James Kakalios is a physics professor at University of Minnesota. Besides that, he is also a comic geek, as he calls himself.
He combined these two passions in explaining physics with superhero comics. First in university classes, since last year also by his book The Physics of Superheros. On the occasion of the release of the German version, we spoke to Prof. Kakalios.

Comicgate: Hello Jim, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions about you and your book The Physics of Superheros. The German version is just about to be published in the second run. I don't know in how many languages the book is also translated, but generally spoken: did you ever expect it to be so popular - in the USA as in other countries?

James Kakalios: This is a pleasant surprise, as all of the examples I employ are from American superhero comic books.  So far the book has been purchased for foreign publication in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea and Greece. While Superman and Spider-Man are certainly well known around the world, these readers in other countries are about to learn much more about Ant-Man than they ever imagined!

CG: The book emerged from your lectures, right? How much time did it take you to actually write the book? Did you have some help?

JK: The ideas and arguments came from the course, and some topics were inspired by student presentations in class, but the book had to be written from scratch when the contract was signed.  It took me about 1.5 years to complete the first manuscript. No help in writing or research assistants - aside from wonderful editing from my wife. 
Word of advice to any aspiring popular science writer - be smart like me and marry an English major!

CG: I really appreciated the long introductional part which evolved around the history of comics/superheroes. It seems you're really not only interested in dragging the people into physics, but also into comics. Is that correct?

JK: Absolutely. To me, science is about asking questions, and once you start with the question as to how all this correct science wound up in these disposable popular monthlies - intended for kids - it leads you to the whole, rich history of this genre.  If you asked someone in one of the most remote locales on the planet about Shakespeare, you might get a blank look, but then follow up your question with one about Superman, and see the response!  I think its fascinating how this medium evolved - and as a professor - I'm used to giving lectures on anything I think is interesting!

CG: The idea of "learning physics from superheroes" - which are mere creatures out of writers' brains - is very unusual. I dare to say that no comic author ever cared about what is physically possible and what is not. How and when did you come to the point saying this could be interesting?

JK: Through experimentation with my students.  In my regular Freshman Physics class, we are always encouraged to break up the straight lecture every ten minutes or so, to keep students from zoning out.  These breaks may be in the form of a lecture demonstration, a pop quiz, or a worked out example.  As a technique to keep the students engaged, I started - slowly at first - bringing comic books and Star Wars examples into class.  The strong positive response led to me trying to develop an entry class built around superheroes, "Everything I Needed to Know about Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books".

CG: What classes do you teach? Do you notive students being first "afraid" of physics and getting into it because of a different access to it?

JK: Right now I'm teaching an introductory physics class for those students who have very little math background - called Energy and the Environment.  These students are bright, but they are very intimidated about mathematics.  This is the only physics class they will take in the college career - but they will be citizens and voters for the rest of their life.  So this is my one chance to Jedi mind trick them into learning some basic science.  I've taught Statistical Mechanics and solid state Physics for physics majors and graduate students, and I think I will be teaching The Physics of Superheroes, a Freshman Seminar class that we teach on a volunteer basis in addition to our normal teachign load, for the rest of my life!

CG: Did you get response from comic creators or from your scientific colleagues?

JK: The response seems to be strong, and positive.  There's a growing realization that we as scientists have to do a better job reaching out to the general public, explaining the value of our research and also enticing the next generation of scientists from todays schoolkids.  If superheroes can convince some kids to go into math and science - well it wouldn't be the first time these heroes have saved the day!

 

CG: I noticed that even on the internet you are answering questions regarding science (and superheroes). You really seem passionate about explaining things to people. Some readers are also asking non physics questions, e.g. biology. Where do you take the time (and the energy!) to answer these questions? Not only the writing, but also researching stuff is quite time consuming, I guess. Is there a point when it gets too much?

JK: Asks the person who sent THIS MANY questions over the internet!  Yeah - it does take a lot of time, and sometimes I have to put it on hold to help out my own kids with their homework, but if someone takes the time and effort to reach out, I don't think they should be blown off. At comic book conventions, I've sat and chatted about physics topics with attendees at the convention, and theyve commented how it was a joy to have access to a real physics professor, to ask them the type of questions and get personal answers. 

CG: So you've really been to comic conventions as a, kind of, artist, signing books and answering questions?

JK: Yup - I give the same physics talk that I present at science conventions.  I do signings of my book, and sometimes I'm asked to sketch a little drawing.  since I have no artistic talent whatsoever, I draw a schematic of an atom, with a note adjacent to it indicating that it is not the actual size!

CG: How cool is that, hehe? Do people shy away when they hear what "strange" profession you have?

JK: Very cool.  And no - quite the opposite.  People will hang around for hours, asking all sorts of questions, reveling in the fact that they have access to a real physics professor.  Sort of like if we could spend as much time as we wanted talking to a doctor or lawyer, asking the obscure questions that come to you while shaving.

 

CG: If you ever have free time, do you only read superhero comics, or are there also other comic books you enjoy? We'd be happy to hear any comic recommendations (superhero or not)! :)

JK: Hah - yes, I still go to my local comic book shop every Wednesday (which is when new comics are released here in the States).  I really enjoy Darwyn Cooke's work - he created DC: The New Frontier, now in trade paperback. He is presently my top creator.  Gail Simone is writing the adventures of the New Atom, and she is striving to make the stories as scientifically accurate as one can in a superhero adventure (I'm actually doing some free-lance consulting for her on such issues as to how would could possible see if the size of a molecule).  I tend to follow the work of certain writiers, so anything by Mark Waid, Warren Ellis, Alan Moore (certainly his non-superhero adventures - such as the League of Extrordinary Gentlemen - are worth consideration), Geoff Johns, Dan Slott will get at least a first look. Dan Slott is writing about She-Hulk, who in addition to being a seven foot tall, green superstrong hero, is a lawyer specializing in superhero law.  Very funny and clever stories, there!

CG: Your "free-lance consulting" thing for Gail Simone sounds exciting! How did you get in contact?

JK: She sent me an e-mail last week, out of the blue.  It was and is very cool.  So far I've only helped her on one plot point.  We'll see if she needs more - or if I have time!

CG: Do you also propose some plot elements or is it only "yes, that would work" and "no, that's crap"? Would it appeal to you to be more involved in comics, let's say to create a story of your own?

JK: I have an idea for a storyline, that would incorporate some interesting physics and at the same time tell an (I hope) interesting story - so that the reader would not realize until it was too late that they were actually learning something.  Perhaps I'll pitch it in the future.

CG: If people look at at you sceptically at you and tell you that comics are only for kids, what do you tell them? What do you love about comics?

JK: I ask them if they've read a comic book lately.  As with anything, from movies to novels to television - 90% is not very good, and 10% is excellent.  (This is why we find so much classical music to be superb - only the excellent 10% survived over the years and is still played today).  But ultimately, I don't care if someone dismisses comics. Part of being a true geek is not caring what others think.

CG: You mentioned your wife and kids. How difficult was it to assimilate them to comics and physics (but since you don't look that old, your kids might still be too young for that)?

JK: Actually, my kids are age 16.5, 15 and 12.5 ...

CG: Oops (at least I didn't think you were older than you actually are).

JK: ... so they are definitelty old enough for comics.  They like them fine, but are not as into them as their Dad.  My wife is very tolerant of my hobby, but she hates reading comic books and resists, even when I describe such classics at The Watchmen.  Ultimately, they accept that this is one of Dad's quirks.

CG: Your trademark is "Your Friendly Neighborhood Physics Professor, Jim Kakalios" at the end of your answers and mails. Besides showing that physicists don't bite, do you copy and paste that or do you have to type it everytime? ;)

JK: Since I don't use it for every corrsespondence - I actually write it each time.  Some times I vary it, such as: "From your mild-mannered physics professor, Dr. K" (the K stands for Action!)

CG: Why does K stand for action? Is this an American thing (like X-mas)?

JK: No - it's a non-sequitur joke.  Since there's no K in Action, it makes no literal sense. Which I find amusing, but half of my family thinks is stupid, so I guess it's an idiosyncratic thing.

CG: Thanks very much again for taking the time to answer our questions, Jim!

LINKS:

The Physics of Superheroes at Penguin Books

James Kakalios answers questions like "How can Spider-Man stick to walls while wearing gloves?"

James Kakalios talks with ZDF aspekte (German television show on cultural things; interview in German) 

His official site at University of Minnesota 

images sources: Rogner & Bernhard, Wikipedia (Ant Man), http://www.empirecollectibles.com/show36b.jpg (The Atom)

Kommentare (0)

Name:

E-Mail-Adresse (wird nicht veröffentlicht):

Website (kein Pflichtfeld):

Kommentar:

kleiner | groesser

Bitte den obenstehenden Code eingeben:

Kommentar hinzufügen