The History of Comic Book Art

University of Victoria
Instructor - Peter Sandmark, Fine Arts
Contact email: sandmark@uvic.ca
Course description and Objectives:
An examination of the history of comic book art from early comic strips of Krazy Kat and Mutt & Jeff to the
comic books of Superman and Batman; from the Golden Age of comic superheroes fighting Nazis in WW
II, to the hysterical anti-communist crusade against crime and horror comics in the 50's; from the revival of
superheroes in the 60's with Spiderman and the Fantastic Four, to the development of underground comics
and graphic novels. The course will look at the impact of comic art on popular culture, within its historical
context, up to its invasion of contemporary Hollywood movies, and its concurrent development and
acceptance as an art form.
Textbook
Arguing Comics - Literary Masters of a Popular Medium, edited by Jeet Heer and Kent Worchester,
University Press of Mississippi, Jackson ISBN 1-57806-686-5 (also available as an e-book from Amazon).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommended texts
A Comic Studies Reader edited by Jeet Heer and Kent Worcester
380 pp, Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (2009); ISBN 978-1-60473-108-8
The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics edited by Bill Blackbeard and Martin Williams, 336
pages, Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.; ISBN 0-87474-172-6
Masters of American comics edited by John Carlin, Paul Karasik, and Brian Walker ; essay by John Carlin;
contributions by Stanley Crouch ... [et al.]. NC1426 M34 2005
Krazy Kat. by Herriman, George, 1880-1944. With an introd. by E. E. Cummings. [Edited by Joseph
Greene and Rex Chessman] NC1429 H45 1969
Men of tomorrow : geeks, gangsters and the birth of the comic book by Jones, Gerard, 1957- PN6725
J664
Give our regards to the atomsmashers! : writers on comics edited and with an introduction by Sean Howe.
PN6726 G56
Understanding comics : [the invisible art] [writing and art, Scott McCloud ; lettering, Bob Lappan ; editor,
Mark Martin]. PN6710 M38
--------------------Books in the Special Collections
The following items are held in Special Collections. Special Collections items
cannot be put on Reserve. However, as they do not circulate, they should
be available for students to consult during the regular hours of
Special Collections:
Complete E.C. Segar : Popeye / foreword by Jules Feiffer ; edited and introduced by Rick Marschall ;
bibliographical essay by Bill Blackbeard, Fantagraphics, 1984
Comix, a history of comic books in America, by Les Daniels, New York : Bonanza Books, 1971

-----------------------------------------------------------------Evaluation and due dates for assignments

1 - Attendance - 15%
2 - Research Paper; due by Class 10, Nov 16 - 50%
A research paper between 5-8 pages on a significant topic raised in the course; students must email their
proposed topic in advance to the teacher by Class 8, Nov 2, for approval.
3 - Final exam - Class 13, Dec 7 - 35%
------------------------------------------------------------------Course outline for 13 classes (starting Tuesday, Sept 14, until Dec 7):
Class 1, Sept 14 - Introduction to class; review of course outline and work for class. The origin of the
comic book, how did comics come about? A brief look at current comics industry, and overview of past
century. Recent exhibitions of comic art, and cross-over into fine art market. Impact of comics in
Hollywood, blockbuster superhero movies, X-men, Spiderman, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Watchmen, Scott
Pilgrim, and more.
Class 2, Sept 21 - Roots of comic forms, origin of comic strips, 1800's to 1919, Cruikshank, Thomas Nast,
Rodolphe Topffer, Yellow Kid, Hearst's Sunday colour comic section in 1896, Winsor McCay's Little Nemo,
Katzenjammer Kids, links with modern art, Lyonel Feininger. Rise of daily comic strips; 20's; TAD, Bud
Fisher's Mutt & Jeff, Rube Goldberg, George Herriman's Krazy Kat, Landon mail order course,
development of comic strips in Europe and Canada.
Class 3, Sept 28 - Comic strips continued: 20's and 30's; development of extended narrative strips: E.C.
Segars' Popeye, Frank King's Gasoline Alley, Little Orphan Annie, Dick Tracy, early comic "books";
adventure comic strips, Captain Easy, Terry and the Pirates, Flash Gordon, Tarzan, Buck Rogers, the
pulps, the Shadow, TinTin and other European strips.
Class 4, Oct 5 - The origin of comic books: Famous Funnies, Action Comics, Detective Comics,
Superman, Batman. Golden Age of comic books; other superheroes developed: Wonder Woman, Captain
Marvel, Jack Kirby's Captain America.
Class 5, Oct 12 - 40's; superheroes fighting Nazis in WW II, increased role of women in comic book biz;
post-war decline of superheroes; overview of diverse genres: romance, western, crime, horror, funny
animal; increased popularity of comic books; Will Eisner's the Spirit; Steve Canyon; Canadian comics
boom,
Class 6, Oct 19 - Spread of comic art into advertising, pop icons and packaging (the Michelin Man, Mr.
Peanut, the Green Giant, Tony the Tiger, Snap Crackle Pop, etc); animation, Disney, Fleischer brothers
cartoons of Popeye, Betty Boop, Superman, crossover into newspaper comics, movies, television.
Class 7, Oct 26 - Post WW II, 50's the decline of the superhero, and the rise of other genres, Archie, Carl
Barks' Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, rise of EC Comics and Mad Magazine. "The Seduction of the
Innocent" and the crusade against juvenile delinquency, comic book burnings, Senate investigations,
downfall of EC comics, and Harvey Kurtzman's line of horror, crime, war and science fiction titles;
sanitization of comics, the Comics Code Authority, the decline of sales; planting the seeds of rebellion;
Pogo and Joe McCarthy; Peanuts, and the new style of newspaper comics.
Class 8, Nov 2 - The Silver Age; DC revival, the Flash, the return of the Superhero; Marvel comics in the
60's, the Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Thor, the Hulk, the Avengers, X-Men, Daredevil, and so on.

Class 9, Nov 9 - 60's comics continued: Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon in Vietnam, Marvel's Dr. Strange, Jim
Sterankos' Nick Fury and connections with the counter culture, underground comics, Zap Comix, R. Crumb,
Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, the Air Pirates vs. Disney, Zippy, Harvey Pekar, Arcade, and more into the
70's. Socially relevant DC and Marvel comics.
Class 10, Nov 16 - 80's & 90's self-publishing phenomenon, "Newave" comics, independent comic
distribution, new publishers: Drawn and Quarterly, alternative weekly comic strips: "Life in Hell", Lynda
Barry; RAW magazine, Art Spiegelman's MAUS, Gary Panter, graphic novels, Seth, Julie Doucet;
International comic trends: French, Belgium, British comic industries, Joost Svarte, Metale Hurlant, Manga
from Japan, etc.
Class 11, Nov 23 - Seattle based Fantagraphics, new artists, DC's New Line, Alan Moore, Darwyn Cooke,
the rise of fandom, comic conventions, art toys, independent comic stores, comic book industry. Guest:
Gareth Gaudin, Legends Comics owner and "Perogy Cat" artist.
Class 12, Nov 30 - Web comics, computer games, websites for comics, the decline of newspapers, and
the future of comic art!
Dec 7 - Final exam
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