By Dylan Leverett/ reporter
SE Campus will soon celebrate the medium that created superheroes and super villains that have captivated readers (and recently moviegoers) of all ages for decades.
A Marvel and D.C. Comics illustrator will headline the Graphic Novels and Comic Book Festival Oct. 26-30, during which the library will showcase its collection of comic books and graphic novels. A series of special events will also occur during the week.
On Oct. 27, library services director Jo Klemm will discuss using graphic novels and other forms of sequential art as a teaching device. Liberal arts dean Jerry Coats will speak about the history of comic books Oct. 28, and Marvel and D.C. Comics illustrator John Lucas will visit SE Oct.29 to discuss the creation process of comics.
Klemm said the impetus of the festival came when librarian James Foreman mentioned how well received comics are on SE.
“We have a really excellent collection of [graphic] novels,” Klemm said. “They circulate more than anything else. James says to me, ‘You know these things are so popular we should do a program around them.’”
Self-proclaimed comic book fan Foreman explained that Coats’ history of comics discussion may be beneficial to students because it will explain the evolution of characters.
“Students [will] find out a lot about how current characters develop and fit into the culture of the country, like Superman,” Forman said. “Superman is my favorite comic, then X-Men.”
Coats contributed parts of his personal comic book collection, which he began collecting at an early age, for display.
“I have about 25,000 comics in my collection,” he said. “My earliest reading was comic books, and it’s what got me interested in classical literature.”
Both Klemm and Coats have high expectations for the event and believe it will be an event students can enjoy.
“I hope we can do this in the future, and it becomes something similar to Comic-Con,” Klemm said.
For more information, call library services at 817-515-3081.
