Physics at Comic Con

Every year the APS Outreach team gets to travel to Comic Con International in San Diego, CA. Why go to such a unique place? To exhibit their science comic series, Spectra the Laser superhero. With it’s 9 issues that excite and teach, a comic book convention is the ideal place to get these comics in the hands of comic book lovers of all ages. Spectra is the story of middle school Lucinda “Lucy” Hene who can turn into a laser superhero. She battles such villains as Miss Alignment and General Relativity. As kids read the comics they learn a little about different types of physics.

Comic Con attracts over 200,000 people each year hoping to catch sight of their favorite stars and show off their “cos play” outfits. Though the convention started as strictly a venue for comic books, it has now become the premiere pop culture event. It hosts panels on everything from Game of Thrones to the latest young adult novels. In the past few years the idea of teaching with comics has become a bigger presence at the event. This is where Spectra fits in. Teachers are now using comics in their classroom in addition to novels and text books. With the goal of teaching physics through stories told through comics, Spectra has become a useful tool for teachers. Spectra creator and author Rebecca Thompson served on a panel to discuss how to teach STEM with comics. The panel included Jorge Cham, creator of the popular Ph.D. Comics. They discussed the impact comics can have in STEM teaching and public outreach.

In addition to talking to audiences about the importance of comics in the classroom, the outreach team distributed over 2 tons of comics to fans in attendance. There were many repeat customers looking for the newest two issues. In the most recent issue Spectra mysteriously loses her powers and needs to find a way to save the school dance using just her brain and the help of her friend Kas’s new sound powers. Students learn about acoustics while reading about her and her friends. Both kids and adults enjoy them. In many cases APS staff were talking about science with people dressed as everything from the Flash to Daenarys. Watching Thor read your comic is certainly an experience you’ll never forget. To read the Spectra series or order your own copies please visit www.physicscentral.com. For more information about the series or outreach trips to comic conventions, please email Spectra author Rebecca Thompson at Thompson@aps.org.