Club activities are definitely going to get a lot more animated this year, courtesy of the Henderson Comic Arts Club. Under the supervision of Dr. Randy Duncan and Dr. Travis Langley, the Comic Arts Club – or Comics Club, as it’s more commonly known – is proving that fans have evolved far past the stereotypes of 5-year-old boys and basement-dwelling “Comic Book Guys.”

One of the club’s most fascinating accomplishments is the ERIICA project. ERIICA – which stands for Empirical Research on the Interpretation and Influence of the Comic Arts – studies the mental and emotional states of comic book fans. The project was originally conceived by Langley during a 2007 trip to the San Diego Comic-Con. “We wanted to know why these people want to go to these conventions and stand in line for hours to see a panel they’ve already been told they won’t be able to see,” says Langley. “We want to see if these people feel more accepted here in an environment that appreciates the interests they have and who they are.” (continued)