Comics in the Classroom

(1989)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 1)

Nancy; Popeye / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Ernie Bushmiller (credited) (Nancy figure); E. C. Segar (credited as Elzie Segar) (Popeye figure)

Inks

Ernie Bushmiller (credited) (Nancy figure); E. C. Segar (credited as Elzie Segar) (Popeye figure)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor; children

Characters

Nancy; Popeye

Indexer Notes

Front cover.

Popeye image from Thimble Theater Starring Popeye, copyright 1933 King Features Syndicate, Inc. Nancy Ritz image from Nancy, copyright 1947 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 2)

Flash Gordon / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Pencils

Alex Raymond (credited) (Dale Arden illustration)

Inks

Alex Raymond (credited) (Dale Arden illustration)

Letters

?; typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Comics where.? In the classroom!

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Dale Arden

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

Full page Dale Arden image by Alex Raymond from Flash Gordon, copyright 1937 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Categories (Table of Contents: 3)

about comics / 4 pages (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Pencils

George Herriman (credited) (Ignatz Mouse figure); Charles Schulz (credited) (Lucy Van Pelt figure); Chester Gould (credited) (Dick Tracy panel); Bill Holman (credited) (Smokey Stover figure)

Inks

George Herriman (credited) (Ignatz Mouse figure); Charles Schulz (credited) (Lucy Van Pelt figure); Chester Gould (credited) (Dick Tracy panel); Bill Holman (credited) (Smokey Stover figure)

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The first character to appear on a regular basis in the comic strip format was called the Yellow Kid...

Genre

history

Characters

Ignatz Mouse; Lucy Van Pelt; Dick Tracy; Bob; Smokey Stover

Synopsis

Inge gives a brief history of the development of American comics and lists the major categories (genres) comics are found in.

Pages

3 - 6

Abstract

M. Thomas Inge writes about the history of comic strip and comic book development. He also discusses the three types of comic strip formats and the major categories comic strips fall into.

Three formats include humorous or gag strips, narrative or continuity strips, and single panel cartoons.

The categories listed include domestic humor, children, adolescents, feminism, political or social satire, middle class morality in the soap opera, professions, outer space, fantasy, adventure, history (serious and humorous), science and instruction, and participation features.

Indexer Notes

Ignatz Mouse image from Krazy Kat copyright 1918 King Features Syndicate, Inc. Lucy Van Pelt image from Peanuts copyright 1987 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. Dick Tracy panel copyright 1936 by Tribune Media Services, Inc. Smokey Stover image copyright 1949 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

For All Grade Levels (Table of Contents: 4)

Smokey Stover / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Pencils

Bill Holman (credited)

Inks

Bill Holman (credited)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Cookie; Robbers

Indexer Notes

Title page for the For All Grade Levels chapter.

Cookie and Cobs and Robbers images from Smokey Stover copyright 1949 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

For All Grade Levels (Table of Contents: 5)

about comics / 3 pages (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Pencils

Charles Schulz (credited) (Snoopy image); Lynn Johnston (credited) (For Better or For Worse comic strip); Mort Walker (credited) (Beetle Bailey comic strip); Ernie Bushmiller (credited) (Nancy comic strip)

Inks

Charles Schulz (credited) (Snoopy image); Lynn Johnston (credited) (For Better or For Worse comic strip); Mort Walker (credited) (Beetle Bailey comic strip); Ernie Bushmiller (credited) (Nancy comic strip)

Letters

Lynn Johnston (credited) (For Better or For Worse comic strip); Mort Walker (credited) (Beetle Bailey comic strip); Ernie Bushmiller (credited) (Nancy comic strip); Charles Schulz ? (random word balloon); typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The following suggestions are designed to use the comics in teaching specific skills.

Genre

non-fiction

Characters

Snoopy; Elly Patterson; Elizabeth Patterson; Private Plato; Private "Killer" Diller; Sergeant 1st Class Orville P. Snorkel; Beetle Bailey [Private Carl James "Beetle" Bailey]; Nancy Ritz; Sluggo Smith; unnamed bakery owner

Synopsis

Inge lists specific teaching skills teachers can teach children using comics.

Reprints

• from For Better or for Worse daily (United Press Syndicate) 1988-03-14 [Writing in the word balloons for panels 2 through 4 are removed and left blank to help teach writing.]
• Beetle Bailey daily (King Features Syndicate, Inc.) 1985-XX-XX
• from Nancy daily (United Feature Syndicate, Inc.) 1947-05-03 [Panel disassembled to teach the idea of sequence.]

Pages

8 - 10

Abstract

M. Thomas Inge covers how comics can be used to teach to children in the classroom. The skills that can be taught includes writing, values, dramatic conflict, narrative fiction, graphic art, politics, stereotypes, language, and sequence.

Indexer Notes

Snoopy image from Peanuts copyright 1987 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. For Better or for Worse daily comic strip copyright 1988 United Press Syndicate. Beetle Bailey daily comic strip copyright 1985 King Features Syndicate, Inc. Nancy daily comic strip copyright 1947 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

For High School & College Levels (Table of Contents: 6)

Thimble Theatre / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Pencils

E. C. Segar (credited as Elzie Segar) (Wimpy image)

Inks

E. C. Segar (credited as Elzie Segar) (Wimpy image)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor; adventure

Characters

J. Wellington Wimpy

Indexer Notes

Title page for the For High School & College Levels chapter.

Wimpy image from Thimble Theater Starring Popeye, copyright 1933 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

For High School & College Levels (Table of Contents: 7)

about comics / 3 pages (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Pencils

Bill Watterson (credited) (Calvin figures); Robert Crumb (credited as R. Crumb) (Our Lovely Home panel)

Inks

Bill Watterson (credited) (Calvin figures); Robert Crumb (credited as R. Crumb) (Our Lovely Home panel)

Letters

Robert Crumb (credited as R. Crumb) (Aline 'n' Bob Our Lovely Home panel); typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

These topics are suitable for discussion or writing assignments.

Genre

non-fiction

Characters

Calvin; Aline Kominsky-Crumb [Aline]; Robert Crumb [Bob]

Synopsis

Inge covers discussions or writing assignments from comics for high school or college level students.

Pages

12 - 14

Abstract

M. Thomas Inge discusses topics that comics could help teach high school and college students. Topics include categories, values, humor, fiction and drama, psychology, "are comic harmful?", mythology, folktales, literature, and survey.

Indexer Notes

Calvin images from Calvin and Hobbes copyright 1987 Universal Press Syndicate. Our Lovely Home panel from Aline 'n' Bob originally appeared in Weirdo (Last Gasp, 1981 series) #23 (Summer 1988), copyright 1988 R. Crumb and Aline Kominsky-Crumb.

Credits (Table of Contents: 8)

about comics / 1 page (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Pencils

George Herriman (credited) (Krazy Kat image)

Inks

George Herriman (credited) (Krazy Kat image)

Letters

typeset

Genre

non-fiction

Characters

Krazy Kat

Pages

15 - 15

Abstract

A page dedicate to credits of those behind the creations of Comics in the Classroom and the traveling exhibition Great American Comics: 100 Years of Cartoon Arts. Also includes listing of the illustrations and copyright information for them.

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover.

A listing of credits, noting the publication accompanied the exhibition, "Great American Comics: 100 Years of Cartoon Art, organized by Ohio State University and the Smithsonian Institution traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). Exhibition curators: Lucy Shelton Caswell and Dr. Judith O'Sullivan.

The exhibition was supported by grants from King Features Syndicate, Inc., and Smithsonian Institution Special Exhibition Fund. This guide was made possible with support from the Women's Committee of the Smithsonian Associates.

Also includes a complete listing of illustrations throughout the publication, including creator and copyright information.

Krazy Kat image copyright 1918 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Further Research (Table of Contents: 9)

about comics / 1 page (report information)

Script

M. Thomas Inge (credited)

Letters

typeset

Genre

non-fiction

Synopsis

A listing of biographical, history and development books related to comics to help in further research.

Pages

16 - 16

Abstract

A listing of two M. Thomas Inge books recommended for teachers or students to refer to for further research.

They are the "Comic Strips" essay in the Handbook of American Popular Culture. Revised and enlarged edition, 3 volumes. Westport, CT. Greenwood Press. 1989. pp. 203-228;

and the "Comic Books" essay in the Handbook of American Popular Literature. Westport, CT. Greenwood Press. 1988. pp. 75-99.

Indexer Notes

Back cover.

Copyright notice at bottom of page: Copyright Smithsonian Institution 1989. All comics in this booklet reproduced by permission.