Superman’s ‘Jewish Origins’ and Other Thoughts on Jews and Comics

October 25, 2023

1:00PM - 2:15PM

Livestream and in-person. Billy Ireland Cartoon Library - Will Eisner room, 205 Sullivant Hall, 1813 N. High Street, 43210

2023-10-25 13:00:00 2023-10-25 14:15:00 Superman’s ‘Jewish Origins’ and Other Thoughts on Jews and Comics ARCHIVED EVENT Thomas and Diann Mann Symposium Series Professor Samantha BaskindDistinguished Professor of Art History Cleveland State UniversityThe Melton Center is pleased to present Professor Baskind’s lecture “Superman’s ‘Jewish Origins’ and Other Thoughts on Jews and Comics." Professor Baskind will discuss the enormous Jewish contributions to comics and the graphic novel. Beginning in the 1930s, Jews built the comic book industry from the ground up.Among the superheroes with “Jewish” origins are Superman, “The Thing” from The Fantastic Four, and some of the X-Men characters. How did Jews come to have such a disproportionate influence on an industry famous for demigods clad in colorful tights? Jews also have an outsize presence in the realm of graphic novels, perhaps best exemplified by Art Spiegelman, the creator of the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel Maus. Up, Up, and Oy Vey!Professor Jared Gardner will introduce Professor Baskind.Click here for more information about Professor Baskind and the upcoming program.This program is free and open to the public. It will be live-streamed and in-person.REGISTER HERE for the live-stream.Supported by the Thomas and Diann Mann Symposia fund and co-sponsored by the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library.Convenient parking in the Ohio Union North and South garages just south of Sullivant Hall. Enter through the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library on the north side of the building.  Livestream and in-person. Billy Ireland Cartoon Library - Will Eisner room, 205 Sullivant Hall, 1813 N. High Street, 43210 America/New_York public

ARCHIVED EVENT

Thomas and Diann Mann Symposium Series

Professor Samantha Baskind
Distinguished Professor of Art History Cleveland State University

The Melton Center is pleased to present Professor Baskind’s lecture “Superman’s ‘Jewish Origins’ and Other Thoughts on Jews and Comics." Professor Baskind will discuss the enormous Jewish contributions to comics and the graphic novel. Beginning in the 1930s, Jews built the comic book industry from the ground up.

Among the superheroes with “Jewish” origins are Superman, “The Thing” from The Fantastic Four, and some of the X-Men characters. How did Jews come to have such a disproportionate influence on an industry famous for demigods clad in colorful tights?

Jews also have an outsize presence in the realm of graphic novels, perhaps best exemplified by Art Spiegelman, the creator of the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel Maus. Up, Up, and Oy Vey!

Professor Jared Gardner will introduce Professor Baskind.

Click here for more information about Professor Baskind and the upcoming program.

This program is free and open to the public. It will be live-streamed and in-person.

REGISTER HERE for the live-stream.

Supported by the Thomas and Diann Mann Symposia fund and co-sponsored by the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library.

Convenient parking in the Ohio Union North and South garages just south of Sullivant Hall. Enter through the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library on the north side of the building.