Anthony Letizia

Anthony Letizia has been many things through the years, including an accountant, journalist, and playwright. From June 2014 to May 2019, he served on the board – as well as treasurer – of the ToonSeum, a nonprofit museum of the cartoon and comic arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While there, Letizia curated two exhibits, “To Boldly Go: The Graphic Art of Star Trek” (October 2016 to January 2017) and “Popology: An Exhibit of Pop Culture and Comics” (September 2017 to November 2017), as well as co-curated “Wonder Woman: Visions” (November 2017 to February 2018).

After a decades-long hiatus, Anthony Letizia completed his M.A. in History at Duquesne University in December 2024. He has used his history background to make a number of presentations in recent years on the ways that popular culture intersects with the real world. The list includes: “Superheroes Battle Pollution on the First Earth Day” poster presentation as part of the Comics Arts Conference at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024; “DC Comics and August 1986” at the Popular Culture Association Conference in Chicago in March 2024; and “Green Arrow as Social Justice Warrior” as part of the Comics Arts Conference at WonderCon in Anaheim in March 2023. He also organized/moderated a panel at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle in August 2022 entitled “A Green Arrow History of Seattle” and made a brief “Marvel Comics History of the 1960s” presentation at the virtual Popular Culture Association conference in April 2022.

In addition to writing for Geek Frontiers and Remixing History, Letizia is working on a book that ties together the fictional narratives from the Marvel Comics Universe of the 1960s and the factual events of the decade, similar to the articles that serve as the backbone of Remixing History but in a longer and more detailed format.

Although still an accountant by day, at night Anthony Letizia is a strong proponent and true believer in the power of Geek Culture. He can be reached at anthony@geekfrontiers.com.

STEAM Superheroes

Inspired by Star Trek in general and trailblazing actress Nichelle Nichols in particular, the nonprofit utilizes popular culture to introduce youths to the fields of science and mathematics.

Integrating Pop Culture Into the Academic Library

Librarians from across the country explain the ways pop culture can be used in the library, from teaching how to conduct academic research to making pop culture part of a library’s collections.

Daredevil and the La Brea Tar Pits

During a visit to Los Angeles, Daredevil pays a visit to the La Brea Tar Pits and almost joins the woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats that were trapped in the tar pits thousands of years ago.

Steve Rogers vs. the German American Bund

Before taking the Super Soldier serum that turned him into Captain America, a sickly Steve Rogers confronted German Nazis in New York City looking to recruit Americans to their cause.

Superman and the Declaration of Independence

During the American Bicentennial in 1976, Superman is sent back in time by the alien Karb-Brak to the year 1776, where he witnesses the historic signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Teaching Public Administration with Pop Culture

Associate professors Erin Borry and Peter Jones discuss ways that pop culture can be used in the public administration classroom, with special focus on the television series Parks and Recreation.

Fandoms in the Classroom

Karis Jones and Scott Storm argue for a student-centered model of teaching that incorporates fandoms and the popularity of Comic Cons as opposed to the traditional teacher-centered method.

Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels

High school social studies teacher Tim Smyth shares his extensive knowledge of using comics in the classroom in a 2023 overview of his personal teaching methods and tips for fellow teachers.

Leverage and the Yellow Kid

The fictitious grandson of the real-life Joseph “Yellow Kid” Weil makes an appearance during season four of the television drama Leverage and serves as an introduction to the master con artist.

The Avengers: The Rise and Fall of McCarthyism

In 1971, the Avengers are called to testify before the Aliens Activities Committee, which shared similarities with U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy’s “red scare” investigations during the 1950s.

Spider-Man: The My Lai Massacre

The tragic massacre during the Vietnam War is explored alongside Flash Thompson’s failed attempt keep a sacred temple from being bombed when he was drafted and sent to Vietnam.

The X-Men and the Cuban Missile Crisis

Magneto of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants threatens to detonate an atomic bomb in Santo Marco while Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev attempts to build a nuclear missile base in Cuba.

123...13 Page 2 of 13