This dissertation investigates the nuanced portrayal of higher education in superhero comic books, particularly the 13 years of publication from 1965 to 1978 when Peter Parker/Spider-Man was an undergraduate at Empire State University. Depictions of higher education and how they can influence perceptions of academia and its intersections with superhero narratives are analyzed. Grounded in historical research and literary analysis, this research examines the depiction of universities, colleges, and intellectual pursuits in Spider-Man comics during this important era in the history of both comics and higher education. Through exploration of the original comics, their stories, interactions between creators and fans, as well as contemporaneous media focusing on both higher education and the comic book industry, three major themes emerged. The first is the prevalence of supervillains with terminal degrees as a direct continuation of the traditional good versus evil superhero trope, with faculty and administrators becoming synonymous with supervillains. The second theme to emerge is an exploration of student protests in Spider-Man comics. Student protests reached a peak during the period where Peter Parker was a college student and the writers of his stories used protests as a plot device on numerous occasions. Throughout the 13- year run a shift can be observed in how protests and protestors were depicted in the stories, from nuisance to villain to finally heroes. Finally, while Peter Parker/Spider-Man was shown enrolling in college and the Empire State University campus was used as a place setting for many stories, Peter never actually engaged with college as a college student. The inclusion of higher education spaces, traditions, and experiences remained superficial at best. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of the future need for historical research into comic books and superhero stories and what is represented within this relatively unexplored medium. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]