Some time ago, we came up with the idea to convey the research content of our Cluster of Excellence CASA through a creative format – and what could be better than a comic? IT security is a crucial societal issue, becoming increasingly relevant with the rising number of hacker attacks on companies, hospitals, and other institutions. Yet, it is often seen as highly complex and intimidating or dismissed with the attitude, "It doesn’t concern me – I have nothing to hide." By using comics as a creative medium for science communication, we aimed to address these misconceptions and present our complex topics in an entertaining and accessible way.
Comics as a Medium for Science Communication
Comics, whether superhero adventures or mangas, fascinate us, especially in our visually oriented world. As a medium for science communication and promoting young talents, they are gaining increasing importance. From single comic strips to graphic novels like NASA's "First Woman," new comics are constantly emerging that explore technical or scientific topics. Thus, the decision was made at our Cluster of Excellence to create a comic series about the interdisciplinary research of our four hubs: “Future Cryptography,” “Embedded Security,” “Secure Systems,” and “Usability.”
Animal Heroes Embark on IT Security Adventures
The comic project started in 2021. Together with the Berlin agency Ellery Studio, we have since developed four comic issues. Each comic is structured around the research challenges of our hubs. It was quickly decided that each comic would feature an animal protagonist embarking on an adventurous journey to discover the challenges and research projects of our cluster.
In our comics, Fox Whitfield, Beaver Paul, Bunny Betty, and Chameleon Maggie explore various worlds – from the deepest snow to an underwater realm, and into a jungle filled with shimmering heat and exotic plants. These animal heroes were selected in collaboration with our researchers. Each story is supplemented by a CASA Wiki, helpful infographics, and real-life stories that connect to specific events in IT security or our society.
From Concept to Illustration: Insights into the Comic Creation Process
The comics were created in close collaboration and constant exchange with the Ellery Studio team. Our researchers provided the foundational descriptions of the topics and projects to be featured in the comics and contributed ideas and suggestions. The agency developed these ideas further, creating sketches and dialogues, which were refined with input from our researchers before the final illustrations were completed.
Small insider jokes and references were also included. A hidden feature: The names of the protagonists and all characters in the comics are not randomly chosen – each name represents a more or less well-known researcher from the respective field (e.g., in Hub A: Joan = Joan Clarke). Completing each comic took several months and required significant time and effort from everyone involved. In the end, we aimed to deliver a comic that our researchers would be proud of and eager to share.
The four adventures are:
- The Secrets of Hub A and the Traces of the Cookies
- A Deep Dive Into Hub B and the Swirl of Embedded Security
- What’s the Fuzz About Hub C and the Missing Carrots?
- Hub D and the Rumble in the Jungle of Usability
Print Version, Flipbook, and PDF
Our comics are available on our website as a flipbook or downloadable PDF. They are also available in print, and school classes can request a class set (email hgi-presse(at)rub.de). Since each comic only has a limited number of pages, we provide readers with the opportunity to study the scientific papers on which the comics are based in more detail. These publications are referenced in each issue and linked on our website, allowing interested readers to look deeper into the research topics.
In German, please
Initially, our comics were published in English. However, we are already working with Ellery Studio on the German translations. The comic "What’s the Fuzz About Hub C and the Missing Carrots?" will be released soon.
We thank all the researchers involved and the Ellery Studio team for this fantastic science comic series!
General note: In case of using gender-assigning attributes we include all those who consider themselves in this gender regardless of their own biological sex.