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 History of Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher : Robinson
ISBN 13 : 1472110706
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (721 download)

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Book Synopsis A Brief History of Superheroes by : Brian Robb

Download or read book A Brief History of Superheroes written by Brian Robb and published by Robinson. This book was released on 2014-05-15 with total page 160 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.

Super-History

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Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 9780786465644
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (656 download)

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Book Synopsis Super-History by : Jeffrey K. Johnson

Download or read book Super-History written by Jeffrey K. Johnson and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2012-04-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the less than eight decades since Superman's debut in 1938, comic book superheroes have become an indispensable part of American society and the nation's dominant mythology. They represent America's hopes, dreams, fears, and needs. As a form of popular literature, superhero narratives have closely mirrored trends and events in the nation. This study views American history from 1938 to 2010 through the lens of superhero comics, revealing the spandex-clad guardians to be not only fictional characters but barometers of the place and time in which they reside. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Superheroes!

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Author :
Publisher : Crown Archetype
ISBN 13 : 0385348592
Total Pages : 708 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (853 download)

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Book Synopsis Superheroes! by : Laurence Maslon

Download or read book Superheroes! written by Laurence Maslon and published by Crown Archetype. This book was released on 2013-10-01 with total page 708 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, the Avengers, the X-Men, Watchmen, and more: the companion volume to the PBS documentary series of the same name that tells the story of the superhero in American popular culture. Together again for the first time, here come the greatest comic book superheroes ever assembled between two covers: down from the heavens—Superman and the Mighty Thor—or swinging over rooftops—the Batman and Spider-Man; star-spangled, like Captain America and Wonder Woman, or clad in darkness, like the Shadow and Spawn; facing down super-villains on their own, like the Flash and the Punisher or gathered together in a team of champions, like the Avengers and the X-Men! Based on the three-part PBS documentary series Superheroes, this companion volume chronicles the never-ending battle of the comic book industry, its greatest creators, and its greatest creations. Covering the effect of superheroes on American culture—in print, on film and television, and in digital media—and the effect of American culture on its superheroes, Superheroes: Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture appeals to readers of all ages, from the casual observer of the phenomenon to the most exacting fan of the genre. Drawing from more than 50 new interviews conducted expressly for Superheroes!—creators from Stan Lee to Grant Morrison, commentators from Michael Chabon to Jules Feiffer, actors from Adam West to Lynda Carter, and filmmakers such as Zach Snyder—this is an up-to-the-minute narrative history of the superhero, from the comic strip adventurers of the Great Depression, up to the blockbuster CGI movie superstars of the 21st Century. Featuring more than 500 full-color comic book panels, covers, sketches, photographs of both essential and rare artwork, Superheroes is the definitive story of this powerful presence in pop culture.

The League of Regrettable Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher : Quirk Books
ISBN 13 : 1594747830
Total Pages : 256 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

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Book Synopsis The League of Regrettable Superheroes by : Jon Morris

Download or read book The League of Regrettable Superheroes written by Jon Morris and published by Quirk Books. This book was released on 2015-06-02 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Meet one hundred of the strangest superheroes ever to see print, complete with backstories, vintage art, and colorful commentary. You know about Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, but have you heard of Doll Man, Doctor Hormone, or Spider Queen? So prepare yourself for such not-ready-for-prime-time heroes as Bee Man (Batman, but with bees), the Clown (circus-themed crimebuster), the Eye (a giant, floating eyeball; just accept it), and many other oddballs and oddities. Drawing on the entire history of the medium, The League of Regrettable Superheroes will appeal to die-hard comics fans, casual comics readers, and anyone who enjoys peering into the stranger corners of pop culture.

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.

What is a Superhero?

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Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 019933952X
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (993 download)

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Book Synopsis What is a Superhero? by : Robin S. Rosenberg PhD

Download or read book What is a Superhero? written by Robin S. Rosenberg PhD and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013-07-01 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's easy to name a superhero--Superman, Batman, Thor, Spiderman, the Green Lantern, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rorschach, Wolverine--but it's not so easy to define what a superhero is. Buffy has superpowers, but she doesn't have a costume. Batman has a costume, but doesn't have superpowers. What is the role of power and superpower? And what are supervillains and why do we need them? In What is a Superhero?, psychologist Robin Rosenberg and comics scholar Peter Coogan explore this question from a variety of viewpoints, bringing together contributions from nineteen comic book experts--including both scholars in such fields as cultural studies, art, and psychology as well as leading comic book writers and editors. What emerges is a kaleidoscopic portrait of this most popular of pop-culture figures. Writer Jeph Loeb, for instance, sees the desire to make the world a better place as the driving force of the superhero. Jennifer K. Stuller argues that the female superhero inspires women to stand up, be strong, support others, and most important, to believe in themselves. More darkly, A. David Lewis sees the indestructible superhero as the ultimate embodiment of the American "denial of death," while writer Danny Fingeroth sees superheroes as embodying the best aspects of humankind, acting with a nobility of purpose that inspires us. Interestingly, Fingeroth also expands the definition of superhero so that it would include characters like John McClane of the Die Hard movies: "Once they dodge ridiculous quantities of machine gun bullets they're superheroes, cape or no cape." From summer blockbusters to best-selling graphic novels, the superhero is an integral part of our culture. What is a Superhero? not only illuminates this pop-culture figure, but also sheds much light on the fantasies and beliefs of the American people.

The Law of Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 1101600411
Total Pages : 372 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis The Law of Superheroes by : James Daily

Download or read book The Law of Superheroes written by James Daily and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-10-11 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An intriguing and entertaining look at how America’s legal system would work using the world of comic books. The dynamic duo behind the popular website LawAndTheMultiverse.com breaks down even the most advanced legal concepts for every self-proclaimed nerd. James Daily and Ryan Davidson—attorneys by day and comic enthusiasts all of the time—have clearly found their vocation, exploring the hypothetical legal ramifications of comic book tropes, characters, and powers down to the most deliciously trivial detail. The Law of Superheroes asks and answers crucial speculative questions about everything from constitutional law and criminal procedure to taxation, intellectual property, and torts, including: Could Superman sue if someone exposed his true identity as Clark Kent? Are members of the Legion of Doom vulnerable to prosecution under RICO? Do the heirs of a superhero who comes back from the dead get to keep their inherited property after their loved one is resurrected? Does it constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” to sentence an immortal like Apocalypse to life in prison without the possibility of parole? Engaging, accessible, and teaching readers about the law through fun hypotheticals, The Law of Superheroes is a must-have for legal experts, comic nerds, and anyone who will ever be called upon to practice law in the comic multiverse.

Supermen!

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Publisher : Fantagraphics Books
ISBN 13 : 1560979712
Total Pages : 193 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (69 download)

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Book Synopsis Supermen! by : Greg Sadowski

Download or read book Supermen! written by Greg Sadowski and published by Fantagraphics Books. This book was released on 2009-04-20 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The enduring cultural phenomenon of comic book heroes was invented in the late 1930s by a talented and hungry group of artists and writers barely out of their teens, flying by the seat of their pants to create something new, exciting, and above all profitable. The iconography and mythology they created flourishes to this day in comic books, video, movies, fine art, advertising, and practically all other media. Supermen! collects the best and the brightest of this first generation, including Jack Cole, Will Eisner, Bill Everett, Lou Fine, Fletcher Hanks, Jack Kirby, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Basil Wolverton.

The Superhero Book

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Author :
Publisher : Visible Ink Press
ISBN 13 : 1578593956
Total Pages : 480 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (785 download)

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Book Synopsis The Superhero Book by : Gina Misiroglu

Download or read book The Superhero Book written by Gina Misiroglu and published by Visible Ink Press. This book was released on 2012-04-01 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Appealing to the casual comic book reader as well as the hardcore graphic novel fan, this ultimate AtoZ compendium describes everyone’s favorite participants in the eternal battle between good and evil. With nearly 200 entries examining more than 1,000 heroes, icons and their place in popular culture, it is the first comprehensive profile of superheroes across all media, following their path from comic book stardom to radio, television, movies, and novels. The best-loved and most historically significant superheroes—mainstream and counterculture, famous and forgotten, best and worst—are presented with numerous full-color illustrations, including dozens of classic comic covers. Each significant era of the superhero is explored—from the Golden Age of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s through the Modern Age—providing a unique perspective of the role of the hero over the course of the 20th century and beyond. This latest edition has been revised to reflect updates on existing characters, coverage of new characters, and recent films and media trends in the last several years.

Superhero Origins

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Author :
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781482015805
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (158 download)

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Book Synopsis Superhero Origins by : Robin S. Rosenberg

Download or read book Superhero Origins written by Robin S. Rosenberg and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Dr. Rosenberg explores the importance of origin stories and what they tell us about the characters and real people. She reveals the origins stories of seven superheroes, how those stories have evolved over time, and what they can tell us about ourselves"--

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.

All New, All Different?

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Publisher : University of Texas Press
ISBN 13 : 1477318968
Total Pages : 393 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (773 download)

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Book Synopsis All New, All Different? by : Allan W. Austin

Download or read book All New, All Different? written by Allan W. Austin and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2019-11-05 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Taking a multifaceted approach to attitudes toward race through popular culture and the American superhero, All New, All Different? explores a topic that until now has only received more discrete examination. Considering Marvel, DC, and lesser-known texts and heroes, this illuminating work charts eighty years of evolution in the portrayal of race in comics as well as in film and on television. Beginning with World War II, the authors trace the vexed depictions in early superhero stories, considering both Asian villains and nonwhite sidekicks. While the emergence of Black Panther, Black Lightning, Luke Cage, Storm, and other heroes in the 1960s and 1970s reflected a cultural revolution, the book reveals how nonwhite superheroes nonetheless remained grounded in outdated assumptions. Multiculturalism encouraged further diversity, with 1980s superteams, the minority-run company Milestone’s new characters in the 1990s, and the arrival of Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American heroine, and a new Latinx Spider-Man in the 2000s. Concluding with contemporary efforts to make both a profit and a positive impact on society, All New, All Different? enriches our understanding of the complex issues of racial representation in American popular culture.

Super Heroes

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Author :
Publisher : Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN 13 : 9780878056941
Total Pages : 140 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (569 download)

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Book Synopsis Super Heroes by : Richard Reynolds

Download or read book Super Heroes written by Richard Reynolds and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 1994 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A study of one of popular culture's superstars whose enchanting mystique pervades the modern world

The Big Book of Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher : ReadHowYouWant
ISBN 13 : 9781459684621
Total Pages : 380 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (846 download)

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Book Synopsis The Big Book of Superheroes by : Bart King

Download or read book The Big Book of Superheroes written by Bart King and published by ReadHowYouWant. This book was released on 2014-09-02 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a child, Bart King discovered he could punch people into outer space. Sadly, he lost a lot of friends that way. Today, Bart is one of the world's most in-demand superhero experts. So if you're wondering if you have what it takes to be a superhero--of course you do! All you need is a burning desire to fight evildoers. Oh, and also a secret identity, the perfect name, a cool costume, some terrific superpowers, and an archenemy.

The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger

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Author :
Publisher : Praeger
ISBN 13 : 1440854831
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (48 download)

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Book Synopsis The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger by : Jess Nevins

Download or read book The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger written by Jess Nevins and published by Praeger. This book was released on 2017-01-30 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using a broad array of historical and literary sources, this book presents an unprecedented detailed history of the superhero and its development across the course of human history. How has the concept of the superhero developed over time? How has humanity's idealization of heroes with superhuman powers changed across millennia—and what superhero themes remain constant? Why does the idea of a superhero remain so powerful and relevant in the modern context, when our real-life technological capabilities arguably surpass the imagined superpowers of superheroes of the past? The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4,000-Year History of the Superhero is the first complete history of superheroes that thoroughly traces the development of superheroes, from their beginning in 2100 B.C.E. with the Epic of Gilgamesh to their fully entrenched status in modern pop culture and the comic book and graphic novel worlds. The book documents how the two modern superhero archetypes—the Costumed Avengers and the superhuman Supermen—can be traced back more than two centuries; turns a critical, evaluative eye upon the post-Superman history of the superhero; and shows how modern superheroes were created and influenced by sources as various as Egyptian poems, biblical heroes, medieval epics, Elizabethan urban legends, Jacobean masques, Gothic novels, dime novels, the Molly Maguires, the Ku Klux Klan, and pulp magazines. This work serves undergraduate or graduate students writing papers, professors or independent scholars, and anyone interested in learning about superheroes.

Creators of the Superheroes

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781932563535
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (635 download)

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Book Synopsis Creators of the Superheroes by : Thomas Andrae

Download or read book Creators of the Superheroes written by Thomas Andrae and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Interviews and commentary about Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner.