The Mythology of the Superhero

Superheroes have been an integral part of popular society for decades and have given rise to a collective mythology familiar in popular culture worldwide. Though scholars and fans have recognized and commented on this mythology, its structure has gone largely unexplored. This book provides a model and lexicon for identifying the superhero mythos. The author examines the myth in several narratives--including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Green Arrow and Beowulf--and discusses such diverse characters as Batman, Wolverine, Invincible and John Constantine.

List of contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction: Superheroes as a New Mythology

1.¿Building a Framework: The Lexicon of Superhero Mythology

2.¿Green Arrow as an Exemplar of the Superhero Myth Structure

3.¿Buffy Summers and the Superhero Myth: Reading a Popular Culture Icon Through a Mythological Lens

4.¿Finding the Superhero: Reading SyFy's Alphas Through the Mythological Lexicon

5.¿The Superhero Before the Superhero: Finding Superhero Mythology in the Old English Beowulf

6.¿The Superheroic Structure: Examining the Mythological Character of the Superhero

Appendix: Superhero Tropes

Chapter Notes

Bibliography and Television Shows and Films

Index

About the author

Andrew R. Bahlmann is an assistant professor at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. His interests include medieval literature, popular culture, and mythology and folklore. He lives in Ephraim.

Product details

• Authors: Andrew R. Bahlmann, Bahlmann Andrew R.
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 18
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 27.04.2016
• EAN: 9781476662480
• ISBN: 978-1-4766-6248-0
• No. of pages: 216
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 11 mm
• Weight: 313 g
• Illustrations: Raster,schwarz-weiss
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general); Popular Culture, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Popular Culture, Television, PERFORMING ARTS / Television / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Folklore & Mythology, LITERARY CRITICISM / Comics & Graphic Novels, Films, cinema, Folklore, myths & legends, Cartoons & comic strips, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Folklore studies / Study of myth (mythology)