The Graphic Novel ENG 235S T3-4 R3-5 on-line

After the Dark Age

Professor A. Lesk JHB814

Course Description

In ENG235, an introductory course, we study the superhero sub-genre post-Watchmen.

Students will be asked to consider the role of heroism and vigilantism in our society and
concepts dealing with race, sexuality, gender, history, and politics. We examine some of the
major topics, themes, creators, characters, and issues that have led to the creation and
continued success of the superhero/vigilante genre. Note: This is an online, synchronous
course IRL via Microsoft Teams.

Objectives

By the end of the course, the student should have achieved a level of proficiency in
1) understanding the basic forms in the construction of comic art (architecture; the role of
the artist; the role of art; narrative forms);
2) recalling, in the form of a test and an exam, such understanding;
3) analyzing the ambiguities and patterns in the material, with clear support from the
texts, in order to produce, in clear and dynamic English, original, reasoned, persuasive
arguments.

REQUIRED TEXTS (in order of study, first to last)

Miller et al The Dark Night Returns (1986)

Morrison/Quietly Flex Mentallo (1996)
Cooke DC: The New Frontier (2004)
Rucka/Williams Batwoman: Elegy (2009/10)
DeConnick et al Pretty Deadly (2014/16) vols 1,2
King et al The Vision (2016)
Coates et al Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet
Marra Terror Assaulter (2016)

All books have been ordered from The Beguiling, on College just west of Spadina. For
location and address: http://www.beguilingbooksandart.com/

Marking Scheme
Test 1 25%
Essay 40%
Test 2 35%

The Test format and the Essay topics will be posted on Quercus. Please: ask questions in
the class! (I regret I am not able to answer questions about tests and exams via email.)
 II

Office Hours / Email / Writing help

I am always happy to meet with students. Please see the Contact and Email Policy link on
your Quercus. For Writing help, please click here.

Accessibility Services
The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in
accordance with the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. Please see the AS office if
you have certain accessibility needs. I fully support the aims and goals of AS.

About recording lectures

Students may not create video and/or audio recordings of classes with the exception of
those students requiring an accommodation for a disability, who should speak to the
instructor prior to beginning to record lectures. Students creating unauthorized video and/or
audio recording of lectures violate an instructor’s intellectual property rights and the
Canadian Copyright Act. Students violating this agreement will be subject to disciplinary
actions under the Code of Student Conduct.

Week 1: J11/13 Overview: Thematic overview of the course. Comics criticism

Week 2: J18/20 Dark Knight Returns

Week 3: J25/27 Dark Knight Returns / Flex Mentallo

Week 4: F1/3 Flex Mentallo

Test on Fri 4 Feb: two-hour window 12:01am to 11:59pm

Week 5: F8/10 Batwoman: Elegy

Week 6: 15/17 Batwoman: Elegy / DC: The New Frontier

Feb 21-25 Reading Week

Week 7: M1/3 DC: The New Frontier

Week 8: M8/10 Pretty Deadly

Week 9: M15/17 Pretty Deadly / The Vision

Week 10: M22/24 The Vision

Essay due Fri 25

Week 11: M29/31 Black Panther

Week 12: A5/7 Terror Assaulter

Final assessment (aka exam or final test) TBA