Why We Need Superheroes

Comic books and superhero stories mirror essential societal values and beliefs. We can be Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Black Panther or Rocket Raccoon through our everyday choices. We can't fly, fix hyper drives or hear human heartbeats a mile away, but we can think about what Matt Murdock would do in a conflict, how Superman would respond to natural disasters and how Captain America would handle humanitarian crises.
This book analyzes the impact of dozens of comics by examining the noble personalities, traits and actions of the main characters. Chapters detail how superheroes, comic books and other pop culture phenomena offer more than pure entertainment, and how we can better model ourselves after our favorite heroes. Through our good deeds, quick thinking and positive choices, we can become more like superheroes than we ever imagined.

List of contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Why Comic Books

1.¿Race in Black and White

2.¿Captain America Rules!

3.¿The Fantastic Four, Incorporated

4.¿Coded Complications

5.¿The Guardians of Goofiness

6.¿Islamophobia

7.¿Wayne's World

Coda: Are Comic Books Dying?

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index

About the author

Jeffrey Kahan is a professor of English at the University of La Verne in California.

Product details

• Authors: Jeffrey Kahan
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 18
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 23.12.2021
• EAN: 9781476682723
• ISBN: 978-1-4766-8272-3
• No. of pages: 273
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 14 mm
• Weight: 367 g
• Illustrations: Raster,schwarz-weiss
• Subjects: Fiction > Comic, cartoon, humour, satire; Sociology, COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / General, Graphic Novels, Social issues & processes, Comic book & cartoon art, comic books, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: styles / traditions