Holy Cross’ New Superpower

Historically dismissed as juvenile at best, evil at worst, graphic novels and comic books are finding their place as a valuable academic tool in higher education.

September 19th, 2023 by Michael Bonner

Historically dismissed as juvenile at best, evil at worst, graphic novels and comic books are finding their place as a valuable academic tool in higher education.

Beyond Marvel and DC, faculty are using the College’s Dr. Mark D. Nevins ’86 Collection for the Study of Comics and Graphic Novels as a centerpiece to teaching. Learn more in our graphic novel, below.

Cover of a comic book "Holy Cross' New Super Power' A collection of superheroes assembled on the steps of Dinand Library A pair of comic books slides featuring Mark Nevins as a young boy and Holy Cross graduate Three comic slides featuring students and professor Jorge Santos reading comics Professor Beth Sweeney illustrated in her office reading student comics A photo of a comic drawn by a Holy Cross student touching upon the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut Professor Susan Schmidt and Holy Cross librarian Janis DesMarais holding comics Illustration: A man placing books on shelves, a student walking up stairs to a library, professor Jorge Santos Two comic slides, James Wu kissing a woman, then standing on Dinand Library steps holding a comic