The Meaning of Superhero Comic Books
Summary
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The Meaning of Superhero Comic Books by Terrence R Wandtke
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.
“Highly recommended”—Choice
Terrence R. Wandtke is a professor of literature and media studies at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois, where he teaches classes in comic books, graphic novels, visual art, and new media. He is the founder and director of the Imago Film Festival.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780786464913 |
| ISBN 10 | 0786464917 |
| Title | The Meaning of Superhero Comic Books |
| Author | Terrence R Wandtke |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | McFarland & Co Inc |
| Year published | 2012-06-22 |
| Number of pages | 270 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |