Presentation I gave about comic books and teaching at the 2016 Colorado Teen Lit Conference

1. Comic Books and the
Secret History of the
Entire Universe
James Kelley
Colorado State University

2. Who are you?
1. Who is your favorite comic character and/or what is
your favorite comic book ? Why?
2. Based on your discipline, what lessons can you
learn from this character and/or title, and what
could you teach somebody else from her or his
adventures and/or from the premise of the title?
Take a minute to introduce
yourself to the people around
you.

3. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO...
We are going to look at how one comic book series can be used
across multiple disciplines and subjects, and how they can be
used for/teach multiple topics and purposes.
#ComicEd
Who could benefit from comics
Overview of Marvel’s Civil War series
Look at how this series is used in specific subjects
Collaborate on some other ways that comics can be used in the
classroom or other areas in education
brainstorm next steps: programs, lessons, activities

4. WHO CAN BENEFIT...
Teachers who are looking to incorporate comics into their
classroom and/or teachers who want to collaborate with other
subject teachers through the use of comics.
Students who are looking for alternative versions of their favorite
text and/or want a different perspective on different topics and
events.
Librarians who want to know how to book talk comic books with
students and parents and/or librarians who are looking to
develop their YA collection.

6. WHAT STARTED IT ALL?!
WHO ARE THE
MAIN
CHARACTERS?!

11. Leads to legislation!! Lines are drawn and sides are taken!!!

13. How We Can Use Comic Books in
the Classroom
Comics can be used in many different subjects
from electives to the core subjects. We are
going to look at how Civil War can be used in
● Literacy and Reading--How to read comic
books and connecting the conventions of
comic books to conventions of novels
● Social Studies--making connections to
executive orders that were created after
major events and different laws in
American history (Slavery, E.O. 9066,
PATRIOT Act, Alien Registration Act)
● Science--discussion the ethical
implications of scientific discoveries and
studies through the cloning of Thor and
the prison in the negative zone.

14. How We Can Use Comic Books in
the Classroom
Comics can be used in many different subjects
from electives to the core subjects. We are
going to look at how Civil War can be used in
● Literacy and Reading--How to read comic
books and connecting the conventions of
comic books to conventions of novels
● Social Studies--making connections to
executive orders that were created after
major events and different laws in
American history (Slavery, E.O. 9066,
PATRIOT Act, Alien Registration Act)
● Science--discussion the ethical
implications of scientific discoveries and
studies through the cloning of Thor and
the prison in the negative zone.
Let’s look at
how comics are
read...

15. How to Read Comics and the English
Classroom
Essential publication by Scott
McCloud (1993) that theorizes and
explains the definition of comics and
how comic books function based on
their parts.
Reading Direction
Panel Transitions
Gutter and Closure
Time, Space, and Movement
Lines, Color, Word Balloons, and
Mood

16. Reading
Directions
In Western comic books we
tend to read in a zigzag pattern
in which we read from left-to-
right, top-to-bottom.
With this pattern comes about
six different panel-to-panel
transitions that Scott McCloud
lays out.
● Moment-to-moment
● Action-to-Action
● Subject-to-Subject
● Scene-to-scene
● Aspect-to-aspect
● Non-sequiter

17. Moment-to-
Moment
Typically focuses on
one action that is
portrayed in successive
moments.
Example that McCloud
uses is the blink of an
eye (i.e. closed,
halfway open, fully
open broken up into
three distinct panels.

18. Moment-to-
Moment
Typically focuses on
one subject and action
that is portrayed in
successive moments
(McCloud 70).

19. Action-to-
Action
Focuses on one subject
and action that is
portrayed in successive
moments.
Example that McCloud
uses is that of a
baseball player
swinging a bat as the
ball approaches in the
first panel and in the
second panel the
player hits the ball.

20. Subject-to-
Subject
Changes from subject
of the scene to another
subject in the scene
(and sometimes back
to the original subject.)
Typically dialogue
between two subjects is
an example of subject-
to-subject

21. Scene-to-
Scene
Significant change is
time and location.
Moments in which the
story changes to a
different time and
location is good
example of a scene-to-
scene transition.
Change in
scene from
funeral to
Fantastic Four
location
(Baxter
Building).

22. Aspect-to-
Aspect
This panel transition
disregards time and
allows the reader’s eye
to “wander” through the
different aspects of the
setting.
Usually focuses on a
specific items,
individuals, or events.
Used to dictate pacing,
and/or set the
mood/tone of the
scene.

23. Aspect-to-
Aspect
This panel transition
disregards time and
allows the reader’s eye
to “wander” through the
different aspects of the
setting.
Usually focuses on a
specific items,
individuals, or events.
Used to dictate pacing,
and/or set the
mood/tone of the story.

24. Gutters and
Closure
Gutters in comics are
the empty spaces
between each panel.
This is the space in
which the reader must
use their imagination to
fill in the “empty” spots
with the action that is
not being shown.
This use of imagination
is known as closure.
Area known
as the
GUTTER.

25. Time, Space,
and Movement
Time and space can be
dictated and controlled in many
ways.
We have seen that panel
transitions are can be one way.
Other ways can be the panels
themselves in how they are
shaped and positioned
The actual contents in the
panel also control time and
space.

26. Time, Space,
and Movement
Time and space can be
dictated and controlled in many
ways.
We have seen that panel
transitions are can be one way.
Other ways can be the panels
themselves in how they are
shaped and positioned
The actual contents in the
panel also control time and
space.

27. Lines, Color,
Word Balloons,
and Mood
Lines, such as movement lines
demonstrate dynamic
movement, or lines are used to
show the invisible to the reader
(i.e. stink lines on a pile of
garbage.)

28. Lines, Color,
Word Balloons,
and Mood
Lines, such as movement lines
demonstrate dynamic
movement, or lines are used to
show the invisible to the reader
(i.e. stink lines on a pile of
garbage.)

29. Lines, Color,
Word Balloons,
and Mood
Lines, such as movement lines
demonstrate dynamic
movement, or lines are used to
show the invisible to the reader
(i.e. stink lines on a pile of
garbage.)
Word balloons come in all
shapes and sizes, and
depending of those aspects,
indicates to the reader how
something is being said.

30. Lines, Color,
Word Balloons,
and Mood
Lines, such as movement lines
demonstrate dynamic
movement, or lines are used to
show the invisible to the reader
(i.e. stink lines on a pile of
garbage.)
Word balloons come in all
shapes and sizes, and
depending of those aspects,
indicates to the reader how
something is being said.

31. Lines, Color,
Word Balloons,
and Mood
Lines, such as movement lines
demonstrate dynamic
movement, or lines are used to
show the invisible to the reader
(i.e. stink lines on a pile of
garbage.)
Word balloons come in all
shapes and sizes, and
depending of those aspects,
indicates to the reader how
something is being said.

32. Lines, Color,
Word Balloons,
and Mood
Lines, such as movement lines
demonstrate dynamic
movement, or lines are used to
show the invisible to the reader
(i.e. stink lines on a pile of
garbage.)
Word balloons come in all
shapes and sizes, and
depending of those aspects,
indicates to the reader how
something is being said.

33. Lines, Color,
Word Balloons,
and Mood
Color, as well as everything
else we’ve discussed, helps to
add additional layers to the
story as well as to establish the
mood, and take the reading
experience of the reader to
another level of interpretation.
How does color establish the
moon in this scene?

34. How We Can Use Comic Books in
the Classroom
Comics can be used in many different subjects
from electives to the core subjects. We are
going to look at how Civil War can be used in
● Literacy and Reading--How to read comic
books and connecting the conventions of
comic books to conventions of novels
● Social Studies--making connections to
executive orders that were created after
major events and different laws in
American history (Slavery, E.O. 9066,
PATRIOT Act, Alien Registration Act)
● Science--discussion the ethical
implications of scientific discoveries and
studies through the cloning of Thor and
the prison in the negative zone.

35. Civil War in the Social Studies
Classroom
The Superhero Registration Act can be
a way to connect and discuss the
implications of different laws that the
American government has made
throughout the years.
● Legalized slavery
● E.O. 9066 (Japanese Internment
camps in WWII)
● The Alien Registration Act
● The PATRIOT ACT
What might be some other
connections that you can see with
either the Superhero Registration Act,
the plot of Civil War, or any comic that
you have read that could be taught in a
social studies classroom?

36. Civil War in the
Science Classroom
In the Civil War event, there is a lot of
different science concepts and technologies
being used albeit it is very fictionalized, and
at times not very realistic in their depiction
and uses.
However, this can still lead to some great
learning about the ethical implications of
using different kinds of technology and
science discoveries.
● Using science for the betterment of
some at the expense of others through
the example of prison 42 in the
negative zone.

37. Civil War in the
Science Classroom
In the Civil War event, there is a lot of
different science concepts and technologies
being used albeit it is very fictionalized, and
at times not very realistic in their depiction
and uses.
However, this can still lead to some great
learning about the ethical implications of
using different kinds of technology and
science discoveries.
● Using science for the betterment of
some at the expense of others through
the example of prison 42 in the
negative zone.

38. Civil War in the
Science Classroom
In the Civil War event, there is a lot of different
science concepts and technologies being used
albeit it is very fictionalized, and at times not very
realistic in their depiction and uses.
However, this can still lead to some great learning
about the ethical implications of using different
kinds of technology and science discoveries.
● Using science for the betterment of some at
the expense of others through the example
of prison 42 in the negative zone.
● Make the connection between the cloning of
Thor and the Manhattan Project
Other examples that you see or know of with other
comic titles?

39. Comics and Standards
CCSS--Literacy Across Contents
○ RL7 across media
○ RL3 complex characters
○ RL9 analyzing theme in two or more texts and author
approaches
● History
○ History and Civics (DOK 1-4)
● Science
○ Life Science--Discussing the ethical issues around
genetics, cloning and stem cell research (DOK 1-3)

40. How We Can Use Comic Books in
the Classroom
Comics can be used in many different subjects
from electives to the core subjects. We are
going to look at how Civil War can be used in
● Literacy and Reading--How to read comic
books and connecting the conventions of
comic books to conventions of novels
● Social Studies--making connections to
executive orders that were created after
major events and different laws in
American history (Slavery, E.O. 9066,
PATRIOT Act, Alien Registration Act)
● Science--discussion the ethical
implications of scientific discoveries and
studies through the cloning of Thor and
the prison in the negative zone.

41. Librarian and Student Time
How do you talk with parents and principals about
comics?

42. Frequent comics & graphic novels in
schools and libraries
Persepolis
Maus
Pride of Baghdad
Watchmen
Bones
V for Vendetta
The March
Boxers and Saints
American Born Chinese
Malcolm X

43. Frequent comics & graphic novels in
schools and libraries
Persepolis
Maus
Pride of Baghdad
Watchmen
Bones
V for Vendetta
The March
Boxers and Saints
American Born Chinese
Malcolm X
BUT DON’T FORGET SOME
OF THE SERIES FOUND IN
MARVEL, DC, AND OTHER
PUBLISHERS!!!

44. Frequent comics & graphic novels in
schools and libraries
Persepolis
Maus
Pride of Baghdad
Watchmen
Bones
V for Vendetta
The March
Boxers and Saints
American Born Chinese
Malcolm X
ALSO OTHER COMICS AND
GRAPHIC NOVELS THAT
PROMOTE AWARENESS OF
OTHERS AND EVENTS
OUTSIDE THE LIVES OF
STUDENTS!!!

45. Frequent comics & graphic novels in
schools and libraries
Persepolis
Maus
Pride of Baghdad
Watchmen
Bones
V for Vendetta
The March
Boxers and Saints
American Born Chinese
Malcolm X
ALSO OTHER COMICS AND
GRAPHIC NOVELS THAT
PROMOTES AWARENESS OF
OTHERS AND EVENTS
OUTSIDE THE LIVES OF
STUDENTS!!!

46. Frequent comics & graphic novels in
schools and libraries
Persepolis
Maus
Pride of Baghdad
Watchmen
Bones
V for Vendetta
The March
Boxers and Saints
American Born Chinese
Malcolm X
ALSO OTHER COMICS AND
GRAPHIC NOVELS THAT
PROMOTES AWARENESS OF
OTHERS AND EVENTS
OUTSIDE THE LIVES OF
STUDENTS!!!

47. Discussion
What questions/concerns do you have?
How will you use the ideas in this session (in your capacity
as a student/teacher/librarian)?
What did I miss?
What would you add to this presentation?
#ComicEd

48. Contact me!
James Kelley-- jkelley_18ca@yahoo.com; @j_pkelley
#ComicEd
But… what if I
have questions
later?