495SH Textbooks (Spring 2015)
Hello students, and curious others! This is Prof. Charles Hatfield of CSU Northridge. Listed below are the required books for English 495SH: The Comic Book Superhero in Spring 2015. Of course there will be other required readings in class as well, in the form of various PDFs and handouts, and possibly online articles as well. In addition, over the semester everyone in 495SH will be following a periodical superhero comic book of her/his choosing through at least three successive new (or very recently published) issues. That means that the "reading list" for each student will end up being slightly different.
I've listed the books below in what I think is likely to be their order of use, though that may change. At the top of the list are books that are REQUIRED; at the bottom are books that are RECOMMENDED only. Students, you can expect to read excerpts from most of the recommended titles sometime this term, but don't buy them unless you can easily afford to; buying-wise, the required titles should be your first priority. (Note that some of these recommended books are available as free e-books online via CSUN's Oviatt Library!)
FYI, clicking on a picture below will take you to the relevant page on Amazon (or a publisher's or author's website).
I've listed the books below in what I think is likely to be their order of use, though that may change. At the top of the list are books that are REQUIRED; at the bottom are books that are RECOMMENDED only. Students, you can expect to read excerpts from most of the recommended titles sometime this term, but don't buy them unless you can easily afford to; buying-wise, the required titles should be your first priority. (Note that some of these recommended books are available as free e-books online via CSUN's Oviatt Library!)
FYI, clicking on a picture below will take you to the relevant page on Amazon (or a publisher's or author's website).
See the bottom of this page for information about how to get these books and how to manage costs!
Required books (in likely order of use):
The Superhero Reader, a historical anthology of critical commentary on the superhero, spanning from 1930 to 2011, edited by Charles Hatfield (that's me), Jeet Heer, and Kent Worcester. You may be able to rent this one from the Matador Bookstore. Also, Kindle, Nook, and BryteWave e-book editions are available. (University Press of Mississippi)
The Superman Chronicles, Vol. 1, by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, reprinting the very earliest adventures (1938-1939) of Superman. You may be able to rent this one from the Matador. Also, Kindle and Nook e-book editions are available. (DC Comics)
Superman! The First Wave of Comic Book Heroes 1936-1941, a historical anthology of public-domain superhero comics edited by Greg Sadowski. This gives an honest view of what the earliest costumed superhero comics were like. (Fantagraphics)
All-Star Superman, a collection of the comic book miniseries (2007-09) by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, and Jamie Grant. The most acclaimed Superman comic of the past two decades, and it's by three Scotsmen—go figure. You may be able to rent this one from the Matador. Also, Kindle and Nook e-book editions are available. (DC Comics)
The Batman Chronicles, Vol. 1, by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, et al., reprinting the very earliest adventures (1939-1940) of Superman. You may be able to rent this one from the Matador. Also, Kindle and Nook e-book editions are available. (DC Comics)
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, a collection of the comic book miniseries (1986) by Frank Miller, with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley. The most influential Batman comic of the past thirty years, at least, and a source of inspiration for the recent Batman films. The success of this comic made possible Frank Miller's subsequent work: Sin City, 300, et cetera. You may be able to rent this one from the Matador. Also, Kindle and Nook e-book editions are available. (DC Comics)
The Wonder Woman Chronicles, Vol. 1, by William Moulton Marston ("Charles Moulton") and Harry G. Peter, reprinting the very earliest adventures (1941-1942) of Wonder Woman. I am told that this book is out of print—but we do need it for class, so start looking for used copies. For my part, I will do all I can to get multiple copies into the Oviatt Library, on reserve. (DC Comics)
Marvel Unlimited, a digital subscription service for computers and mobile devices, accessible via Marvel's corporate website. This service costs $10/month, does not require an annual commitment (i.e. can be canceled anytime), and provides access for a reported 15,000 Marvel Comics from the past. Very recent books (such as Ms. Marvel) tend not to be available there, but most of the history of the Marvel Universe is. This will be the easiest way for us to sample Marvel comics from across the decades. If you cannot use this service, then you'll need to start searching out a number of Marvel titles in paper editions, such as The Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 3, The Essential Amazing Spider-Man, and Vol. 2, X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga. (Marvel.com)
Watchmen, collecting the comic book miniseries (1986-1987) by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins. This is the most acclaimed superhero graphic novel, and arguably one of America's most influential and controversial comic books ever. In what ways it is representative, and in what ways does it stand alone? You may be able to rent this one from the Matador. Also, Kindle and Nook e-book editions are available. (DC Comics)
Considering Watchmen: Poetics, Property, Politics, a brand-new book, and IMO the best one available on Watchmen, by literary scholar Andrew Hoberek. A Kindle e-book edition is available. (Rutgers University Press)
The Shadow Hero, a graphic novel about a Chinese-American superhero, by Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew. (First Second) a brand-new book, and IMO the best one available on Watchmen, by literary scholar Andrew Hoberek. Kindle and Nook e-book editions are available. (Rutgers University Press)
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal, a brand-new book collecting the first several issues of the recent comic book series by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, et al. This Ms. Marvel (not to be confused with earlier incarnations) is a Pakistani American Muslim teenage girl. A Kindle e-book edition is available. (Rutgers University Press)
Recommended books (listed alphabetically by author):
Death, Disability, and the Superhero, by literary scholar José Alaniz (chair of the International Comic Arts Forum). The first book-length study of superheroes through the lens of disability theory. Eye-opening and original, this book, I believe, is going to be a game-changer. A Kindle e-book edition is available. (University Press of Mississippi)
Our Hero: Superman on Earth, a concise history of Superman's more than 75 years in comics, radio, film, TV, and other media, written by novelist Tom De Haven (who himself has penned a novel about the Man of Steel). There are some fine books about Superman out there--for example Brad Ricca's recent biography of Siegel and Shuster, Super Boys--but I've chosen De Haven for economy's sake. Kindle and Nook editions are available, _and the Oviatt Library also has a free e-book version. (Yale University Press)
Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books, written by Jean-Paul Gabilliet, translated by Bart Beaty and Nick Nguyen. The best academic study of US comic books is the work of a French scholar! Frankly, the prose can be dry (and is marred by typos), yet this remains, I believe, the most thorough and trustworthy academic history of the medium. Kindle and Nook editions are available. (University Press of Mississippi)
Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby, by Charles Hatfield (yep, me again). The first academic monograph in English about the founding Marvel artist and legendary comic book man, Jack Kirby, designer of the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Thor, the Hulk, the Avengers, the Silver Surfer, the Black Panther, the New Gods, and on and on. Winner of a 2012 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Educational/Academic work. Kindle and Nook editions are available, and the Oviatt also has a free e-book version. _. (University Press of Mississippi)
Do the Gods Wear Capes? Spirituality, Fantasy, and Superheroes, by literary scholar Ben Saunders (check out his work on John Donne--and rock 'n' roll!). A study of the genre in terms of religion, spirituality, and morality, with chapters on Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and Iron Man. Saunders founded the US's first-ever undergraduate degree program in comics studies. Kindle and Nook editions are available, and the Oviatt also has a free e-book version. (University Press of Mississippi)
Getting the books: some tips
All of the titles above (except of course Marvel Unlimited) should be available at CSUN's Matador Bookstore. Personally, though, I recommend shopping at a local comic book store, such as Earth-2 Comics here in Northridge. Earth-2 is just one block south of the Reseda/Nordhoff intersection, at 8967 Reseda Blvd. (across the street from the 99-cent store and a few doors up from the IHOP). It's about ten minutes' walk from campus, and I urge you to check it out.
Students, note that Earth-2 is offering a special discount to everyone in our class: 15 percent off all the books on our syllabus! To qualify for this discount, be sure to take your student ID and a copy of this page (or the class syllabus, which I'll be emailing to everyone in class and giving out in hard copy on the first day). Bear in mind that Earth-2 may have to special order many of the books for you; odds are that they won't have all of them in stock on a single day. But don't worry—they're fast. You can order your books there with confidence! (The staff at Earth-2 is well versed in comics, of course, and particularly in superheroes, and can be a great resource for you over the semester.)
Students, note that Earth-2 is offering a special discount to everyone in our class: 15 percent off all the books on our syllabus! To qualify for this discount, be sure to take your student ID and a copy of this page (or the class syllabus, which I'll be emailing to everyone in class and giving out in hard copy on the first day). Bear in mind that Earth-2 may have to special order many of the books for you; odds are that they won't have all of them in stock on a single day. But don't worry—they're fast. You can order your books there with confidence! (The staff at Earth-2 is well versed in comics, of course, and particularly in superheroes, and can be a great resource for you over the semester.)
I should say something about costs. Comics do cost money, of course—sometimes a lot. It's hard to keep down the costs of a class like 495SH, because comics, unlike literary classics in the public domain, do not come in bargain-priced textbook editions. They are art books, which is why a paperback graphic novel tends to cost more than a paperback novel in prose. Used copies will cost less than new, if you can find them, but bear in mind that some of the books listed above are too recent or too unusual to be widely available used. In fact a couple of the books are practically brand-new.
My advice: shop carefully, both in person and online. Consider brick-and-mortar shops such as The Iliad Bookshop in North Hollywood as well as virtual shops such as Alibris.com, AbeBooks.com, Half.com, and of course the inescapable Amazon (do take shipping delays into account when ordering online).
Some students of mine have cut down on expenses by making book-sharing arrangements with classmates. Consider visiting Earth-2 or other shops with a trusted classmate and dividing the costs (the key word here, of course, is trusted). Bear in mind, though, that whenever we are discussing a text in class, you will be expected to have a copy to refer to. There will be times in class when you need to look at a text very closely and analytically, so sharing may become a challenge. You'll have to be deliberate about it.
I will strive to get copies of as many of these books as possible into CSUN's Oviatt Library, so that they can be placed on reserve. However, bear in mind that reserve books cannot leave the Library, therefore cannot help you when you need to refer to books in class. Also, I cannot guarantee that the books will get onto reserve fast enough to be useful to you.
Again, I recommend Earth-2. They love comics, and what they don't have in stock they can often order and get to the shop within a week. You could do worse than getting to know the good folks who work there! If, however, Earth-2 isn't convenient for you, then consider some of the other comic shops in the L.A. area. While comic shops are usually unable to offer deep, Amazon-like discounts (few will be able to match Earth-2's offer of 15 percent), the best of them make up for it with expertise, enthusiasm, and service. They are almost always independently-owned small businesses, unlike big chain stores, and they thrive on local support. Los Angeles boasts some of the very best comic book shops in America (and in fact there may be more good comic shops in greater L.A. than any other metroplex in the US). Getting to know such a store could be to your advantage. Bear in mind that, in addition to getting the books above, you will be required to select and follow a periodical comic book series for at least three successive issues--so you may find yourself in comic book shops a lot!