Tim Smyth, a teacher at Ambler’s Wissahickon High School, uses comics and graphic novels in his social studies classes as an engaging entry point into history and world cultures, writes Alyson Klein for Education Week.

He starts by focusing on the fact that comics are not a modern invention. Stories in pictures have been found all around the globe, going back to prehistoric cave paintings. Smyth shows a drawing made circa 1460 of the torture of Erasmus to his European history students. The image has been interpreted by historians as a warning to people who spoke out against the medieval church.

“And people say ‘that’s real history. That’s capital H history,’” said Smyth, to which he responds with “Yeah. So is Captain America Number One.”

The comic was published in 1941 and depicts a shield-wielding Captain America punching Adolph Hitler. Once the United States joined the war, the character became a symbol of the country’s strength, values, and resilience, said Smyth.

As a bonus, comic books are currently enjoying a pop-culture moment, which provides Smyth with a perfect way to bond with his students.

Read more about Tim Smyth in Education Week.

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More on Captain America comics.