Is The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art the smartest kid in class? Their fall education programs make me want to hit Hotwire for a cheap flight to NYC and spend a few months with a laptop and some pencils.

My old friend Danny Fingeroth, the Senior VP of Education for MoCCA, gets a tip of my cap for putting together an excellent slate of programs.

Here’s a peek at the list:

Robert Sikoryak and Kriota Willberg are teaching “Anatomy For Cartoonists Workshop” (4 sessions). “This course will teach students how to create real or imaginary characters — in any style — that are consistent and believable.” Bonus: “nude models will be employed.” Nude models should never be unemployed, even in a recession.

Sikoryak is the author of the recently released Masterpiece Comics and his work appears frequently on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Kriota Willberg teaches anatomy for cartoonists and illustrators at The Center For Cartoon Studies.

Sikoryak and Willberg will also be “on hand” for a 1-class session called “Hand Anatomy For Cartoonists.” It’s billed as “an introduction to one of the trickiest parts of the body to draw.”

My pal Arie Kaplan, a mainstay at MAD Magazine who also writes for Bongo and Archie, brings the funny. He’s teaching “How To Write Funny Comics And Gag Cartoons” for 4 sessions. “This class is like a three-pronged electrical adaptor of comedy, offering: 1) lectures, 2) in-class and homework assignments, and 3) roundtable critiquing by the class and instructor.” So be funny fast, or that last one’s going to hurt a bit.

Fingeroth is also a comic book writer and former Marvel Comics group editor for their Spider-Man titles. He’s teaching “How To Write Comics And Graphic Novels” (4 sessions). It’s a “hands-on workshop in writing comics and graphic novels, suitable for novices as well as experienced writers.”

Speaking of graphic novels, Stephen DeStefano has a new one out from Fantagraphics called Lucky in Love. He’s also an indemand storyboard artist for those animated cartoons you see on your TV. He’s teaching a 3-session classed called “How To Do Storyboards For Animation.” What’s a storyboard? Glad you asked! It’s “often considered the best and most sought after job in the animation industry, storyboarding is the art of creating a blueprint for an entire animated film or episode.”

DeStefano co-created ‘Mazing Man for DC Comics, and has worked on Ren & Stimpy, Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond, and The Venture Brothers, so he knows a thing or two about cartoons.

There are also two Master Classes. The first by David Steven Cohen is called “Cartoon Collaboration: Animation Writing As A Team Sport.”

Cohen was the head writer on Courage the Cowardly Dog, co-creator and executive producer of Alf Tales, and executive producer The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss. Bonus: He worked on Pee Wee’s Playhouse.

Paul Levitz, the former President and Publisher of DC Comics who has also written piles of comics for the company, will be teaching “The Craft of Comics Writing: The Long And Short Of Plotting.” That’s the one I’d most want to attend. I’ve sat across the dinner table from Paul on a couple of occasions and his advice about this kind of thing is spot on.

Sign-up info is available at the MoCCA site. Don’t be late for class. The bell will ring before you know it.

[Artwork: Masterpiece Comics © Robert Sikoryak]