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Summary:

What is a superhero? Everyone knows, right? And yet everyone seems to have a different answer. In this innovative collection of essays, renowned psychologist Robin Rosenberg and comics scholar Peter Coogan explore this question from a variety of viewpoints. With essays from scholars and commentaries by the writers and creators themselves, including exclusive material from Stan Lee, Danny Fingeroth, and their peers, What is a Superhero? is the first volume to provide a true synthesis and reflection of the state of superheroes in our society today.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction / Robin Rosenberg and Peter Coogan
• Section I. Super and hero: powers and mission. The hero defines the genre, the genre defines the hero / Peter Coogan
• We could be heroes / Will Brooker
• What is a female superhero? / Jennifer Stuller
• Straddling a boundary : the superhero and the incorporation of difference / Clare Pitkethly
• Save the day / A. David Lewis
• Section II. Context, culture, and the problem of definition. Superheroes and the modern(ist) age / Alex Boney
• Heroes of the superculture / Richard Reynolds
• Superheroes by design / John Jennings
• The experience of the superhero : a phenomenological definition / Dana Anderson
• What is a superhero? No one knows: that's what makes 'em great / Geoff Klock
• Section III. Superheroes need supervillains. Why supervillains? / Paul Levitz
• Superheroes need supervillains / Frank Verano
• Superheroes need superior villains / Stanford W. Carpenter
• The subjective politics of the supervillain / Chris Deis
• Supervillains who need superheroes (are the luckiest villains in the world) / Andrew Smith
• Sorting out villainy : a typology of villains and their effects on superheroes / Robin S. Rosenberg
• Section IV. From the experts: comic book writers define the superhero. More than normal, but believable / Stan Lee
• Making the world a better place / Jeph Loeb
• Power and responsibility ... and other reflections on superheroes / Danny Fingeroth

• Superheroes and power / Dennis O'Neil
• The importance of context : Robin Hood is out and Buffy is in / Kurt Busiek
• Superheroes are made / Tom DeFalco
• Extraordinary / Joe Quesada
• The superprotagonist / Fred Van Lente
• Superheroes and supervillains : an interdependent relationship / Ivory Madison.

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Contributors:

Rosenberg, Robin S. , editor

Coogan, Peter M. (Peter MacFarland) , editor

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Other Related Resources:

Print version: What Is a Superhero? [by Rosenberg, R.S.] (Cary : Oxford University Press USA - OSO, ©2013 — ISBN 9780199795277)

Subjects:

Superheroes

Comic books, strips, etc.

Genres:

Comics (Graphic works)

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on: Online resource; title from PDF title page (Proquest, viewed April 23, 2024).

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Digital Characteristics:

text file

Call Numbers:

PN6714 .W48 2013eb

ISBNs:

9780199795338
0199795339
9780199795277 (acid-free paper) [Invalid]
0199795274 (acid-free paper) [Invalid]

OCLC Numbers:

1101042885