How to Read Superhero Comics and why

Author: Geoff Klock
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 9780826414182
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Book Description
Superhero comic books are traditionally thought to have two distinct periods, two major waves of creativity: the Golden Age and the Silver Age. In simple terms, the Golden Age was the birth of the superhero proper out of the pulp novel characters of the early 1930s, and was primarily associated with the DC Comics Group. Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman are the most famous creations of this period. In the early 1960s, Marvel Comics launched a completely new line of heroes, the primary figures of the Silver Age: the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, the X-Men, the Avengers, Iron Man, and Daredevil. In this book, Geoff Klock presents a study of the Third Movement of superhero comic books. He avoids, at all costs, the temptation to refer to this movement as "Postmodern," "Deconstructionist," or something equally tedious. Analyzing the works of Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, and Grant Morrison among others, and taking his cue from Harold Bloom, Klock unearths the birth of self-consciousness in the superhero narrative and guides us through an intricate world of traditions, influences, nostalgia and innovations - a world where comic books do indeed become literature.

Thanos by Donny Cates

Author:
Publisher: Marvel
ISBN: 9781302918033
Category : Comics & Graphic Novels
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Ask the most powerful beings in the galaxy how they fear the universe will end, and in their most honest moment, they will answer with two words: "Thanos wins." Now, that disturbing thought becomes a horrifi c reality! See what happens when the Mad Titan achieves his ultimate victory. Will he cause the cosmos to spiral downward into chaos and death...or will something very different happen? Plus, in the far future, an iconic and unexpected Marvel character has become - the Cosmic Ghost Rider! But following his experiences at the Titan's hands, what are his vengeful plans for...baby Thanos?! Donny Cates explores Thanos' full legacy in a thrill ride that spans all the way from the end of time to the stunning events of INFINITY WARS! COLLECTING: THANOS (2016) 13-18, ANNUAL; COSMIC GHOST RIDER 1-5, THANOS LEGACY 1

X-23

Author: Craig Kyle
Publisher: Marvel Entertainment
ISBN: 0785171401
Category : Comics & Graphic Novels
Languages : en
Pages : 147

Book Description
Now it can be told. The full story behind the origin of X-23 - who she is, where she came from and the exact nature of her relationship to Wolverine. You think you know, but you have no idea. Collects X-23 (2005) #1-6.

The Amazing Transforming Superhero!

Author: Terrence R. Wandtke
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786490136
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 256

Book Description
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.

Superheroes!

Author: Laurence Maslon
Publisher: Crown Archetype
ISBN: 0385348592
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 708

Book Description
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.

Super Graphic

Author: Tim Leong
Publisher: Chronicle Books
ISBN: 1452135274
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 196

Book Description
The comic book universe is adventurous, mystifying, and filled with heroes, villains, and cosplaying Comic-Con attendees. This book by one of Wired magazine's art directors traverses the graphic world through a collection of pie charts, bar graphs, timelines, scatter plots, and more. Super Graphic offers readers a unique look at the intricate and sometimes contradictory storylines that weave their way through comic books, and shares advice for navigating the pages of some of the most popular, longest-running, and best-loved comics and graphic novels out there. From a colorful breakdown of the DC Comics reader demographic to a witty Venn diagram of superhero comic tropes and a Chris Ware sadness scale, this book charts the most arbitrary and monumental characters, moments, and equipment of the wide world of comics. Plus, this is the fixed format version, which includes high-resolution images.

The Meaning of Superhero Comic Books

Author: Terrence R. Wandtke
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786490152
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 271

Book Description
For decades, scholars have been making the connection between the design of the superhero story and the mythology of the ancient folktale. Moving beyond simple comparisons and common explanations, this volume details how the workings of the superhero comics industry and the conventions of the medium have developed a culture like that of traditional epic storytelling. It chronicles the continuation of the oral/traditional culture of the early 20th century superhero industry in the endless variations on Superman and shows how Frederic Wertham's anti-comic crusade in the mid-1950s helped make comics the most countercultural new medium of the 20th century. By revealing how contemporary superhero comics, like Geoff Johns' Green Lantern and Warren Ellis's The Authority, connect traditional aesthetics and postmodern theories, this work explains why the superhero comic book flourishes in the "new traditional" shape of our acutely self-conscious digital age.

The Superhero Comic Kit

Author: Jason Ford
Publisher: Laurence King Publishing
ISBN: 9781780676128
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 60

Book Description
Draw, colour and sticker your very own superhero comic books! Make your superheroes - or even yourself - the stars of each super adventure! The book contains 10 exciting 8-page comics to draw, colour and complete. Each adventure has super story prompts to start you off - and the rest is up to you! You can even pull them out, put them together and give them to your friends to read. Also includes sections on how to create and draw your superheroes and supervillains, and over 100 fantastic stickers to add to your stories.

Unstable Masks

Author: Sean Guynes
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780814277508
Category : Comic books, strips, etc
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description
"Contextualizes the history of race within comic books and the fundamental whiteness observed in American superhero narratives from the late 1930s to the present"--

Super-History

Author: Jeffrey K. Johnson
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 9780786465644
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
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.