Instructors: Peter Marks; Erin Copple Smith
Description: The Fantastic Four. The X-Men. The Avengers. The Guardians of the Galaxy. These superheroes and others have captured the imagination for over 50 years. In this course, we will be examining the universe of Marvel Comics, reaching from these superheroes’ origins in comic books to big screen blockbusters to television and beyond. Along the way, we’ll consider transmedia storytelling and the narrative acrobatics it takes to carry a storyline across comic books, TV series, and films. We’ll also look at scholarship discussing the fundamentals of adaptation, the institutional structures of franchising that lead to the creation of the Marvel behemoth. And of course we’ll be reading comics and watching TV and movies. In addition to the course fee, students will be required to purchase a one-month subscription to Marvel’s digital comic book repository, Marvel Unlimited, and will need to have access to an active Disney+ account.
Course taken for a SDU grade only.
Meeting Dates: 01/02/2025 – 01/24/2025
Meeting Times: M-F 9:00AM – 1:00PM
Meeting Location: IDEA Center 127
Section Requisites: None
Course Fee: $10
Out-of-Pocket Expenses: $20