Superhero Studies: Comic Books and Pop Culture Impact

Michael Uslan serves as a Professor of Practice at Indiana University Media School while maintaining his position as the originator and executive producer of the Batman film franchise, bringing over 46 years of entertainment industry experience. His groundbreaking career began at Indiana University, where he made history as the world's first college professor of comic books in 1971, leading to a mentorship with Stan Lee and eventually acquiring the film rights to Batman. His academic credentials include a BA in History, MS in Urban Education, and JD from Indiana University, complemented by the world's first Doctorate of Comic Books from Monmouth University in 2012. His producing credits span numerous successful Batman films from Tim Burton's 1989 adaptation through to 2022's "The Batman" and the upcoming "Joker: Folie à Deux." As an author, he has written extensively about comics, including "The Comic Book in America" (the first textbook on comics), and his memoir "The Boy Who Loved Batman." His contributions to entertainment education include winning a 1995 Daytime Emmy for "Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?" and serving on advisory boards for organizations including the Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Through his teaching at Indiana University, he continues to share his extensive industry experience, preparing students for careers in film and television through experiential learning.