Classics Illustrated
Social Science/History | Available (Membership Required)
For decades, the yellow rectangle containing "Classics Illustrated" in black lettering was one of the most widely recognized logos in the comic book industry. Yet the publication, originally called "Classic Comics," told it's readers that "it really isn't a 'comic' ... it's the illustrated, or picture, version of your favorite classics." From 1941 to 1971, it produced and continuously reprinted illustrated versions of 169 literary works ranging from The Iliad to Hamlet to The War of the Worlds. We will look at the founding of the series, some of its artists and writers, its cultural and educational influences, how it dealt with the anti-comic movement of the 40s and 50s, and the several attempts to revive "Classics Illustrated."
Bill Blaker
Bill Blaker is retired after a 45-year career as a research scientist and university professor. He has received teaching awards from Virginia Tech and Furman University. He has taught university courses in general science, biology, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, English composition, statistics, and philosophy. Now, he teaches anything he finds interesting.