Students Discover Their Superpower Through Literacy

This summer, South Junior High School Crush Academy students collaborated with Assistant Professor Michael Dando from St. Cloud State University‘s (SCSU) English department on an exciting Lion Man Literacy Project, made possible by a 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) grant through United Way/Partner for Student Success. Under the supervision of Dando, students were able to discover themselves by identifying their superpowers while improving their literacy skills.

Dando is the director of the communication, art and literature program within the secondary education program at SCSU. He also works a lot with pop culture and literacy. Dando believes pop culture can not only increase literacy but also expand critical thinking skills.

“I specifically look at the way kids learn to think about themselves and the world around them through comics,” explains Dando. “I spend a lot of time doing superhero comics – the idea behind graphic storytelling or what’s called sequential narratives. I’ve been doing this research for a while and … particularly at folks who may not be represented in those spaces – communities of color.”

South students worked with Dando to create their own stories and characters. After they developed their characters and stories, they used professional art materials to make their own comics.

“This is where the literacy comes in,” says Dando. “Students compose their character from the ground up.”

They start with an idea or a figure and then build the background that will eventually become a full comic. The students have complete autonomy over their work.

“The process begins with speculative storytelling – guessing and inventing what things are going to be like,” shares Dando. “What is your superpower? Not like invisibility or flight, but like I’m a caring person or I can solve problems really well. It’s based in assets.”

From there, the students examine what superpowers the community might have and what challenges there may be. Then, Dando asks the questions, “How might those challenges be addressed? If you had all the power in the world, what would you do? How would you solve it?”

The responses always amaze him. Students’ answers vary from growing crops to feed everyone (if someone had the power over plants) or providing affordable housing (if someone had the technology of Ironman’s suit).

Dando with a student
Dando works with a student.

Students do a lot of thinking, discussing and resource reading to build their comics.

“They’re virtually comic creators now, not just consumers of pop culture, but critical producers,” says Dando. “We’re fortunate enough to have a comic to use as a jumping point in discussions called ‘Lion Man’ which … came out in ’47 and it’s the first black superhero comic strip. It’s [in the] public domain now.”

Still, Dando reached out to the creator’s family to ask permission for its use. The family happily agreed.

Dando and the students had the opportunity to work with professionals in the industry–from Marvel, DC, Image and Disney– big names in the industry. Students loved that they could get feedback and collaborate with experts in the field.

The finished comics were put into an anthology which will become a printed comic book.

There is no longer an excuse for a student to say, “I don’t like English.” Creating comics is a different approach to storytelling, finding new creative ways to approach a project, think critically and problem solve.

“One of the consultants [we worked with], who is the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for Marvel Comics, said, ‘These are really, really cool ideas.”

Dando is working with Michigan State University, St. Cloud State University and the Stearns County History Museum to present an Afro-futurism exhibition: think Disney’s “Black Panther.” The students and their work will be a part of the exhibit. The exhibit opens Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in galleries two and three at the Stearns County History Museum and will run through the end of September.

Through this process, a students have had fun and found a surprising superpower – English literacy.

Dando and students
Dando and students are in character.