Professor Andre F. Peltier teaches Writing and Literature at Eastern Michigan University, specializing in African American literature, science fiction, and comic books. Having lived in Washtenaw County for nearly 25 years, Professor Peltier has developed a strong connection to the community. His focus on comic books dates back to childhood, while his scholarly interest in graphic art and humor began as an undergrad.

This presentation will cover the development of humor in comic books and sequential art since the debut of Mad Magazine in 1952. While the focus is on the last 65 years, we will also look at earlier works and discuss the influence of political cartoons and social satire that have clearly influenced the more recent works, such as 19th Century campaign comics and the works of Ollie Harrington.

This is the fourth in a six-lecture series. The subject is Humor, Comedy, and Laughter in Everyday Life and Beyond. The next lecture will be March 21, 2019. The subject is: The History of Comedy in Film.