Teaching Uslan recalls that
Roger Stern "has been teaching a one-hour credit experimental course on comic book history and art," while he (Uslan) was "having fun with an I.U. Free University course on 'The Comic Book Hero'." Stern and Uslan discovered they shared interests, and when Stern "couldn't stand teaching the course any longer," Uslan took it over and changed it into one that took "an academic approach to the comics, divided into its history, folklore, art, sociology, psychology, and literary/educational value. Looking at their stages of relevancy and fantasy, the many aspects of censorship, their effects on other media, penciling and inking styles, their psychological implications, current and future trends, and the role of comics in school systems." Uslan's course, titled "The Comic Book in Society," thus became "the first accredited course on the serious study of comic books." Uslan wrote a textbook dealing with his course,
The Comic Book in America (Indiana University, 1971). In 2014, Uslan began instructing as a Professor of Practice at
Indiana University, and has been implementing
experiential learning in media school courses to better prepare students for their potential careers in the film and television industry. The classes he instructs (
Live from L.A.: Pros Make Movies, and
Business of Production Motion Pictures) involve bringing people who have worked "in the trenches everyday in Hollywood" to speak to students on the realities of the film industry. ''
Stan Lee's
Just Imagine...'' and contributed short stories with renowned artists like
John Severin,
Gene Colan and
Richard Corben to it. He wrote some stories for
The Spirit, before acquiring the film rights to the character. The film project eventually materialized as a
feature film with Uslan's executive producer credit and net profits secure. With only some brief (foreword) writing and editing stints in between, Uslan scripted the 2009 six-part story,
Archie Marries Veronica. 2011 saw the publication of his autobiography,
The Boy Who Loved Batman. Uslan then wrote the foreword to the 2012
Wiley & Sons book
Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight, by Dr. Travis Langley. In 2021, it was announced that
The Boy Who Loved Batman would be adapted into a Broadway play titled
Darknights and Daydreams. Starting with
Tim Burton's
1989 film, the pair are credited as "executive producers" on all Warner Bros. Batman and related films, including various direct-to-video feature-length animated films but due to the nature of the deal they will never be credited or paid royalties for any episode of television. Uslan continues to be credited as executive producer on Warner Batman film franchise entries, the latest being 2022's
The Batman, 2024's
Joker: Folie à Deux. In addition to the Swamp Thing films, Uslan and Melniker were also credited as executive producers on the '90s live-action
Swamp Thing TV series and
Swamp Thing animated series, and 2008's
The Spirit film, among others.
Other credits Additional credits include
Three Sovereigns for Sarah (1985), part of the
American Playhouse series on
PBS, starring
Vanessa Redgrave and dealing with the
Salem Witch Trials; the children's
geography-teaching
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? game show; and the subsequent
Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? animated series. Uslan created, co-produced, and wrote a few episodes of the 1980s cartoon
Dinosaucers. Uslan and Melniker were also producers on the
Keanu Reeves-fronted
Constantine and associate producers on Disney's
National Treasure. He was hired to advise
Genius Brands on the use of
Stan Lee Universe IP in July 2020. The Stan Lee brand stocks have continued to decline ever since.
Charity and other work In 2005, Uslan donated his 30,000 comic book collection to Indiana University's
Lilly Library (rare books and manuscripts library), a collection which (according to his wife Nancy) "filled three rooms of their house." Uslan was the honorary speaker at the 2006
Indiana University commencement ceremonies, held on May 6, 2006. Uslan was the honorary speaker at the 2012 Westfield State University commencement ceremonies, held on May 19, 2012. ==Awards==