The project was founded by Michael Bitz while part of the Teachers College at Columbia University, and is currently maintained by the Center for Educational Pathways.
His goal was to apply his research findings into a creative approach to get children to "combine skills such as reading, writing, brainstorming and conceptualizing ideas."
Blitz launched the project in a single elementary school in Queens, New York, and later expanded it to afterschool programs in other parts of the city.
Blitz partnered with the non-profit organization After-School Corp in order to expand his project in 2003.
By 2008, the Comic Book Project had spread to more than 850 urban and rural schools throughout the United States.