Holy O'Batman! The Irish Are Talking About Comics

Will County's oldest Irish organization is hosting a cultural speaker at the Joliet Historical Museum Sunday. Charles Fanning will discuss Irish comics as social history, specifically George McManus' "Maggie and Jiggs." The comic strip ran for over 40 years, about an Irish-American couple moving up the social ladder.

The event is another in a series of topics celebrating Irish heritage, according to Sheila Corrigan, the Irish American Society of County Will's cultural committee chair. Corrigan said the group tries to host a different event each month, rotating cities throughout the county.

Fanning is the author of 12 books. He earned his Ph.D. in American civilization from the University of Pennsylvania. He was named the outstanding Scholar from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where his a Professor Emeritus. 

Fanning is speaking on behalf of the Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholars Speakers Bureau. The event begins at 1 p.m.