ENGLISH CORNER, CON LINDA JIMÉNEZ – This week’s trivia question:  Who was declared persona non grata in Nazi Germany during World War II, and why?

Mark S. Zaid was born in 1967 and grew up on Long Island.  From a very early age he became interested in comic books and by sixth grade he was bringing backpacks full of them to school to sell and trade. He remained active in comics until he went away to college. After graduating, he established a thriving legal practice in Washington, D.C., which specializes in cases involving national security, governmental openness and Constitutional challenges under the First and Fifth Amendments.

In the mid-1990s Zaid’s childhood passion for comic books re-emerged in a serious way, leading him to launch his company, EsquireComics.com online. He loves history and is particularly interested in how comic books, especially those from the 1930s through 1950s, have reflected the concerns and interests of the American people.

Last week we spoke with Mark about his legal work. This week he is telling us about comic books and their relationship to American history and culture.