Comic books are high art. They-and their graphic novel counterparts-harken back to classic literature and artworks. Through a series of essays, the authors will illustrate that modern pop culture characters are direct descendants of classic works of literature and their visual depiction is inspired by the works of master artists. Join us as we peel back layers to discover gothic influences, representations of badass females, uses of the mask, and the new look of Rappaccini's Daughter as well as discuss teaching comics in college, Black identity and power, mythological and religious tie-ins, and many more correlations hidden within the pages of action-packed heroes and villains. The essayists in this collection are, first and foremost, comic book fans with extensive backgrounds in art, film, education, literature, and writing. Comics Lit Vol. 1 contains essays by Alyson Shelton, Eric Lee, Kelly Gaines, Seth Singleton, AA McCartney, Heath Fodor, A.R. Farina, Tonya Todd, and Anthony D. Holt Jr. Foreword by Bryan Edward Hill.