When students step into Joseph Darowski’s office, the first thing they notice are shelves lined with comic books. Iconic characters like Batman, Superman, the Flash and Wonder Woman fill the space with vibrant color and nostalgia. For Darowski—an English professor—these superheroes and stories are central to his academic research.
Darowski studies American popular culture and the broader contexts associated with comic books, television and film. He completed his doctoral dissertation on race and gender in X-Men at Michigan State University, which houses the largest comic book collection in the world.
“X-Men is a long form of storytelling that crosses decades with hundreds of creators, and it has found an audience that resonates.” Darowski said. “How does this long form transform across decades with a single-story thread? The transformation reflects what is happening in our society—politically and socially.”
In addition to his work on comic books, Darowski has co-authored books about classic TV shows from the 1980s and 90s— “Cheers” and “Frasier.” He recently published “Survivor: A Cultural History” about the long-running reality TV series, now approaching its 50th season.
Each “Survivor” episode includes a personal challenge and Darowski keeps a few replica puzzles from the show—reminders of his scholarship and his personal goal to one day be a contestant on the island.
On his top shelf, Darowski displays a growing Funko Pop collection, highlighting some of the beloved characters in popular media. These stylized figures—with oversized heads and dark eyes—have been gifted to him by family members.
“My research can get a little dry sometimes so it’s fun to have some of those little objects to delight and remind me to have fun when I’m thinking about the academic conversation.”