Superheroesto the Rescueby Mary Erickson, Ph.D. and Arizona art teacher, Laurie Eldridge, Ph.D.

A Superhero or Superheroine is:

• A character who has extraordinary or superhuman powers,

• Is dedicated to protecting the public, (has a strong moral code),

• Has a backstory that explains his/her motivation,

• Lives and acts within a particular setting (time and place), and

• Has a costume that protects a secret identity.

Begin planning your superhero/heroine action comic strip by identifying his or her:

• Super power or ability• Strong moral code• Motivation• Costume• Setting

A middle school student began by planning a backstory for “Miss Galaxy.”

“Miss Galaxy”

• Can transform into objects, is invisible and can fly.

• She fights for her people who are weak.

• She wants to travel the galaxy because her home planet was destroyed.

• Her story takes place in another galaxy.

Photograph courtesy of Tempe Historical Museum.

One way artists add excitement to their drawings is by cropping them. Cropped images are “close ups” framed so the image is partially cut off.

Cropped (and tilted) Image Original Image

How does the cropped image focus your attention? On what?

Photograph courtesy of Tempe Historical Museum.

Both of these Batman images are cropped. Which image is more dramatically cropped? Where?

Mark NewportRyan Huna Smith

The middle school student who developed this superheroine named “Star” made a close-up

drawing cropped at the bottom.

An action story needs a plot. Arizona Todd Harris was a real hero who gave his life for his country. (Yes, his first name was “Arizona.”)

Beginning: Harris left Tempe toserve as a gunner in the US Air Service.

Middle: Damaged by Germanfighters, his bomber landed in the English Channel.

Climax: Harris stayed at his gun firing at the fighters as his plane sank.

Conclusion: He was posthumously awarded The Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leal Cluster and a Purple Heart.

Photograph courtesy of Tempe Historical Museum.

This middle school student’s plot for “Mr. Robot’s Flying Adventure” also has a

• beginning • middle • climax• conclusion

This middle school student is translating his plot into a series of four drawings with words that tell his story of the “Elemental Hero.”

Which drawings in this action comic strip use cropping to focus your attention? How?

Tempe Historical Museum Photo

Your assignment is to create an action comic strip that tells in words and images the story of a heroic action taken by your own superhero by:

1. Developing a superhero.2. Practicing cropping. 3. Developing a plot. 4. Creating your own superhero

action comic strip.

What sort of Superhero or Superheroine would you like to develop?

What plot could you show in your action comic strip ?

More advanced students might want to try using foreshortening to add more excitement to their drawings.

Foreshortening emphasizes how closer objects appear larger than more distant objects.

Normal View Foreshortened View

This spoof on superheroes uses both cropping and foreshortening to focus attention and add excitement.