A Brief History of Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher : Hachette UK
ISBN 13 : 1472110706
Total Pages : 304 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (721 download)

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Book Synopsis A Brief History of Superheroes by : Brian J. Robb

Download or read book A Brief History of Superheroes written by Brian J. Robb and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2014-05-15 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fascinating written exploration of the superhero phenomenon, from its beginnings in the depths of Great Depression to the blockbuster movies of today. For over 90 years, superheroes have been interrogated, deconstructed, and reinvented. In this wide-ranging study, Robb looks at the diverse characters, their creators, and the ways in which their creations have been reinvented for successive generations. Inevitably, the focus is on the United States, but the context is international, including an examination of characters developed in India and Japan in reaction to the traditional American hero. Sections examine: the birth of the superhero, including Superman, in 1938; the DC family (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Justice Society/League of America), from the 1940s to the 1960s; the superheroes enlistment in the war effort in the 1940s and 50s; their neutering by the Comics Code; the challenge to DC from the Marvel family (The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and The X-Men), from the 1960s to the 1980s; the superhero as complex anti-hero; superheroes deconstructed in the 1980s (The Watchmen and Frank Miller’s Batman), and their politicization; independent comic book creators and new publishers in the 1980s and 90s; superheroes in retreat, and their rebirth at the movies in blockbusters from Batman to Spider-Man and The Avengers.

On the Origin of Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher : University of Iowa Press
ISBN 13 : 1609383818
Total Pages : 306 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (93 download)

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Book Synopsis On the Origin of Superheroes by : Chris Gavaler

Download or read book On the Origin of Superheroes written by Chris Gavaler and published by University of Iowa Press. This book was released on 2015-11 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most readers think that superheroes began with Superman’s appearance in Action Comics No. 1, but that Kryptonian rocket didn’t just drop out of the sky. By the time Superman’s creators were born, the superhero’s most defining elements—secret identities, aliases, disguises, signature symbols, traumatic origin stories, extraordinary powers, self-sacrificing altruism—were already well-rehearsed standards. Superheroes have a sprawling, action-packed history that predates the Man of Steel by decades and even centuries. On the Origin of Superheroes is a quirky, personal tour of the mythology, literature, philosophy, history, and grand swirl of ideas that have permeated western culture in the centuries leading up to the first appearance of superheroes (as we know them today) in 1938. From the creation of the universe, through mythological heroes and gods, to folklore, ancient philosophy, revolutionary manifestos, discarded scientific theories, and gothic monsters, the sweep and scale of the superhero’s origin story is truly epic. We will travel from Jane Austen’s Bath to Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Mars to Owen Wister’s Wyoming, with some surprising stops along the way. We’ll meet mad scientists, Napoleonic dictators, costumed murderers, diabolical madmen, blackmailers, pirates, Wild West outlaws, eugenicists, the KKK, Victorian do-gooders, detectives, aliens, vampires, and pulp vigilantes (to name just a few). Chris Gavaler is your tour guide through this fascinating, sometimes dark, often funny, but always surprising prehistory of the most popular figure in pop culture today. In a way, superheroes have always been with us: they are a fossil record of our greatest aspirations and our worst fears and failings.

A Brief Guide to Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher : Running Press Adult
ISBN 13 : 9780762452316
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (523 download)

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Book Synopsis A Brief Guide to Superheroes by : Brian J. Robb

Download or read book A Brief Guide to Superheroes written by Brian J. Robb and published by Running Press Adult. This book was released on 2014-07-15 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the beginning superheroes represented the hopes and fears of the time. In this detailed history, Brian Robb takes the reader through the diverse history of superheroes, from the first creations—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman—to the DC and Marvel feud and the darker versions of the 1980s, ending with their rebirth at the movies.

A Brief History of Comic Book Movies

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319471848
Total Pages : 98 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (194 download)

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Book Synopsis A Brief History of Comic Book Movies by : Wheeler Winston Dixon

Download or read book A Brief History of Comic Book Movies written by Wheeler Winston Dixon and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-01-05 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Brief History of Comic Book Movies traces the meteoric rise of the hybrid art form of the comic book film. These films trace their origins back to the early 1940s, when the first Batman and Superman serials were made. The serials, and later television shows in the 1950s and 60s, were for the most part designed for children. But today, with the continuing rise of Comic-Con, they seem to be more a part of the mainstream than ever, appealing to adults as well as younger fans. This book examines comic book movies from the past and present, exploring how these films shaped American culture from the post-World War II era to the present day, and how they adapted to the changing tastes and mores of succeeding generations.

Superheroes: An Analysis of Popular Culture's Modern Myths

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Author :
Publisher : Problematic Press
ISBN 13 : 0986902705
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (869 download)

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Book Synopsis Superheroes: An Analysis of Popular Culture's Modern Myths by : David Reynolds

Download or read book Superheroes: An Analysis of Popular Culture's Modern Myths written by David Reynolds and published by Problematic Press. This book was released on 2011-04-06 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A semiotic and cultural anthropological interrogation of popular North American superhero narratives, such as those of Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman, provides insight into how media’s messages influence the culture’s ethical values. Since emerging in the late 1930s, the superhero has become a pervasive figure in North American popular culture. As an extension of ideas presented by Friedrich Nietzsche, Joseph Campbell, and Umberto Eco, this dissertation argues that superhero tales must be regarded as modern mythology. It follows that people observe and learn social norms of justice from such narratives, since these ideals are intrinsic to the tales. In investigating the superhero’s role as a contemporary figure of myth, this project focuses primarily on three areas: an account of the history of the superhero from 1938 to present; an examination of the cultural functions of contemporary superhero narratives; and, an interrogation of vigilantism, responsibility, and justice in these narratives and how those concerns further relate to ideologies and practices in North American culture.

The Superhero Multiverse

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Author :
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1793624607
Total Pages : 323 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (936 download)

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Book Synopsis The Superhero Multiverse by : Lorna Piatti-Farnell

Download or read book The Superhero Multiverse written by Lorna Piatti-Farnell and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2021-11 with total page 323 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Superhero Multiverse focuses on the evolving meanings of the superhero icon in 21st-century film and popular media, with an emphasis on re-adapting, re-imagining, and re-making. With its focus on multimedia and transmedia transformations, The Superhero Multiverse pivots on two important points: firstly, it reflects on the core concerns of the superhero narrative—including the relationship between ‘superhero comics’ and ‘superhero films’, the comics roots of superhero media, matters of canon and hybridity, and issues of recycling and stereotyping in superhero films and media texts. Secondly, it considers how these intersecting textual and cultural preoccupations are intrinsic to the process of remaking and re-adapting superheroes, and brings attention to multiple ways of materializing these iconic figures in our contemporary context.

Superman on the Couch

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Author :
Publisher : A&C Black
ISBN 13 : 9780826415394
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (153 download)

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Book Synopsis Superman on the Couch by : Danny Fingeroth

Download or read book Superman on the Couch written by Danny Fingeroth and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2004-01-01 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why are so many of the superhero myths tied up with loss, often violent, of parents or parental figures? What is the significance of the dual identity? What makes some superhuman figures "good" and others "evil"? Why are so many of the prime superheroes white and male? How has the superhero evolved over the course of the 20th and early 21st centuries? And how might the myths be changing? Why is it that the key superhero archetypes - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the X-Men - touch primal needs and experiences in everyone? Why has the superhero moved beyond the pages of comics into other media? All these topics, and more, are covered in this lively and original exploration of the reasons why the superhero - in comic books, films, and TV - is such a potent myth for our times and culture.>

The 100 Greatest Superhero Films and TV Shows

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Author :
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1538114518
Total Pages : 329 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (381 download)

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Book Synopsis The 100 Greatest Superhero Films and TV Shows by : Zachary Ingle

Download or read book The 100 Greatest Superhero Films and TV Shows written by Zachary Ingle and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book celebrates the 100 greatest superhero films and tv shows from the early 1940s to the present. Each entry includes a plot summary, background information, production details, critical reception, box office results, awards, and commentary assessing the film or show’s contribution to the superhero genre and popular culture.

Superman

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Author :
Publisher : Independently Published
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (7 download)

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Book Synopsis Superman by : Roman Jackson

Download or read book Superman written by Roman Jackson and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2022-12-16 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Are you a fan of the Man of Steel? Do you want to learn more about the iconic superhero, Superman? Then our new book on the history of Superman is just what you need. In this comprehensive book, we take you on a journey through the history of Superman, from his humble beginnings as a comic book character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, to his evolution into a cultural icon and one of the most beloved superheroes of all time. Our book is packed with fascinating facts and behind-the-scenes stories about Superman, including the inspiration for his creation, the impact of his comic book adventures on popular culture, and the enduring appeal of his heroic deeds. Plus, we explore the many different interpretations of Superman in various media, from the original comics and radio shows, to the iconic TV series and blockbuster movies. Whether you're a lifelong fan of Superman or just discovering the Man of Steel for the first time, our book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and impact of this iconic superhero. For the love of your children, Order your copy today and dive into the fascinating world of Superman.

Arrow and Superhero Television

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Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 0786497874
Total Pages : 244 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis Arrow and Superhero Television by : James F. Iaccino

Download or read book Arrow and Superhero Television written by James F. Iaccino and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2017-09-28 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of new essays focuses on The CW network's hit television series Arrow--based on DC Comic's Green Arrow--and its spin-offs The Flash, DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl. Comic book adaptations have been big business for film studios since Superman (1978) and in recent years have dominated at the box office--five of the 11 highest grossing films of 2016 were adapted from comics. Superheroes have battled across the small screen for considerably longer, beginning with The Adventures of Superman (1952-1958), though with mixed results. The contributors explore the reasons behind Arrow's success, its representation of bodies, its portrayal of women, its shifting political ideologies, and audience reception and influence on storylines.

The Stuff of Science Fiction

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Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 1476686599
Total Pages : 298 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (766 download)

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Book Synopsis The Stuff of Science Fiction by : Gary Westfahl

Download or read book The Stuff of Science Fiction written by Gary Westfahl and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2022-09-23 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While students and general readers typically cannot relate to esoteric definitions of science fiction, they readily understand the genre as a literature that characteristically deals with subjects such as new inventions, space, robot and aliens. This book looks at science fiction in precisely this manner, with twenty-one chapters that each deal with a subject that is repeatedly addressed in science fiction of recent centuries. Based on a packet of original essays that the author assembled for his classes, the book could serve as a supplemental textbook in science fiction classes, but also contains material of interest to science fiction scholars and others devoted to the genre. In some cases, chapters offer thorough surveys of numerous works involving certain subjects, such as imagined vehicles, journeys beneath the Earth and undersea adventures, discovering intriguing patterns in the ways that various writers developed their ideas. When comprehensive coverage of ubiquitous topics such as robots, aliens and the planet Mars is impossible, chapters focus on major themes referencing selected texts. A conclusion discusses other science fiction subjects that were omitted for various reasons, and a bibliography lists additional resources for the study of science fiction in general and the topics of each chapter.

The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television, 2d ed.

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Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 0786437553
Total Pages : 705 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television, 2d ed. by : John Kenneth Muir

Download or read book The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television, 2d ed. written by John Kenneth Muir and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2008-08-21 with total page 705 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a complete guide to over 50 years of superheroes on screen! This expanded and updated edition of the 2004 award-winning encyclopedia covers important developments in the popular genre; adds new shows such as Heroes and Zoom; includes the latest films featuring icons like Superman, Spiderman and Batman; and covers even more types of superheroes. Each entry includes a detailed history, cast and credits, episode and film descriptions, critical commentaries, and data on arch-villains, gadgets, comic-book origins and super powers, while placing each production into its historical context. Appendices list common superhero conventions and cliches; incarnations; memorable ad lines; and the best, worst, and most influential productions from 1951 to 2008.

The Amazing Transforming Superhero!

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Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 0786490136
Total Pages : 256 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis The Amazing Transforming Superhero! by : Terrence R. Wandtke

Download or read book The Amazing Transforming Superhero! written by Terrence R. Wandtke and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2011-11-16 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays analyzes the many ways in which comic book and film superheroes have been revised or rewritten in response to changes in real-world politics, social mores, and popular culture. Among many topics covered are the jingoistic origin of Captain America in the wake of the McCarthy hearings, the post-World War II fantasy-feminist role of Wonder Woman, and the Nietzschean influences on the "sidekick revolt" in the 2004 film The Incredibles.

The Posthuman Body in Superhero Comics

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 1137549505
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (375 download)

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Book Synopsis The Posthuman Body in Superhero Comics by : Scott Jeffery

Download or read book The Posthuman Body in Superhero Comics written by Scott Jeffery and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-10-11 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the concepts of Post/Humanism and Transhumanism as depicted in superhero comics. Recent decades have seen mainstream audiences embrace the comic book Superhuman. Meanwhile there has been increasing concern surrounding human enhancement technologies, with the techno-scientific movement of Transhumanism arguing that it is time humans took active control of their evolution. Utilising Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of the rhizome as a non-hierarchical system of knowledge to conceptualize the superhero narrative in terms of its political, social and aesthetic relations to the history of human technological enhancement, this book draws upon a diverse range of texts to explore the way in which the posthuman has been represented in superhero comics, while simultaneously highlighting its shared historical development with Post/Humanist critical theory and the material techno-scientific practices of Transhumanism.

Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero

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Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 0786453400
Total Pages : 243 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero by : Robert G. Weiner

Download or read book Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero written by Robert G. Weiner and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2009-06-08 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than 60 years, Captain America was one of Marvel Comics’ flagship characters, representing truth, strength, liberty, and justice. The assassination of his alter ego, Steve Rogers, rocked the comic world, leaving numerous questions about his life and death. This book discusses topics including the representation of Nazi Germany in Captain America Comics from the 1940s to the 1960s; the creation of Captain America in light of the Jewish American experience; the relationship between Captain America and UK Marvel’s Captain Britain; the groundbreaking partnership between Captain America and African American superhero the Falcon; and the attempts made to kill the character before his “real” death.

Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men

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Publisher : Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1443871044
Total Pages : 255 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (438 download)

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Book Synopsis Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men by : Julian C. Chambliss

Download or read book Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men written by Julian C. Chambliss and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2014-11-10 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men explores the changing depiction of superheroes from the comic books of the 1930s to the cinematic present. In this anthology, scholars from a variety of disciplines including history, cultural studies, Latin American studies, film studies, and English examine the superheros cultural history in North America with attention to particular stories and to the historical contexts in which those narratives appeared. Enduring comic book characters from DC and Marvel Comics including Superman, Iron Man, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Avengers are examined, along with lesser-known Canadian, Latino, and African-American superheroes. With a sweep of characters ranging from the Pulp Era to recent cinematic adaptations, and employing a variety of analytical frameworks, this collection offers new insights for scholars, students, and fans of the superhero genre.

Superheroes!

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Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1493064525
Total Pages : 353 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (93 download)

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Book Synopsis Superheroes! by : Brian Solomon

Download or read book Superheroes! written by Brian Solomon and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2023-05-01 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Superheroes! is the ultimate reference book about the men and women in tights who fight for what’s right and the comic book phenomenon that conquered the world. From their origins in stories created by barely grown men during an era of global war and printed on cheap paper for consumption by children, superheroes have grown into a popular culture whirlwind that has attracted millions of fans and crossed over into every form of media. Encompassing early coming books, indie outliers, and the mammoth fictional universes managed by DC and Marvel, Superheroes! chronicles the rise of a distinctly American invention, the modern-day evolution of the myths and legends of old. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Captain America, X-Men, the Justice League and the Avengers—they all represent our greatest hopes, and sometimes our darkest fantasies. Pop culture expert Brian Solomon tells a story that goes from the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ages of comic book history right up to the Modern Age of multimillion-dollar Hollywood movies, and beyond. Perhaps no fictional genre has endured and blossomed over the past eighty years the way superheroes have. Learn all about the creators who have brought them to life: artists like Jack Kirby and Jim Lee, writers like Stan Lee and Alan Moore, actors like Christopher Reeve and Robert Downey Jr., and directors like Tim Burton and Joss Whedon. They’re all here, in all their high-flying, eye-zapping, goon-punching glory. Up, up and away!