eastern
Each session is 90 minutes. 
 
Class schedule: Live lecture will take place on Tuesdays via ZOOM 
  • 3/31/2026
  • 4/7/2026
  • 4/14/2026
  • 4/21/2026
  • 4/28/2026
  • 5/5/2026

Class Details

6 Session(s)
Weekly - Tue

Location
Virtual - Any Location

Instructor
Osher Online 

Tuition: 

$70.00

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Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
3/31/2026 - 5/5/2026 Weekly - Tue 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM N/A, Virtual - Any Location  Map Osher Online 

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