Over the past 30 years, the graphic novel has won numerous readers with its bold topics, innovative forms, and vivid artwork. We will explore the origins, development, and unique workings of these sequential narratives, from the socially conscious woodcut novels of the 1930s (e.g., Lynd Ward’s Gods’ Man ) to the global adventures of Hergé’s Tintin , to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' 1980s game-changer, Watchmen . Other works will include Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics and recent graphic memoirs. Our overall goal is to develop an informed and critical perspective on this powerful medium. Students who register for eight credits will read and research additional graphic works or, with faculty approval, create graphic narratives of their own.