Why teach comic books? More specifically why teach superhero comic books? To this I have two answers.
1. The Keynote speaker at the last Rhode Island NCTE convention said that we should teach what the students are into, he was talking about rap music. This also applies to superhero comics. Superheroes are really “hot” right now. I found many teachers that have said students love reading comics for class, and I have never heard a teacher say they hate it. It is good to teach what students are interested in, it helps them be more interested in the class.
2. Why not teach superhero comics? They have every potential to be just as good literature as anything else.
In researching I found that there has been relatively little research done on teaching superhero comics in the high school classroom. And most of this had to do with teaching reading. Very little was available for using comics teach writing.
If I am able to I will definitely teach superhero comics in the classroom. They are great for teaching reading, writing, and creation.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Memo 4
Here are various ideas for writing and creation assignments involving comic books.
Traditional Paper Examples
Students could write a paper on Captain America & The Falcon: Battle of The Captain Americas. Students could explore how the two different Captain America’s reflect two different political positions on how America should be.
With Man-Thing: Plague of The Demon Cult students could write a paper exploring how what it would be like to forced to relate to the would purely by empathy and instinct, lacking any intellect, like the Man-Thing.
With Jonah Hex: Welcome to Paradise students can write a paper exploring Jonah Hex’s psychological tendency to lash out at world that lashes out at him.
With X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga students could write a paper exploring how absolute power can corrupt absolutely, as it does with The Phoenix.
With X-Men: The Days of Future Past students could write a paper on bigotry, as mutants are used as a metaphorical stand-in for all forms of bigotry. It could also be explored with this story on how bigotry can become mutual, and how mutual hate can burn the fire of hatred to a boiling point.
With Batman: The Court of Owls students could write a paper exploring how the art work reflects Batman’s psychological turmoil.
With Meridian: Flying Solo students could write on how Meridian’s gaining of the Sigil is metaphorical for her becoming an adult.
With Astro City: Life in The Big City students could write a paper exploring how day to day life could be impacted by the existence of superheroes.
With Harbinger: The Beginning students could write a paper exploring the psychological traits of the various characters, and how all the characters, heroes and villains, have both good and bad traits.
With Watchmen students could write a paper exploring the moral greyness in Watchmen.
We live in a remake world. Students could write a paper exploring remakes. Students could compare and contrast an original version and a remake of a superhero comic. Students could also explore the various reasons behind the changes. One example would be comparing The Amazing Spider-Man: The Origin with Ultimate Spider-Man: Power & Responsibility.
With The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Man No More students could write a paper exploring the hardships and stress that comes with great responsibility.
With Green Lantern/Green Arrow vols 1 & 2 students could write a paper exploring the various social issues explored in the volumes. What could also be explored is how vastly different world views could work together to come to the truth.
With Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation students could write a paper exploring the humanity of the robots and how humanity is defined.
With Solar: Second Death students could write a paper exploring the metaphor behind Solar splitting in two to fight himself.
Malice is a novel by Chris Wooding that is part traditional novel and part graphic novel. Students could write a paper comparing this two story telling mediums.
Less traditional assignment ideas
This is an assignment idea similar to the one I am doing for God’s Man. Students fill in their own dialogue and thoughts on scanned pages from a standard length comic book that has had the words whited-out.
Students create their own superhero. This superhero must reflect what the student believes to be traits that contemporary American Culture finds positive. Then they create a super villain that reflects what they believe to be traits viewed negativity by contemporary American Culture. This assignment could be elaborated upon with further steps. They could possibly write a story featuring their superhero and super villain. They can also create superheroes and villains for other cultures and compare them to our own.
Students could create a short comic book using the Marvel Method. This method of creating a comic book would be a good way to practice team creation. Here is a description of the Marvel Method from Wikipedia:
“In a plot script the artist works from a story synopsis from the writer, rather than a full script. The artist creates page-by-page plot details on his or her own, after which the work is returned to the writer for the insertion of dialogue. Due to its widespread use at Marvel Comics beginning in the 1960s, primarily under writer-editor Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, this approach became commonly known as the "Marvel method" or "Marvel House style".”
Select a page or two of story that leaves the protagonist in danger. Then ask the students to problem solve and write a way out of the predicament. This can be done as a story, a script, or as an illustrated comic book page. This idea from Education Space: http://www.educationspace360.com/index.php/lesson-plans-using-comic-books-and-superheroes-1740/
This assignment was inspired by one of my peer's Gods' Man assignments. Students are handed cut out panels of a scanned comic book page. They then try to rearrange them to see how many ways they can be arranged meaningfully. This can also be done with Warriors of Plasm or Dark Dominion trading cards, which each card is a comic book panel which come together to create a comic book.
Traditional Paper Examples
Students could write a paper on Captain America & The Falcon: Battle of The Captain Americas. Students could explore how the two different Captain America’s reflect two different political positions on how America should be.
With Man-Thing: Plague of The Demon Cult students could write a paper exploring how what it would be like to forced to relate to the would purely by empathy and instinct, lacking any intellect, like the Man-Thing.
With Jonah Hex: Welcome to Paradise students can write a paper exploring Jonah Hex’s psychological tendency to lash out at world that lashes out at him.
With X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga students could write a paper exploring how absolute power can corrupt absolutely, as it does with The Phoenix.
With X-Men: The Days of Future Past students could write a paper on bigotry, as mutants are used as a metaphorical stand-in for all forms of bigotry. It could also be explored with this story on how bigotry can become mutual, and how mutual hate can burn the fire of hatred to a boiling point.
With Batman: The Court of Owls students could write a paper exploring how the art work reflects Batman’s psychological turmoil.
With Meridian: Flying Solo students could write on how Meridian’s gaining of the Sigil is metaphorical for her becoming an adult.
With Astro City: Life in The Big City students could write a paper exploring how day to day life could be impacted by the existence of superheroes.
With Harbinger: The Beginning students could write a paper exploring the psychological traits of the various characters, and how all the characters, heroes and villains, have both good and bad traits.
With Watchmen students could write a paper exploring the moral greyness in Watchmen.
We live in a remake world. Students could write a paper exploring remakes. Students could compare and contrast an original version and a remake of a superhero comic. Students could also explore the various reasons behind the changes. One example would be comparing The Amazing Spider-Man: The Origin with Ultimate Spider-Man: Power & Responsibility.
With The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Man No More students could write a paper exploring the hardships and stress that comes with great responsibility.
With Green Lantern/Green Arrow vols 1 & 2 students could write a paper exploring the various social issues explored in the volumes. What could also be explored is how vastly different world views could work together to come to the truth.
With Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation students could write a paper exploring the humanity of the robots and how humanity is defined.
With Solar: Second Death students could write a paper exploring the metaphor behind Solar splitting in two to fight himself.
Malice is a novel by Chris Wooding that is part traditional novel and part graphic novel. Students could write a paper comparing this two story telling mediums.
Less traditional assignment ideas
This is an assignment idea similar to the one I am doing for God’s Man. Students fill in their own dialogue and thoughts on scanned pages from a standard length comic book that has had the words whited-out.
Students create their own superhero. This superhero must reflect what the student believes to be traits that contemporary American Culture finds positive. Then they create a super villain that reflects what they believe to be traits viewed negativity by contemporary American Culture. This assignment could be elaborated upon with further steps. They could possibly write a story featuring their superhero and super villain. They can also create superheroes and villains for other cultures and compare them to our own.
Students could create a short comic book using the Marvel Method. This method of creating a comic book would be a good way to practice team creation. Here is a description of the Marvel Method from Wikipedia:
“In a plot script the artist works from a story synopsis from the writer, rather than a full script. The artist creates page-by-page plot details on his or her own, after which the work is returned to the writer for the insertion of dialogue. Due to its widespread use at Marvel Comics beginning in the 1960s, primarily under writer-editor Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, this approach became commonly known as the "Marvel method" or "Marvel House style".”
Select a page or two of story that leaves the protagonist in danger. Then ask the students to problem solve and write a way out of the predicament. This can be done as a story, a script, or as an illustrated comic book page. This idea from Education Space: http://www.educationspace360.com/index.php/lesson-plans-using-comic-books-and-superheroes-1740/
This assignment was inspired by one of my peer's Gods' Man assignments. Students are handed cut out panels of a scanned comic book page. They then try to rearrange them to see how many ways they can be arranged meaningfully. This can also be done with Warriors of Plasm or Dark Dominion trading cards, which each card is a comic book panel which come together to create a comic book.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Photo Blitz
The Starting Time, this is as clear as I could get it. Taking pictures of digital clocks is hard.
Black dominates, but summer is coming.
A dog that likes to chew stuff and a book from the 19th century do not belong together.
What's more open than a dog? Look at that sincere face.
The Phoenix, The Beast, and Prof. X are sad, they think their friends are dead.
This is sooo abstract, can anybody tell me what it is?
A clock, exactly 20 minutes after the previous clock picture. You might not be able to see the time, but, um, anyone who can't see the time is unfit for their position! (Hey, it worked on the Emperor)
I chose to do this blog at home. I chose home because it has the most freedom. It was frustrating getting stuff in focus. The ones with Roxie (my boxer breed dog) worked the best. The one with her standing is the only photo that worked in the first go.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Memo 3B
There is very little information out there about teaching superhero comics in the high school English classroom. I was able to find one article: “Lesson Plans using Comic Books and Superheroes” by Robin Lamb. While I can find other articles about teaching superhero comics, and I can find articles about teaching comics in high school English, this is the only article I could find on teaching superhero comics in the high school English classroom. The article discusses lesson plans for various subjects and writing lesson plans are among them. One lesson plan is for the students to write there own words in the dialogue and thought bubbles (similar to my lesson plan for God’s Man). Another is for the students to using problem solving skills to get a superhero out of a predicament. There is also an idea about having students create their own superheroes, I was assigned a similar assignment in high school but with epic heroes. Analysis papers and reviews are also mentioned. Before reading these lesson plans I came up with some of my own. One was for me to copy some comic pages then cut then cut out the different panels and the students would find different ways in which they could fit together. They would learn how panel placement and “the gutter” work in telling a story in comics.
I am also looking into some books and articles that treat comics as a serious medium and analyzes them. I am looking into Understanding Comics and Superheroes & Philosophy.
Following are two pages from two different superhero comics. With both I look at what could be taught in a high school English class from these pages.

Solar Man of The Atom: Second Death by Jim Shooter and Don Perlin
Here Phil Seleski has lost apart of himself, in the form of his favorite childhood superhero, Solar. He wants to get this part of himself back in him, but he’s having trouble. Strands of Solar’s energy is being shot around the room, but none is going back into Phil. In a page like this a student could write an analysis paper about the metaphor of Solar’s split from Phil.

Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation by Jim Shooter and Art Nichols
Not much going on here, right? It is merely the robot 1-A asking back a question “The whole story?”. But this is a story of a birth of a new type a robot. A robot that isn’t a non-thinking machine, but sentient self-aware being. It is a story of evolution. So when he asks back this question in front of a sweeping ocean scene filled with fish, we are connecting this to the evolution of all things, as life started in the ocean. From a page like students can write about what can be put into the background of the comic to enhance the themes, and how seemingly meaningless images are full of meaning.
I am also looking into some books and articles that treat comics as a serious medium and analyzes them. I am looking into Understanding Comics and Superheroes & Philosophy.
Following are two pages from two different superhero comics. With both I look at what could be taught in a high school English class from these pages.

Solar Man of The Atom: Second Death by Jim Shooter and Don Perlin
Here Phil Seleski has lost apart of himself, in the form of his favorite childhood superhero, Solar. He wants to get this part of himself back in him, but he’s having trouble. Strands of Solar’s energy is being shot around the room, but none is going back into Phil. In a page like this a student could write an analysis paper about the metaphor of Solar’s split from Phil.

Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation by Jim Shooter and Art Nichols
Not much going on here, right? It is merely the robot 1-A asking back a question “The whole story?”. But this is a story of a birth of a new type a robot. A robot that isn’t a non-thinking machine, but sentient self-aware being. It is a story of evolution. So when he asks back this question in front of a sweeping ocean scene filled with fish, we are connecting this to the evolution of all things, as life started in the ocean. From a page like students can write about what can be put into the background of the comic to enhance the themes, and how seemingly meaningless images are full of meaning.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Memo 3A
In Crafting Digital Writing by Troy Hicks there are mentions of using different forms of creating usually not considered for writing assignments. These include Youtube, social networking sites, video games, and comic strips. On pages 160-162 Hicks talks about a student crafted comic strip. Hicks gives three grading criteria for the comic strip: engagement, persistence, and creativity. What to look for in a student's comic writing can also be looked for in professional comics. For example Hicks mentions looking at where the writer chose to place the characters with-in the panels. These are things students could look for when analyzing a comic book.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Memo 2 Follow-up: Full List of Comics
This is my complete “catalog” of comic books I looked into. Memo 2 was just the “highlights” as I thought that the very long word document I created was a bit much for the memo. Here is the catalog in it’s entirety. Dr. Cook mentioned adding more comics with Female leads, so I added five female lead comics to the end of the list.
Comics with female protagonists are: A Distant Soil, Wonder Woman: A Death For Diana, Little Orphan Annie, Baker Street: Honor Among Punks, The Seeker: Identity Crisis, Wonder Woman: Blood, Meridian: Flying Solo, Catwoman: The Game, Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection, and Supergirl: The Last Daughter of Krypton.
Team comics in which one or more females are one of the protagonists are: Watchmen, Unity: Time Is Not Absolute, The New Teen Titans: Trigon Lives, The Avengers: The Kree/Skrull War, Warriors of Plasm: The Sedition Agenda, Harbinger: Beginning, The Uncanny X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga, The Uncanny X-Men: The Days of Future Past, Fantastic Four: The Galactus Trilogy, and The Ultimates.
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
What is it about?
After a superhero is murdered under mysterious circumstances, members of the disbanded superhero team The Watchmen must band together to find the culprit. But the ultimate challenge is not to defeat a super-villain, but to make a difficult moral decision.
Is it well Written?
Yes, it is in fact one of the most critically acclaim comics of all time, if not the most.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The characters are all very deep. The plot is non-liner and presented in a unique manner. The themes are deep. Metaphor runs deep throughout. Morality is explored in a deep fashion; one of the superheroes, despite being a legitimate superhero, is a horrible person. The story ends the characters faced with an impossible to make moral choice. All of this is open for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
It is a little iffy, but I did originally find in my high school library.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Supreme: Second Coming by Rob Liefeld and Brian Murray
What’s it about?
It’s about the super-powered Supreme (similar to Superman, only much angrier and violent) returning to Earth after spending many years in space. An Alien name Khrome the Conqueror follows Supreme to Earth (an evil alien, even more angry and violent than Supreme). They fight, a bunch stuff gets smashed, and a bunch of people get killed.
Is it well written?
By most standards, no.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
I suppose so, it’s pretty violent, but nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
The Maxx vol. 1 by Sam Keith and Bill Messner-Loebs
What’s it about?
It’s about a homeless man who’s mental stability is in question. He regularly “shifts” in between this world, and a fantasy world he calls “The Outback”. He is also a superhero. His only friend is a female social worker. His arch-nemesis is Mister Gone. He is obsessed with the female social worker and kills beautiful women to “prove his love to her”.
Is it well written?
I’d say so. The Maxx is a compelling characters. The plot, characters, and themes are all well developed. It is a deeply psychological piece.
Is there a lesson in this?
I’d say so. The psychological rich characters are ripe for amazing.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Probably not. The violence in this piece is high.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Not likely, due to the mature content of the work.
Jonah Hex: Welcome to Paradise by John Albano and Tony De Zuniga
What’s it about?
It is a western about a bounty hunter named Jonah Hex who goes the town of Paradise Corners to kill several outlaws.
Is it well written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, in fact it has always reminded me in many ways of the type of short story I was assigned in class. Specifically, it ends in a highly thematic way that makes it easy to discuss the themes in class. Also, the highly thematic nature of the story, as I mentioned above, would very teachable.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
A Distant Soil by Colleen Doran
What is it about?
It a space opera about young half-alien girl who must rescue her brother from aliens and save the planet.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The characters, plot, and themes are all fleshed out.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe, but I cannot think of what could be taught from it, though it has been acclaimed for it’s literary merit.
Wonder Woman: A Death For Diana by Dennis O’Neil and Mike Sekowsky
What is it about?
Wonder Woman loses her powers after her people are forced to relocate to another dimentition. She does not go with them because she wishes to be with her love Steve Trevor, but after he is killed she goes after the evil Dr. Cyber for revenge.
Is it well Written?
It’s fairly well written. But it is certainly not perfect. The pacing is inconsistent and sometimes awkward. Characters emotions are often not explored as much as they could be. Themes are interesting, but not explored completely. It does have a solid plot though.
Is there a lesson in this?
In a way. It could be used to explore contriveriesies surrounding our entertainment and authraul intent. When this was released, feminists were greatly offended that the most known female superhero was de-powered. But ultimately she is still strong. In fact emotionally and mentally she is stronger than ever. Multple times she is punished when she relies on a man.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably not, there are probably other works out there where this lesson could be taught that are better written.
Sin City: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller
What is it about?
It’s about a ex-con who falls in love with a woman after one night. She is murdered and he is framed for it. He promptly goes on killing revenge spree.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I feel like there is, but I can’t think of one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No, absolutely not. I list all the reasons why not, but quite frankly that would take too long.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No, despite it’s critical acclaim for literary merit, it’s just not appropriate.
Peanuts by Charles M. Schultz
What is it about?
The humorous lives of kids and a dog named Snoopy.
Is it well Written?
It’s funny, but other than that not really.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
I don’t think so.
Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray
What is it about?
The various adventures of a young orphan girl named Annie.
Is it well Written?
When it is written by the original writer, Harold Gray, it is.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It often gets very political and constantly references the politics and circumstances involving The Great Depression, FDR, and The New Deal. It could be used to look at how comic strips have be used to criticize politicians.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg
What is it about?
It is about The Sandman, the master of dreams, who has been captured by a human cult. This has caused many ill-effects, causing some people to never wake up. He then escapes and goes on a quest to find his missing magic tools.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of, but I feel there is one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes. It is pretty violent, but nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes, and in addition to what is mentioned above it is very acclaimed for it’s literary merit.
The Prez: Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave? by Joe Simon and Jerry Grandenetti
What is it about?
It is about a teenager named Prez, because he parents knew from the moment he was born he was going to be president. This comes true even sooner than he expected we he is elected American president.
Is it well Written?
For the most part, though the pacing is a little off.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. A lesson could be taught about American literature traditions. The story, which is about a fictional American President, uses American literature traditions. It feels very much like an American folk tale. It is also highly comparable to the films of Frank Capra (sometimes considered the “most American” director). It is especially similar to Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Unity: Time is Not Absolute by Jim Shooter, Bob Layton, David Micheillnie, and David Lapham
What is it about?
An evil (but just as tragic) super-villain called The Mother-God seeks to re-write time. She wants to erase tragic aspects of her past that she can no longer that having happened. A group of superheroes, lead by Solar, go to a pocket-dimension (where her HQ is) to try to stop her.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. There is much depth and completely to the characters, especially the villain. The plot is well-constructed, and the themes deep.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No, it’s just not appropriate.
Shadowman: Darque Rapture by Bob Hall Jose Delbo, Don Perlin, and Yvel Guichet
What is it about?
Jack Boniface was once just another jazz musician in New Orleans. But after a mysterious woman tried to kill him, something in him has changed. Every night his personality changes. He feels the need to smite evil and he no longer feels fear. When a mysterious man known as Master Darque starts a cult in which the members feel compelled to commit suicide, Shadowman must stop him.
Is it well Written?
Yes. Shadowman’s thoughts are highly introspective and psychological.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by analyzing Shadowman’s character.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Probably.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore by Dennis O’Neil and Curt Swan
What is it about?
Kryptonite has been wiped from planet Earth, but in the process Superman seems to be loosing some of his powers. Through this realization and interactions with a sand-copy of himself, he gets more introspective than he was before. Meanwhile the sand copy becomes more and more self-aware.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. Superman is highly introspective in this story. Both Superman and his copy grow and come to various realizations through the course of the story. These aspects of the story can be explored in class.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Firestorm: Kiss Not The Lips of Killer Frost by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom
What is it about?
Teenager Ronnie Raymond and scientist Martin Stein fuze atoms to become the superhero Firestorm. When an accident turns a scientist into Killer Frost, it is up to Firestorm to stop her.
Is it well Written?
Yes. There are well-developed characters and complex themes. Ronnie’s immaturity contrasts against his superpowers as Firestorm.
Is there a lesson in this?
We can talk about societies affect on people. The two people who make up Firestorm are both male WASPs. One is also a jock and the other a successful scientist. The villains tend to have more oppressed roles in society. Killer Frost is a woman who was a great scientist, but her peers never took her seriously because she’s a woman. Did society play a role in Killer Frost being a villain? If she was not treated badly due to being a woman would she have become a superhero instead of a super villain after she got her powers?
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Warlord: This Savage World by Mike Grell
What is it about?
A solider while flying over the North Pole accidentally ends up in a Jules Verne-like world hidden beneath the surface of the Earth, in which the Earth’s core acts as their sun. There he meets a woman for whom he develops feelings, but when she is captured by an evil sorcerer, he must save her.
Is it well Written?
Despite being very heavy in clichés it well written. It is very aware of the traditions in which it follows, parrels to epics, chivalric romances, and 1001 Nights are obvious.
Is there a lesson in this?
Perhaps, but only as catalyst for the literary traditions in which it is a part of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
The New Teen Titans: Trigon Lives by Marv Wolfman, George Perez, and Curt Swan
What is it about?
The Teen Titans must stop the cosmic-powered Trigon (the father of the Teen Titan Raven) from plundering our dimension.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The characters are well developed and act as each-others foils. The plot and themes are also complex.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, it is ripe for analysis, especially the different characters contrasting views of morality.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Puma Blues: Buffers by Stephen Murphy and Michael Zulli
What is it about?
Agent Gavia Immer’s job is displace mutated animals and test PH levels of a reservoir in the post-apocalyptic wilderness.
Is it well Written?
Yes. It is highly experimental and introspective.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, this experimental introspective narrative is ripe for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore
What is it about?
Police Officer Rick is shot by a criminal and sent to the hospital. When he wakes up weeks later, the world is over-run with zombies. He searches the zombie ridden world for his family.
Is it well Written?
Yes. It more than just about zombies. The tag-line “In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living” hints at the greater depth hidden beneath the surface.
Is there a lesson in this?
There is much to analyze here. As Robert Kirkman says in the introduction, this is social commentary.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
It’s not violent as one would think, but it is still probably pushing it.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Not likely, it is fairly violent.
Green Lantern: The War of The Green Lanterns by Geoff Johns, Tony Bedard, and Peter Tomasi
What is it about?
Most of the Green Lantern corps is being mind controlled by Krona. The remaining Green Lanterns (along with others) must stop Krona and save the corps.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The plot is engaging, the characters are complex, and the themes are deep.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, we could analyze the emotional/color spectrum and how they affect the different characters. Different colored power rings bring out different emotions in the wearer. Green is willpower, red is rage, orange is avarice, yellow is fear, blue is hope, indigo is compassion, and sapphire is love.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Batman: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
What is it about?
A series of brutal murders occur in Gotham City. Batman begins to suspect that it is an urban legend, the elitist cult, The Court of Owls, that is behind the murders. But as batman is showing signs of strain, is he just imagining the whole thing?
Is it well Written?
Yes. It has well developed characters, plot, and themes. It is also highly psychological.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It can be analyzed how the art relates to the story. As Batman goes into more intense psychological strain, the art reflects it. As the story reaches it’s highest level of intensity, the art disorientates the reader in way have never seen elsewhere.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes, nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Kingdom of The Wicked by Ian Edginton and D’Israeli
What is it about?
As a child Christopher Grahame entered a magical world of imagination filled with many friends, like talking teddy bears. However as he grew older he stopped entering this world. He grew up, had a family, and became a famous children’s author. But after he starts experiencing headaches and blackouts, he re-enters the world again. But this world is different, after he left a distorted reflection of Christopher took over. Now it’s a world of war, violence, and suffering.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, it is heavy in metaphor.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
X-O Manowar: Retribution by Jim Shooter, Bob Layton, Steve Englehart, and Barry Windsor-Smith
What is it about?
In ancient times the savage warrior Aric is abducted by spider aliens. He steals their special armor, the X-O Manowar suit, blows up their ship and escapes. But while he was in their ship thousands of years have past, and it is now the 1990s.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It takes a good look at cultural clashes. At first he does not speak any living language and completely misunderstands many aspects of the world in which he is living.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Avengers: The Kree/Skrull War by Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, John Buscema, and Sal Buscema
What is it about?
The Avengers find out that there is a secret war erupting on Earth between two alien species.
Is it well Written?
Yes..
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can tell.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Spawn: Questions by Todd McFarlane
What is it about?
Spawn has no memory. He must try to remember who is, and why he sold his soul to the Malebolgia.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Psychological analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Baker Street: Honor Among Punks by Guy Davis and Gary Reed
What is it about?
In alterative reality World War II never happened. In England the Victorian values and class system are still intact. Sherlock Holmes is re-imagined as a female punk (complete with pierces and over-the-top hair-do). Watson is re-imagined as a female art student from America. They must solve a series of murders.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Perhaps seeing who some stories live on by being re-imagined for contemporary readers.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
The Seeker: Identity Crisis by Gary Reed and Chris Massarotto
What is it about?
Many different people have been The Seeker over the years. But after The Seeker becomes a public icon, the government decides to makes a task force of their own Seekers. But this is unnatural and can only end badly.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Character analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Warriors of Plasm: The Sedition Agenda by Jim Shooter and David Lapham
What is it about?
Far from earth is a planet which is also a living organism: the Org of Plasm. On this planet, Plasm is everything. It serves as their money, their oil, their food, their buildings, and everything else. This society views life a disposable and individual worth is a foreign idea. But one man, Lorca, wants things to change, so he hatches a plan. This plan ultimately leads to him genetically modifying five humans from Earth. These five are the Warrior of Plasm.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The highly metaphorical Plasm is ripe for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Harbinger: The Beginning by Jim Shooter and David Lapham
What is it about?
When Peter is trying to cope with new powers he develops, he seeks help from the Harbinger Foundation. But when is discovers their less than honorable actions he must go on the run.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The characters could all be psycho-analyzed as they are all psychological complex, even the main villain. There also are also moral lessons of consequences for one’s actions in story.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Skreemer by Peter Milligan and Brett Ewins
What is it about?
After “the fall” the United States is in chaos. This is the story of two individuals, one who will do anything to retain his moral integrity in this new harsh world, and another who will do anything to rise to the top. But ultimately neither is completely good or evil.
Is it well Written?
Yes, it is one of the deepest things I have ever read.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, every aspect of this could be analyzed.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Unfortunately no.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No, as wonderful a work as it is, it is really brutal and just not appropriate.
Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Vols 1&2 by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams
What is it about?
Galactic Police officer Green Lantern Teams up with anarchist Green Arrow.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by looking into the different world views and moral perspectives the two main characters bring to the story. The stories in these volumes are also noted for their social relevance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes, something interesting about these stories is that they are among the first comics (that I know of, early 1970s) to be discussed on a college campus.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Man, No More by Stan Lee and John Romita
What is it about?
Tired of all the stress and hardships being a superhero costs him, Peter Parker decides to stop being Spider-man.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
It could be explored on how “with great power comes great responsibility”.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Llyod
What is it about?
In the future England is ruled by a totalitarian government. V is on mission to over throw this government.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Kind of iffy, but I know of at least one instance when it was taught in high school.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Man-Thing: Plague of The Demon Cult by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerick
What is it about?
Demon’s are invading our world, it up the Jennifer Kale and The Man-Thing to stop them.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
An analysis of Man-Thing’s unique way of relating to the world. Man-Thing is an empath, he relates to the world mostly through emotions and what he senses in peoples souls. His actions are driven enterly by these abilities and pure instinct. He is not capable of any kind “thinking”.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Solar: Alpha & Omega/Second Death by Jim Shooter, Barry Windsor-Smith, Bob Layton, and Don Perlin
What is it about?
Dr. Seleski gets superpowers after a nuclear accident. After a series of events he restarts the world from just before the accident, but retains his powers. But after he is torn psychologically he splits in two and must fight himself.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The highly metaphoric “split” of Solar could be analyzed in a class.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Captain America & The Falcon: Battle of The Captain Americas by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema
What is it about?
The original Captain America from the 40s disappeared beneath the ocean. In the 50s a new Captain America was born, but after a mental break he was imprisoned. Now the original Captain America has returned and becomes the new Captain America of the 60s and 70s. But later the 50s one returns and they fight.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The Battle between the two Captain Americas can be seen a metaphorical for a divide in American Values. The 50s Captain America represents McCarthyism and racism, while the true Captain America represents freedom and tolerance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation by Jim Shooter and Art Nichols
What is it about?
Magnus has been destroying freewill robots all of his life. But are they any less deserving of free will and life than humans?
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by analysis of the robots and their role in the futuristic society, and in the various ways the futuristic society subtly oppresses humans as well.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Spider-Man: The Origin/Ultimate Spider-Man: Power & Responsibility
What is it about?
These are both two different versions of Spider-Man’s origin. The Original 60s version and the 2000 remake.
Is it well Written?
The first one is a little rushed being confined to 15 pages, but the remake is well written.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The comparison of the two. There are many differences between them. The original is about 15 pages, the remake is seven issues long, each issue being about 20 pages. How do the differences in the stories reflect the cultural differences of the times?
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Dark Dominion: Haunts of The Very Rich by Len Wein, Jim Shooter, Joe James, and Janet Jackson
What is it about?
The man known as The Glimmer of Hope must stop Chasm from exploiting the downtrodden.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, the philosophical viewpoints in this can be explored.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Incredible Hulk: Heart of The Atom by Roy Thomas, Harlan Ellison, and Archie Goodwin
What is it about?
When the Hulk enters the heart of the atom, he finds his own heart.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I think so.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
The Uncanny X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
What is it about?
The Phoenix has let herself be overwhelmed by her own supreme power, and the other X-Men must stop her.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The characters are well developed and act as each-others foils. The plot and themes are also complex.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. There is complexities to the characters. There is also a unique portrayal how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Uncanny X-Men: The Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
What is it about?
In the future mutant are kept in concentration camps, the mind of one of the X-Men is sent back in time to stop a mutant terrorist attack that sets of a series of events that leads to this happening.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It is a highly metaphorical portrayal of tolerance and intolerance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Silver Surfer: When Lands the Saucer by Stan Lee and John Buscema
What is it about?
The Silver Surfer’s greatest weakness is his seclusion and loneliness. The alien Badoon’s most effective attack against the Silver Surfer is not with Lasers, but by tricking the humans into loosing their trust in him.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, it is very introspective.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Captain Marvel: The Thanos Saga
What is it about?
The evil Thanos must be stopped by Captain Marvel.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably not.
Yu Yu Hakusho: Goodbye Material World by Yoshihiro Togashi
What is it about?
Yusuke Urameshi is a punk teenager. Everyone knows he is rotten. Most of his peers fear him and his teachers despise him. He is a slacker and a bully. So when he dies saving a little kid from being hit by a speeding car, even the Grim Reaper is caught off guard.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. Not everyone is as they appears, there are sides to people must don’t see it.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Nexus: The Origin by Mike Baron and Steve Rude
What is it about?
In space opera future Nexus dreams about killers, and he must kill them or he will grow ill. He is feared throughout the galaxy.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, the is much introspection to the main character.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Kinda Pushing it.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth by Jack Kirby
What is it about?
Kamandi, the last survivor of an underground human civilization goes onto the surface of Earth to discover it is populated by intelligent bi-pedal animal
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Fantastic Four: The Galactus Trilogy by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
What is it about?
The Fantastic Four must stop the giant alien Galactus from absorb the Earth energy.
Is it well Written?
The characters are fairly well-developed. But despite the this story being highly acclaimed there issues with pacing, plot, and dialogue.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross
What is it about?
News photographer Phil Sheldon is an everyman living in a world of superheroes.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I feel there is one, but I can’t think of one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
I think so.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
Astro City: Life in The City by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
What is it about?
The viewpoint shifts between various charaters in Astro City, which has a high population of superheroes. Viewpoints shift between superheroes, super villains, and everyday people.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I feel there is one, but I can’t think of one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch
What is it about?
Several of the famous Avengers (Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, and The Wasp) are re-imagined in a dark interstitial in which most of the characters, even the superheroes, are hard to like. After a being form by SHEILD and having to fight one of their own (The Hulk) they must stop an alien invasion.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Are these characters still superheroes even though most of them (especially The Hulk and Giant-Man) are anything but heroic in there actions?
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Ghost Rider: Origin by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas, and Mike Ploog
What is it about?
Johnny Blaze sells his soul to the Devil to save his father from dieing. Even though Satan allows his father to die (through a loop-hole) Johnny Blaze still must become The Ghost Rider and send Satan souls.
Is it well Written?
Not really.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Defenders: Revenge of The Nameless One by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema
What is it about?
The Hulk, Dr. Strange, The Sub-Mariner, and The Silver Surfer team up to defeat the Nameless One.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe
Man-Thing: Day of The Killer, Night of The Fool by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerick
What is it about?
The Fool-Killer kills all he thinks are fools. When he comes into town, will the Man-Thing see that evil in him and stop him from passing judgment?
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Omega The Unknown: by Jonathan Lethem and Farel Dalrymple
What is it about?
Omega is an unknown superhero, but what is really unknown is his connection to 12-year old boy James-Michael Starling.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Luke Cage, Hero For Hire: Out of Hell a Hero by Archie Goodwin and George Tuska
What is it about?
Prison Luke Cage is experimented on while is prison. After something goes wrong he escapes, with new superpowers. He decides to become a hero for hire. He’ll be your superhero, but only if you pay him.
Is it well Written?
Fairly.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not really.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Tomb of Dracula: His Name is Blade by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan
What is it about?
Vampire hunter Blade goes on the hunt for Dracula.
Is it well Written?
Fairly.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Were-Wolf by Night by Roy Thomas, Jeanie Thomas, Gerry Conway, and Mike Ploog
What is it about?
A teenager inherits the were-wolf gene from his father.
Is it well Written?
Relatively.
Is there a lesson in this?
Connections to the gothic tradition.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Wonder Woman: Blood by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang
What is it about?
When Woman Woman finds out her father is her life is shattered.
Is it well Written?
Seems to be.
Is there a lesson in this?
Possibly.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Seems to be.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Meridian: Flying Solo by Barbara Kesel and Steve McNiven
What is it about?
Sephie, a sheltered young girl whose life resembles nothing so much as a fairy tale. The beloved only child of the Minister of Meridian, she grows up with an entire floating city as her playground. When her father dies, and she inherits a sigil imbued with the power to create. So does her wicked Uncle Ilahn, except that his powers are bent on destruction and domination.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Probably, but It’s been a few years and I can’t get my hands on a copy.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
Catwoman: The Game by Judd Winick and Guillem March
What is it about?
Catwoman is a master thief, but when she steals from the wrong person she must face his wrath.
Is it well Written?
Not really.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can tell.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection by Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf
What is it about?
Batgirl must face a new villain and secrets from her past.
Is it well Written?
Seems to be.
Is there a lesson in this?
Possibly.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Supergirl: Last Daughter of Krypton by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
What is it about?
Supergirl has the same powers as Superman. But unlike Superman she is an unpredictable teenager and has no affection for Earth. A villain seeks her out for answers.
Is it well Written?
Probably.
Is there a lesson in this?
Possibly.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Comics with female protagonists are: A Distant Soil, Wonder Woman: A Death For Diana, Little Orphan Annie, Baker Street: Honor Among Punks, The Seeker: Identity Crisis, Wonder Woman: Blood, Meridian: Flying Solo, Catwoman: The Game, Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection, and Supergirl: The Last Daughter of Krypton.
Team comics in which one or more females are one of the protagonists are: Watchmen, Unity: Time Is Not Absolute, The New Teen Titans: Trigon Lives, The Avengers: The Kree/Skrull War, Warriors of Plasm: The Sedition Agenda, Harbinger: Beginning, The Uncanny X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga, The Uncanny X-Men: The Days of Future Past, Fantastic Four: The Galactus Trilogy, and The Ultimates.
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
What is it about?
After a superhero is murdered under mysterious circumstances, members of the disbanded superhero team The Watchmen must band together to find the culprit. But the ultimate challenge is not to defeat a super-villain, but to make a difficult moral decision.
Is it well Written?
Yes, it is in fact one of the most critically acclaim comics of all time, if not the most.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The characters are all very deep. The plot is non-liner and presented in a unique manner. The themes are deep. Metaphor runs deep throughout. Morality is explored in a deep fashion; one of the superheroes, despite being a legitimate superhero, is a horrible person. The story ends the characters faced with an impossible to make moral choice. All of this is open for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
It is a little iffy, but I did originally find in my high school library.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Supreme: Second Coming by Rob Liefeld and Brian Murray
What’s it about?
It’s about the super-powered Supreme (similar to Superman, only much angrier and violent) returning to Earth after spending many years in space. An Alien name Khrome the Conqueror follows Supreme to Earth (an evil alien, even more angry and violent than Supreme). They fight, a bunch stuff gets smashed, and a bunch of people get killed.
Is it well written?
By most standards, no.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
I suppose so, it’s pretty violent, but nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
The Maxx vol. 1 by Sam Keith and Bill Messner-Loebs
What’s it about?
It’s about a homeless man who’s mental stability is in question. He regularly “shifts” in between this world, and a fantasy world he calls “The Outback”. He is also a superhero. His only friend is a female social worker. His arch-nemesis is Mister Gone. He is obsessed with the female social worker and kills beautiful women to “prove his love to her”.
Is it well written?
I’d say so. The Maxx is a compelling characters. The plot, characters, and themes are all well developed. It is a deeply psychological piece.
Is there a lesson in this?
I’d say so. The psychological rich characters are ripe for amazing.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Probably not. The violence in this piece is high.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Not likely, due to the mature content of the work.
Jonah Hex: Welcome to Paradise by John Albano and Tony De Zuniga
What’s it about?
It is a western about a bounty hunter named Jonah Hex who goes the town of Paradise Corners to kill several outlaws.
Is it well written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, in fact it has always reminded me in many ways of the type of short story I was assigned in class. Specifically, it ends in a highly thematic way that makes it easy to discuss the themes in class. Also, the highly thematic nature of the story, as I mentioned above, would very teachable.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
A Distant Soil by Colleen Doran
What is it about?
It a space opera about young half-alien girl who must rescue her brother from aliens and save the planet.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The characters, plot, and themes are all fleshed out.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe, but I cannot think of what could be taught from it, though it has been acclaimed for it’s literary merit.
Wonder Woman: A Death For Diana by Dennis O’Neil and Mike Sekowsky
What is it about?
Wonder Woman loses her powers after her people are forced to relocate to another dimentition. She does not go with them because she wishes to be with her love Steve Trevor, but after he is killed she goes after the evil Dr. Cyber for revenge.
Is it well Written?
It’s fairly well written. But it is certainly not perfect. The pacing is inconsistent and sometimes awkward. Characters emotions are often not explored as much as they could be. Themes are interesting, but not explored completely. It does have a solid plot though.
Is there a lesson in this?
In a way. It could be used to explore contriveriesies surrounding our entertainment and authraul intent. When this was released, feminists were greatly offended that the most known female superhero was de-powered. But ultimately she is still strong. In fact emotionally and mentally she is stronger than ever. Multple times she is punished when she relies on a man.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably not, there are probably other works out there where this lesson could be taught that are better written.
Sin City: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller
What is it about?
It’s about a ex-con who falls in love with a woman after one night. She is murdered and he is framed for it. He promptly goes on killing revenge spree.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I feel like there is, but I can’t think of one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No, absolutely not. I list all the reasons why not, but quite frankly that would take too long.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No, despite it’s critical acclaim for literary merit, it’s just not appropriate.
Peanuts by Charles M. Schultz
What is it about?
The humorous lives of kids and a dog named Snoopy.
Is it well Written?
It’s funny, but other than that not really.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
I don’t think so.
Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray
What is it about?
The various adventures of a young orphan girl named Annie.
Is it well Written?
When it is written by the original writer, Harold Gray, it is.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It often gets very political and constantly references the politics and circumstances involving The Great Depression, FDR, and The New Deal. It could be used to look at how comic strips have be used to criticize politicians.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg
What is it about?
It is about The Sandman, the master of dreams, who has been captured by a human cult. This has caused many ill-effects, causing some people to never wake up. He then escapes and goes on a quest to find his missing magic tools.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of, but I feel there is one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes. It is pretty violent, but nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes, and in addition to what is mentioned above it is very acclaimed for it’s literary merit.
The Prez: Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave? by Joe Simon and Jerry Grandenetti
What is it about?
It is about a teenager named Prez, because he parents knew from the moment he was born he was going to be president. This comes true even sooner than he expected we he is elected American president.
Is it well Written?
For the most part, though the pacing is a little off.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. A lesson could be taught about American literature traditions. The story, which is about a fictional American President, uses American literature traditions. It feels very much like an American folk tale. It is also highly comparable to the films of Frank Capra (sometimes considered the “most American” director). It is especially similar to Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Unity: Time is Not Absolute by Jim Shooter, Bob Layton, David Micheillnie, and David Lapham
What is it about?
An evil (but just as tragic) super-villain called The Mother-God seeks to re-write time. She wants to erase tragic aspects of her past that she can no longer that having happened. A group of superheroes, lead by Solar, go to a pocket-dimension (where her HQ is) to try to stop her.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. There is much depth and completely to the characters, especially the villain. The plot is well-constructed, and the themes deep.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No, it’s just not appropriate.
Shadowman: Darque Rapture by Bob Hall Jose Delbo, Don Perlin, and Yvel Guichet
What is it about?
Jack Boniface was once just another jazz musician in New Orleans. But after a mysterious woman tried to kill him, something in him has changed. Every night his personality changes. He feels the need to smite evil and he no longer feels fear. When a mysterious man known as Master Darque starts a cult in which the members feel compelled to commit suicide, Shadowman must stop him.
Is it well Written?
Yes. Shadowman’s thoughts are highly introspective and psychological.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by analyzing Shadowman’s character.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Probably.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore by Dennis O’Neil and Curt Swan
What is it about?
Kryptonite has been wiped from planet Earth, but in the process Superman seems to be loosing some of his powers. Through this realization and interactions with a sand-copy of himself, he gets more introspective than he was before. Meanwhile the sand copy becomes more and more self-aware.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. Superman is highly introspective in this story. Both Superman and his copy grow and come to various realizations through the course of the story. These aspects of the story can be explored in class.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Firestorm: Kiss Not The Lips of Killer Frost by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom
What is it about?
Teenager Ronnie Raymond and scientist Martin Stein fuze atoms to become the superhero Firestorm. When an accident turns a scientist into Killer Frost, it is up to Firestorm to stop her.
Is it well Written?
Yes. There are well-developed characters and complex themes. Ronnie’s immaturity contrasts against his superpowers as Firestorm.
Is there a lesson in this?
We can talk about societies affect on people. The two people who make up Firestorm are both male WASPs. One is also a jock and the other a successful scientist. The villains tend to have more oppressed roles in society. Killer Frost is a woman who was a great scientist, but her peers never took her seriously because she’s a woman. Did society play a role in Killer Frost being a villain? If she was not treated badly due to being a woman would she have become a superhero instead of a super villain after she got her powers?
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Warlord: This Savage World by Mike Grell
What is it about?
A solider while flying over the North Pole accidentally ends up in a Jules Verne-like world hidden beneath the surface of the Earth, in which the Earth’s core acts as their sun. There he meets a woman for whom he develops feelings, but when she is captured by an evil sorcerer, he must save her.
Is it well Written?
Despite being very heavy in clichés it well written. It is very aware of the traditions in which it follows, parrels to epics, chivalric romances, and 1001 Nights are obvious.
Is there a lesson in this?
Perhaps, but only as catalyst for the literary traditions in which it is a part of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
The New Teen Titans: Trigon Lives by Marv Wolfman, George Perez, and Curt Swan
What is it about?
The Teen Titans must stop the cosmic-powered Trigon (the father of the Teen Titan Raven) from plundering our dimension.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The characters are well developed and act as each-others foils. The plot and themes are also complex.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, it is ripe for analysis, especially the different characters contrasting views of morality.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Puma Blues: Buffers by Stephen Murphy and Michael Zulli
What is it about?
Agent Gavia Immer’s job is displace mutated animals and test PH levels of a reservoir in the post-apocalyptic wilderness.
Is it well Written?
Yes. It is highly experimental and introspective.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, this experimental introspective narrative is ripe for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore
What is it about?
Police Officer Rick is shot by a criminal and sent to the hospital. When he wakes up weeks later, the world is over-run with zombies. He searches the zombie ridden world for his family.
Is it well Written?
Yes. It more than just about zombies. The tag-line “In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living” hints at the greater depth hidden beneath the surface.
Is there a lesson in this?
There is much to analyze here. As Robert Kirkman says in the introduction, this is social commentary.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
It’s not violent as one would think, but it is still probably pushing it.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Not likely, it is fairly violent.
Green Lantern: The War of The Green Lanterns by Geoff Johns, Tony Bedard, and Peter Tomasi
What is it about?
Most of the Green Lantern corps is being mind controlled by Krona. The remaining Green Lanterns (along with others) must stop Krona and save the corps.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The plot is engaging, the characters are complex, and the themes are deep.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, we could analyze the emotional/color spectrum and how they affect the different characters. Different colored power rings bring out different emotions in the wearer. Green is willpower, red is rage, orange is avarice, yellow is fear, blue is hope, indigo is compassion, and sapphire is love.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Batman: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
What is it about?
A series of brutal murders occur in Gotham City. Batman begins to suspect that it is an urban legend, the elitist cult, The Court of Owls, that is behind the murders. But as batman is showing signs of strain, is he just imagining the whole thing?
Is it well Written?
Yes. It has well developed characters, plot, and themes. It is also highly psychological.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It can be analyzed how the art relates to the story. As Batman goes into more intense psychological strain, the art reflects it. As the story reaches it’s highest level of intensity, the art disorientates the reader in way have never seen elsewhere.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes, nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Kingdom of The Wicked by Ian Edginton and D’Israeli
What is it about?
As a child Christopher Grahame entered a magical world of imagination filled with many friends, like talking teddy bears. However as he grew older he stopped entering this world. He grew up, had a family, and became a famous children’s author. But after he starts experiencing headaches and blackouts, he re-enters the world again. But this world is different, after he left a distorted reflection of Christopher took over. Now it’s a world of war, violence, and suffering.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, it is heavy in metaphor.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
X-O Manowar: Retribution by Jim Shooter, Bob Layton, Steve Englehart, and Barry Windsor-Smith
What is it about?
In ancient times the savage warrior Aric is abducted by spider aliens. He steals their special armor, the X-O Manowar suit, blows up their ship and escapes. But while he was in their ship thousands of years have past, and it is now the 1990s.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It takes a good look at cultural clashes. At first he does not speak any living language and completely misunderstands many aspects of the world in which he is living.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Avengers: The Kree/Skrull War by Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, John Buscema, and Sal Buscema
What is it about?
The Avengers find out that there is a secret war erupting on Earth between two alien species.
Is it well Written?
Yes..
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can tell.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Spawn: Questions by Todd McFarlane
What is it about?
Spawn has no memory. He must try to remember who is, and why he sold his soul to the Malebolgia.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Psychological analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Baker Street: Honor Among Punks by Guy Davis and Gary Reed
What is it about?
In alterative reality World War II never happened. In England the Victorian values and class system are still intact. Sherlock Holmes is re-imagined as a female punk (complete with pierces and over-the-top hair-do). Watson is re-imagined as a female art student from America. They must solve a series of murders.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Perhaps seeing who some stories live on by being re-imagined for contemporary readers.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
The Seeker: Identity Crisis by Gary Reed and Chris Massarotto
What is it about?
Many different people have been The Seeker over the years. But after The Seeker becomes a public icon, the government decides to makes a task force of their own Seekers. But this is unnatural and can only end badly.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Character analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Warriors of Plasm: The Sedition Agenda by Jim Shooter and David Lapham
What is it about?
Far from earth is a planet which is also a living organism: the Org of Plasm. On this planet, Plasm is everything. It serves as their money, their oil, their food, their buildings, and everything else. This society views life a disposable and individual worth is a foreign idea. But one man, Lorca, wants things to change, so he hatches a plan. This plan ultimately leads to him genetically modifying five humans from Earth. These five are the Warrior of Plasm.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The highly metaphorical Plasm is ripe for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Harbinger: The Beginning by Jim Shooter and David Lapham
What is it about?
When Peter is trying to cope with new powers he develops, he seeks help from the Harbinger Foundation. But when is discovers their less than honorable actions he must go on the run.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The characters could all be psycho-analyzed as they are all psychological complex, even the main villain. There also are also moral lessons of consequences for one’s actions in story.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Skreemer by Peter Milligan and Brett Ewins
What is it about?
After “the fall” the United States is in chaos. This is the story of two individuals, one who will do anything to retain his moral integrity in this new harsh world, and another who will do anything to rise to the top. But ultimately neither is completely good or evil.
Is it well Written?
Yes, it is one of the deepest things I have ever read.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, every aspect of this could be analyzed.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Unfortunately no.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No, as wonderful a work as it is, it is really brutal and just not appropriate.
Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Vols 1&2 by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams
What is it about?
Galactic Police officer Green Lantern Teams up with anarchist Green Arrow.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by looking into the different world views and moral perspectives the two main characters bring to the story. The stories in these volumes are also noted for their social relevance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes, something interesting about these stories is that they are among the first comics (that I know of, early 1970s) to be discussed on a college campus.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Man, No More by Stan Lee and John Romita
What is it about?
Tired of all the stress and hardships being a superhero costs him, Peter Parker decides to stop being Spider-man.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
It could be explored on how “with great power comes great responsibility”.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Llyod
What is it about?
In the future England is ruled by a totalitarian government. V is on mission to over throw this government.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Kind of iffy, but I know of at least one instance when it was taught in high school.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Man-Thing: Plague of The Demon Cult by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerick
What is it about?
Demon’s are invading our world, it up the Jennifer Kale and The Man-Thing to stop them.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
An analysis of Man-Thing’s unique way of relating to the world. Man-Thing is an empath, he relates to the world mostly through emotions and what he senses in peoples souls. His actions are driven enterly by these abilities and pure instinct. He is not capable of any kind “thinking”.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Solar: Alpha & Omega/Second Death by Jim Shooter, Barry Windsor-Smith, Bob Layton, and Don Perlin
What is it about?
Dr. Seleski gets superpowers after a nuclear accident. After a series of events he restarts the world from just before the accident, but retains his powers. But after he is torn psychologically he splits in two and must fight himself.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The highly metaphoric “split” of Solar could be analyzed in a class.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Captain America & The Falcon: Battle of The Captain Americas by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema
What is it about?
The original Captain America from the 40s disappeared beneath the ocean. In the 50s a new Captain America was born, but after a mental break he was imprisoned. Now the original Captain America has returned and becomes the new Captain America of the 60s and 70s. But later the 50s one returns and they fight.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The Battle between the two Captain Americas can be seen a metaphorical for a divide in American Values. The 50s Captain America represents McCarthyism and racism, while the true Captain America represents freedom and tolerance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation by Jim Shooter and Art Nichols
What is it about?
Magnus has been destroying freewill robots all of his life. But are they any less deserving of free will and life than humans?
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by analysis of the robots and their role in the futuristic society, and in the various ways the futuristic society subtly oppresses humans as well.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Spider-Man: The Origin/Ultimate Spider-Man: Power & Responsibility
What is it about?
These are both two different versions of Spider-Man’s origin. The Original 60s version and the 2000 remake.
Is it well Written?
The first one is a little rushed being confined to 15 pages, but the remake is well written.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The comparison of the two. There are many differences between them. The original is about 15 pages, the remake is seven issues long, each issue being about 20 pages. How do the differences in the stories reflect the cultural differences of the times?
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Dark Dominion: Haunts of The Very Rich by Len Wein, Jim Shooter, Joe James, and Janet Jackson
What is it about?
The man known as The Glimmer of Hope must stop Chasm from exploiting the downtrodden.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, the philosophical viewpoints in this can be explored.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Incredible Hulk: Heart of The Atom by Roy Thomas, Harlan Ellison, and Archie Goodwin
What is it about?
When the Hulk enters the heart of the atom, he finds his own heart.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I think so.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
The Uncanny X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
What is it about?
The Phoenix has let herself be overwhelmed by her own supreme power, and the other X-Men must stop her.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The characters are well developed and act as each-others foils. The plot and themes are also complex.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. There is complexities to the characters. There is also a unique portrayal how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Uncanny X-Men: The Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
What is it about?
In the future mutant are kept in concentration camps, the mind of one of the X-Men is sent back in time to stop a mutant terrorist attack that sets of a series of events that leads to this happening.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It is a highly metaphorical portrayal of tolerance and intolerance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Silver Surfer: When Lands the Saucer by Stan Lee and John Buscema
What is it about?
The Silver Surfer’s greatest weakness is his seclusion and loneliness. The alien Badoon’s most effective attack against the Silver Surfer is not with Lasers, but by tricking the humans into loosing their trust in him.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, it is very introspective.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Captain Marvel: The Thanos Saga
What is it about?
The evil Thanos must be stopped by Captain Marvel.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably not.
Yu Yu Hakusho: Goodbye Material World by Yoshihiro Togashi
What is it about?
Yusuke Urameshi is a punk teenager. Everyone knows he is rotten. Most of his peers fear him and his teachers despise him. He is a slacker and a bully. So when he dies saving a little kid from being hit by a speeding car, even the Grim Reaper is caught off guard.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. Not everyone is as they appears, there are sides to people must don’t see it.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Nexus: The Origin by Mike Baron and Steve Rude
What is it about?
In space opera future Nexus dreams about killers, and he must kill them or he will grow ill. He is feared throughout the galaxy.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, the is much introspection to the main character.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Kinda Pushing it.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth by Jack Kirby
What is it about?
Kamandi, the last survivor of an underground human civilization goes onto the surface of Earth to discover it is populated by intelligent bi-pedal animal
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Fantastic Four: The Galactus Trilogy by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
What is it about?
The Fantastic Four must stop the giant alien Galactus from absorb the Earth energy.
Is it well Written?
The characters are fairly well-developed. But despite the this story being highly acclaimed there issues with pacing, plot, and dialogue.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross
What is it about?
News photographer Phil Sheldon is an everyman living in a world of superheroes.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I feel there is one, but I can’t think of one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
I think so.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
Astro City: Life in The City by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
What is it about?
The viewpoint shifts between various charaters in Astro City, which has a high population of superheroes. Viewpoints shift between superheroes, super villains, and everyday people.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
I feel there is one, but I can’t think of one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch
What is it about?
Several of the famous Avengers (Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, and The Wasp) are re-imagined in a dark interstitial in which most of the characters, even the superheroes, are hard to like. After a being form by SHEILD and having to fight one of their own (The Hulk) they must stop an alien invasion.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Are these characters still superheroes even though most of them (especially The Hulk and Giant-Man) are anything but heroic in there actions?
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Ghost Rider: Origin by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas, and Mike Ploog
What is it about?
Johnny Blaze sells his soul to the Devil to save his father from dieing. Even though Satan allows his father to die (through a loop-hole) Johnny Blaze still must become The Ghost Rider and send Satan souls.
Is it well Written?
Not really.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Defenders: Revenge of The Nameless One by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema
What is it about?
The Hulk, Dr. Strange, The Sub-Mariner, and The Silver Surfer team up to defeat the Nameless One.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe
Man-Thing: Day of The Killer, Night of The Fool by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerick
What is it about?
The Fool-Killer kills all he thinks are fools. When he comes into town, will the Man-Thing see that evil in him and stop him from passing judgment?
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Omega The Unknown: by Jonathan Lethem and Farel Dalrymple
What is it about?
Omega is an unknown superhero, but what is really unknown is his connection to 12-year old boy James-Michael Starling.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Luke Cage, Hero For Hire: Out of Hell a Hero by Archie Goodwin and George Tuska
What is it about?
Prison Luke Cage is experimented on while is prison. After something goes wrong he escapes, with new superpowers. He decides to become a hero for hire. He’ll be your superhero, but only if you pay him.
Is it well Written?
Fairly.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not really.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Tomb of Dracula: His Name is Blade by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan
What is it about?
Vampire hunter Blade goes on the hunt for Dracula.
Is it well Written?
Fairly.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Were-Wolf by Night by Roy Thomas, Jeanie Thomas, Gerry Conway, and Mike Ploog
What is it about?
A teenager inherits the were-wolf gene from his father.
Is it well Written?
Relatively.
Is there a lesson in this?
Connections to the gothic tradition.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Wonder Woman: Blood by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang
What is it about?
When Woman Woman finds out her father is her life is shattered.
Is it well Written?
Seems to be.
Is there a lesson in this?
Possibly.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Seems to be.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Possibly.
Meridian: Flying Solo by Barbara Kesel and Steve McNiven
What is it about?
Sephie, a sheltered young girl whose life resembles nothing so much as a fairy tale. The beloved only child of the Minister of Meridian, she grows up with an entire floating city as her playground. When her father dies, and she inherits a sigil imbued with the power to create. So does her wicked Uncle Ilahn, except that his powers are bent on destruction and domination.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Probably, but It’s been a few years and I can’t get my hands on a copy.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Probably.
Catwoman: The Game by Judd Winick and Guillem March
What is it about?
Catwoman is a master thief, but when she steals from the wrong person she must face his wrath.
Is it well Written?
Not really.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can tell.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
No.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection by Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf
What is it about?
Batgirl must face a new villain and secrets from her past.
Is it well Written?
Seems to be.
Is there a lesson in this?
Possibly.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Supergirl: Last Daughter of Krypton by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
What is it about?
Supergirl has the same powers as Superman. But unlike Superman she is an unpredictable teenager and has no affection for Earth. A villain seeks her out for answers.
Is it well Written?
Probably.
Is there a lesson in this?
Possibly.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Maybe.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Memo 2
The following are various Comic Book stories from “taboo” genres (mostly superhero) that I have looked into. The first one is an obvious choice, the second is an obvious dud. I look at just how well written the various comics actually are, and I speculate on how they might be taught in a high school classroom.
Some information needed for those who may not now about comics. Many series, like Batman, are very long running. They go through many different writers and many separate storylines. Batman, for example, depending on who’s writing it may or may not have a literary quality appropriate for the classroom. So just because I am say one Batman story is appropriate, does not mean I am saying it for all Batman stories. Also there is usually two authors mentioned because one is the writer and the other is the artist.
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
What is it about?
After a superhero is murdered under mysterious circumstances, members of the disbanded superhero team The Watchmen must band together to find the culprit. But the ultimate challenge is not to defeat a super-villain, but to make a difficult moral decision.
Is it well Written?
Yes, it is in fact one of the most critically acclaim comics of all time, if not the most.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The characters are all very deep. The plot is non-liner and presented in a unique manner. The themes are deep. Metaphor runs deep throughout. Morality is explored in a deep fashion; one of the superheroes, despite being a legitimate superhero, is a horrible person. The story ends the characters faced with an impossible to make moral choice. All of this is open for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
It is a little iffy, but I did originally find in my high school library.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Supreme: Second Coming by Rob Liefeld and Brian Murray
What’s it about?
It’s about the super-powered Supreme (similar to Superman, only much angrier and violent) returning to Earth after spending many years in space. An Alien name Khrome the Conqueror follows Supreme to Earth (an evil alien, even more angry and violent than Supreme). They fight, a bunch stuff gets smashed, and a bunch of people get killed.
Is it well written?
By most standards, no.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
I suppose so, it’s pretty violent, but nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Jonah Hex: Welcome to Paradise by John Albano and Tony De Zuniga
What’s it about?
It is a western about a bounty hunter named Jonah Hex who goes the town of Paradise Corners to kill several outlaws.
Is it well written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, in fact it has always reminded me in many ways of the type of short story I was assigned in class. Specifically, it ends in a highly thematic way that makes it easy to discuss the themes in class. Also, the highly thematic nature of the story, as I mentioned above, would very teachable.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Some information needed for those who may not now about comics. Many series, like Batman, are very long running. They go through many different writers and many separate storylines. Batman, for example, depending on who’s writing it may or may not have a literary quality appropriate for the classroom. So just because I am say one Batman story is appropriate, does not mean I am saying it for all Batman stories. Also there is usually two authors mentioned because one is the writer and the other is the artist.
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
What is it about?
After a superhero is murdered under mysterious circumstances, members of the disbanded superhero team The Watchmen must band together to find the culprit. But the ultimate challenge is not to defeat a super-villain, but to make a difficult moral decision.
Is it well Written?
Yes, it is in fact one of the most critically acclaim comics of all time, if not the most.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The characters are all very deep. The plot is non-liner and presented in a unique manner. The themes are deep. Metaphor runs deep throughout. Morality is explored in a deep fashion; one of the superheroes, despite being a legitimate superhero, is a horrible person. The story ends the characters faced with an impossible to make moral choice. All of this is open for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
It is a little iffy, but I did originally find in my high school library.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Supreme: Second Coming by Rob Liefeld and Brian Murray
What’s it about?
It’s about the super-powered Supreme (similar to Superman, only much angrier and violent) returning to Earth after spending many years in space. An Alien name Khrome the Conqueror follows Supreme to Earth (an evil alien, even more angry and violent than Supreme). They fight, a bunch stuff gets smashed, and a bunch of people get killed.
Is it well written?
By most standards, no.
Is there a lesson in this?
No.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
I suppose so, it’s pretty violent, but nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No.
Jonah Hex: Welcome to Paradise by John Albano and Tony De Zuniga
What’s it about?
It is a western about a bounty hunter named Jonah Hex who goes the town of Paradise Corners to kill several outlaws.
Is it well written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, in fact it has always reminded me in many ways of the type of short story I was assigned in class. Specifically, it ends in a highly thematic way that makes it easy to discuss the themes in class. Also, the highly thematic nature of the story, as I mentioned above, would very teachable.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg
What is it about?
It is about The Sandman, the master of dreams, who has been captured by a human cult. This has caused many ill-effects, causing some people to never wake up. He then escapes and goes on a quest to find his missing magic tools.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Not that I can think of, but I feel there is one.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes. It is pretty violent, but nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes, and in addition to what is mentioned above it is very acclaimed for it’s literary merit.
The Prez: Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave? by Joe Simon and Jerry Grandenetti
What is it about?
It is about a teenager named Prez, because he parents knew from the moment he was born he was going to be president. This comes true even sooner than he expected we he is elected American president.
Is it well Written?
For the most part, though the pacing is a little off.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. A lesson could be taught about American literature traditions. The story, which is about a fictional American President, uses American literature traditions. It feels very much like an American folk tale. It is also highly comparable to the films of Frank Capra (sometimes considered the “most American” director). It is especially similar to Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Batman: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
What is it about?
A series of brutal murders occur in Gotham City. Batman begins to suspect that it is an urban legend, the elitist cult, The Court of Owls, that is behind the murders. But as batman is showing signs of strain, is he just imagining the whole thing?
Is it well Written?
Yes. It has well developed characters, plot, and themes. It is also highly psychological.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It can be analyzed how the art relates to the story. As Batman goes into more intense psychological strain, the art reflects it. As the story reaches it’s highest level of intensity, the art disorientates the reader in way have never seen elsewhere.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes, nothing worse than in a PG-13 film.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Warriors of Plasm: The Sedition Agenda by Jim Shooter and David Lapham
What is it about?
Far from earth is a planet which is also a living organism: the Org of Plasm. On this planet, Plasm is everything. It serves as their money, their oil, their food, their buildings, and everything else. This society views life a disposable and individual worth is a foreign idea. But one man, Lorca, wants things to change, so he hatches a plan. This plan ultimately leads to him genetically modifying five humans from Earth. These five are the Warrior of Plasm.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The highly metaphorical Plasm is ripe for analysis.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Maybe.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Harbinger: The Beginning by Jim Shooter and David Lapham
What is it about?
When Peter is trying to cope with new powers he develops, he seeks help from the Harbinger Foundation. But when is discovers their less than honorable actions he must go on the run.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The characters could all be psycho-analyzed as they are all psychological complex, even the main villain. There also are also moral lessons of consequences for one’s actions in story.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Skreemer by Peter Milligan and Brett Ewins
What is it about?
After “the fall” the United States is in chaos. This is the story of two individuals, one who will do anything to retain his moral integrity in this new harsh world, and another who will do anything to rise to the top. But ultimately neither is completely good or evil.
Is it well Written?
Yes, it is one of the deepest things I have ever read.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, every aspect of this could be analyzed.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Unfortunately no.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
No, as wonderful a work as it is, it is really brutal and just not appropriate.
Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Vols 1&2 by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams
What is it about?
Galactic Police officer Green Lantern Teams up with anarchist Green Arrow.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by looking into the different world views and moral perspectives the two main characters bring to the story. The stories in these volumes are also noted for their social relevance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes, something interesting about these stories is that they are among the first comics (that I know of, early 1970s) to be discussed on a college campus.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Man, No More by Stan Lee and John Romita
What is it about?
Tired of all the stress and hardships being a superhero costs him, Peter Parker decides to stop being Spider-man.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
It could be explored on how “with great power comes great responsibility”.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Llyod
What is it about?
In the future England is ruled by a totalitarian government. V is on mission to over throw this government.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Kind of iffy, but I know of at least one instance when it was taught in high school.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Captain America & The Falcon: Battle of The Captain Americas by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema
What is it about?
The original Captain America from the 40s disappeared beneath the ocean. In the 50s a new Captain America was born, but after a mental break he was imprisoned. Now the original Captain America has returned and becomes the new Captain America of the 60s and 70s. But later the 50s one returns and they fight.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. The Battle between the two Captain Americas can be seen a metaphorical for a divide in American Values. The 50s Captain America represents McCarthyism and racism, while the true Captain America represents freedom and tolerance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation by Jim Shooter and Art Nichols
What is it about?
Magnus has been destroying freewill robots all of his life. But are they any less deserving of free will and life than humans?
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes, by analysis of the robots and their role in the futuristic society, and in the various ways the futuristic society subtly oppresses humans as well.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Uncanny X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
What is it about?
The Phoenix has let herself be overwhelmed by her own supreme power, and the other X-Men must stop her.
Is it well Written?
Yes. The characters are well developed and act as each-others foils. The plot and themes are also complex.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. There is complexities to the characters. There is also a unique portrayal how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
The Uncanny X-Men: The Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
What is it about?
In the future mutant are kept in concentration camps, the mind of one of the X-Men is sent back in time to stop a mutant terrorist attack that sets of a series of events that leads to this happening.
Is it well Written?
Yes.
Is there a lesson in this?
Yes. It is a highly metaphorical portrayal of tolerance and intolerance.
Is it appropriate for teenagers?
Yes.
Should this be considered for future investigation in my I-Search?
Yes.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
I-Search for Graphic Novels in The Classroom
I have chosen to explore Graphic Novels in the classroom. My experience with graphic novels/comic books dates back into my childhood, though I didn't really get into them until I was 16. It never even occurred to me that Graphic Novels would be okay in the classroom until I was in College. In fact I was told by one of my peers in elementary school, while I was reading a comic, that novels, short stories, and magazines were all productive reading, but that all comics were trash and I shouldn't be reading one in school. There were no graphic novels taught to me at CCRI either, it wasn't until I came to RIC that they started being assigned to me for class. To this day though the only graphic novels I have been assigned are: Maus Book I, 100 Demons, The Arrival, God's Man, and a short selection from Persepolis.
A question I would really like to look into is which graphic novels are worthy in the classroom? There seems to be an assertion that graphic novels are okay, and comic books are not, but it is really not so simple. Sometimes the difference is nothing more than the binding. Some graphic novels can be as vacuous as anything, and some comic books have much to offer. There is also a common belief that only certain types of graphic novels, like the graphic memoir (which is most of the graphic novels I've been assigned for class), are fine, but others, like the superhero comic, are not. One thing I would like to explore is the more "taboo" graphic novels/comic books, like superheroes. Not all superhero comics are the same, if one were to compare the first first seven issues of Supreme vol. 1 and the first seven issues Harbinger vol. 1 I think many would agree there is distinct difference in literary quality between the two (Harbinger being the one with literary quality). How can it be determined which are appropriate for the classroom? Perhaps a good place to start would be to see if they have well developed plot, characters, and theme. I would like to know the different types of graphic novels/comics that have been taught in the classroom and the different ways in which they are taught.
A question I would really like to look into is which graphic novels are worthy in the classroom? There seems to be an assertion that graphic novels are okay, and comic books are not, but it is really not so simple. Sometimes the difference is nothing more than the binding. Some graphic novels can be as vacuous as anything, and some comic books have much to offer. There is also a common belief that only certain types of graphic novels, like the graphic memoir (which is most of the graphic novels I've been assigned for class), are fine, but others, like the superhero comic, are not. One thing I would like to explore is the more "taboo" graphic novels/comic books, like superheroes. Not all superhero comics are the same, if one were to compare the first first seven issues of Supreme vol. 1 and the first seven issues Harbinger vol. 1 I think many would agree there is distinct difference in literary quality between the two (Harbinger being the one with literary quality). How can it be determined which are appropriate for the classroom? Perhaps a good place to start would be to see if they have well developed plot, characters, and theme. I would like to know the different types of graphic novels/comics that have been taught in the classroom and the different ways in which they are taught.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
I search for an I-Search
I had five I-Search ideas, but I needed to narrow it down to two. The digital assignment idea was the first to go, as it never really interested me that much. Next to go was the different assignments for different students idea because it didn't interest me quite as much as the other remaining three. The last to go was the idea about having students say what should be taught to them. This removal was tougher than the other two, but ultimately it is a topic that seems to have less information available, and was removed because it seemed less "do-able" than the other remaining two. Here is a further in-depth analysis of the final two.
1. What are the benefits of the literary analysis? By writing a literary analysis can a student can hone there critical thinking skills? If a student can dissect a piece of literature, will that help them with real world applications, like dissecting a politicians speech?
This is viable for the course. Literary analysis is a major part of high school education so looking into its real world applications could be important. This exploration would likely be highly do-able as well. There are likely plenty of people who could be interviewed on the topic and there is seems to be a decent amount of information readily available. This exploration could be sustainable, as honing critical thinking skills is something I am passionate about.
2. Do graphic novels belong in the classroom? Are graphic novels inherently poorer literature than the standard novel? What is the difference between a graphic novel and a comic book? If graphic novels are equal to literature, then what benefits would there be in teaching them in the classroom?
This is viable for the course, as graphic novels are making their way more and more into the classroom. This assignment would be highly do-able for me. I know a lot about the graphic novel/comic book field. I would be able to get my information from interviewing teachers and there seems to be a decent amount of information about this available. This search would also be highly sustainable. I am highly interested in both graphic novels and the question "what literature is worthy to be taught in the classroom?" That is most certainly a question I would like to answer.
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