Death, Disability, and the Superhero

Death, Disability, and the Superhero PDF Author: José Alaniz
Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN: 1626743274
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
The Thing. Daredevil. Captain Marvel. The Human Fly. Drawing on DC and Marvel comics from the 1950s to the 1990s and marshaling insights from three burgeoning fields of inquiry in the humanities—disability studies, death and dying studies, and comics studies—José Alaniz seeks to redefine the contemporary understanding of the superhero. Beginning in the Silver Age, the genre increasingly challenged and complicated its hypermasculine, quasi-eugenicist biases through such disabled figures as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Matt Murdock/Daredevil, and the Doom Patrol. Alaniz traces how the superhero became increasingly vulnerable, ill, and mortal in this era. He then proceeds to a reinterpretation of characters and series—some familiar (Superman), some obscure (She-Thing). These genre changes reflected a wider awareness of related body issues in the postwar United States as represented by hospice, death with dignity, and disability rights movements. The persistent highlighting of the body’s “imperfection” comes to forge a predominant aspect of the superheroic self. Such moves, originally part of the Silver Age strategy to stimulate sympathy, enhance psychological depth, and raise the dramatic stakes, developed further in such later series as The Human Fly, Strikeforce: Morituri, and the landmark graphic novel The Death of Captain Marvel, all examined in this volume. Death and disability, presumed routinely absent or denied in the superhero genre, emerge to form a core theme and defining function of the Silver Age and beyond.

Death, Disability, and the Superhero

Death, Disability, and the Superhero PDF Author: José Alaniz
Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN: 1626743274
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
The Thing. Daredevil. Captain Marvel. The Human Fly. Drawing on DC and Marvel comics from the 1950s to the 1990s and marshaling insights from three burgeoning fields of inquiry in the humanities—disability studies, death and dying studies, and comics studies—José Alaniz seeks to redefine the contemporary understanding of the superhero. Beginning in the Silver Age, the genre increasingly challenged and complicated its hypermasculine, quasi-eugenicist biases through such disabled figures as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Matt Murdock/Daredevil, and the Doom Patrol. Alaniz traces how the superhero became increasingly vulnerable, ill, and mortal in this era. He then proceeds to a reinterpretation of characters and series—some familiar (Superman), some obscure (She-Thing). These genre changes reflected a wider awareness of related body issues in the postwar United States as represented by hospice, death with dignity, and disability rights movements. The persistent highlighting of the body’s “imperfection” comes to forge a predominant aspect of the superheroic self. Such moves, originally part of the Silver Age strategy to stimulate sympathy, enhance psychological depth, and raise the dramatic stakes, developed further in such later series as The Human Fly, Strikeforce: Morituri, and the landmark graphic novel The Death of Captain Marvel, all examined in this volume. Death and disability, presumed routinely absent or denied in the superhero genre, emerge to form a core theme and defining function of the Silver Age and beyond.

Death of a Superhero

Death of a Superhero PDF Author: Anthony McCarten
Publisher: Alma Publishing Company
ISBN: 9781846880438
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 247

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Book Description
Donald Delpe is a troubled teenager. Not only is he a "terrible teen" by default - as obsessed with sex, music, videogames and drugs as the rest of his gang - be he is also suffering from a lifetreatening form of leukemia, which makes him an even more difficult boy, both for his partens and his teachers. Escaping into his own comic-book realm of immortal superheroes, ruthless villains and sex-crazed vamps, he repeatedly dashes his family's hopes by refusing to fight the battles facing him in the real world. As famous psychologist Dr King is brought in to help, a glimmer of hope is rekindled. But will the doctor break the rules, betray the parents' trust and risk everything to help Donald achieve his greatest wish? Or will Donald be the one to save the doctor?

Superhero Grief

Superhero Grief PDF Author: Jill A. Harrington
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429615213
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 275

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Book Description
Superhero Grief uses modern superhero narratives to teach the principles of grief theories and concepts and provide practical ideas for promoting healing. Chapters offer clinical strategies, approaches, and interventions, including strategies based in expressive arts and complementary therapies. Leading researchers, clinicians, and professionals address major topics in death, dying, and bereavement, using superhero narratives to explore loss in the context of bereavement and to promote a contextual view of issues and relationship types that can improve coping skills. This volume provides support and psychoeducation to students, clinicians, educators, researchers, and the bereaved while contributing significantly to the literature on the intersection of death, grief, and trauma.

Death of a Superhero

Death of a Superhero PDF Author: Anthony McCarten
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781846882876
Category : Cancer in adolescence
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The story of a dying 15-year-old boy who draws comic book stories of an invincible superhero as he struggles with his mortality.

Superheroes!

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

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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.

What is a Superhero?

What is a Superhero? PDF Author: Robin S. Rosenberg PhD
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019933952X
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
It's easy to name a superhero--Superman, Batman, Thor, Spiderman, the Green Lantern, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rorschach, Wolverine--but it's not so easy to define what a superhero is. Buffy has superpowers, but she doesn't have a costume. Batman has a costume, but doesn't have superpowers. What is the role of power and superpower? And what are supervillains and why do we need them? In What is a Superhero?, psychologist Robin Rosenberg and comics scholar Peter Coogan explore this question from a variety of viewpoints, bringing together contributions from nineteen comic book experts--including both scholars in such fields as cultural studies, art, and psychology as well as leading comic book writers and editors. What emerges is a kaleidoscopic portrait of this most popular of pop-culture figures. Writer Jeph Loeb, for instance, sees the desire to make the world a better place as the driving force of the superhero. Jennifer K. Stuller argues that the female superhero inspires women to stand up, be strong, support others, and most important, to believe in themselves. More darkly, A. David Lewis sees the indestructible superhero as the ultimate embodiment of the American "denial of death," while writer Danny Fingeroth sees superheroes as embodying the best aspects of humankind, acting with a nobility of purpose that inspires us. Interestingly, Fingeroth also expands the definition of superhero so that it would include characters like John McClane of the Die Hard movies: "Once they dodge ridiculous quantities of machine gun bullets they're superheroes, cape or no cape." From summer blockbusters to best-selling graphic novels, the superhero is an integral part of our culture. What is a Superhero? not only illuminates this pop-culture figure, but also sheds much light on the fantasies and beliefs of the American people.

The Superhero Reader

The Superhero Reader PDF Author: Charles Hatfield
Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN: 1617038032
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 319

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Book Description
Despite their commercial appeal and cross-media reach, superheroes are only recently starting to attract sustained scholarly attention. This groundbreaking collection brings together essays and book excerpts by major writers on comics and popular culture. While superhero comics are a distinct and sometimes disdained branch of comics creation, they are integral to the development of the North American comic book and the history of the medium. For the past half-century they have also been the one overwhelmingly dominant market genre. The sheer volume of superhero comics that have been published over the years is staggering. Major superhero universes constitute one of the most expansive storytelling canvases ever fashioned. Moreover, characters inhabiting these fictional universes are immensely influential, having achieved iconic recognition around the globe. Their images and adventures have shaped many other media, such as film, videogames, and even prose fiction. The primary aim of this reader is twofold: first, to collect in a single volume a sampling of the most sophisticated commentary on superheroes, and second, to bring into sharper focus the ways in which superheroes connect with larger social, cultural, literary, aesthetic, and historical themes that are of interest to a great many readers both in the academy and beyond.

A Superhero's Death (young adult action adventure superheroes)

A Superhero's Death (young adult action adventure superheroes) PDF Author: Lucas Flint
Publisher: Secret Identity Books
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 261

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Book Description
Framed for the murder of one of the most famous superheroes in the country, Jack "Trickshot" McDonald finds himself on the run from the police. He and his best friend, Kyle, need to clear his name, which is easier said than done, given how Jack is an illegal superhero who can't operate in public. Jack's job becomes even harder when he is targeted by the local licensed superhero Bug Bite, who has grown tired of Jack's illegal superheroing and wants to put him in jail. It doesn't help that Bug Bite was close friends with the murder victim as well. Now Jack must prove his innocence and catch the real murderer before the police or Bug Bite catch him. If he fails, then a murderer will get away and Jack's superhero career will end before it even began. KEYWORDS: superhero action fiction, superhero fantasy, superhero fiction novel, superhero science fiction, superhero scifi, superhero young adult, superhero city, superhero books, superhero action, superhero books for kids, superheroes, cool superheroes, action adventure books, superhero action adventure books, action adventure fiction, superhero action adventure fiction, young adult action adventure, action adventure young adult

How to Become a Superhero: the Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate You!

How to Become a Superhero: the Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate You! PDF Author: Sage Michael
Publisher: TheSuperHeroBook.com
ISBN: 0692001093
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
Thank you Stan, for all you have done. You will be in our hearts for generations to come. Review "Revolutionary." -- MSNBC "An ideal pick"-- Midwest Book Review "This is the Harry Potterization of the Self-Help genre." "Undoubtedly the right book for the right time."-- Stan Lee From the Back Cover Whether you choose to fight crime or social injustice, advance in your career, further your education or just be a better you, there is a clear path to success in these pages... and it starts... with you becoming an actual SuperHero. SuperHeroes are everywhere in today's marketplace; Self-Help books more so. This is the first book to combine them both! Stan Lee called it "undoubtedly the right book for the right time." You can be more than you ever imagined and it can be fun. It can be informative... and you absolutely can begin today. Inside you will find 268 pages packed with truly rewarding content. The exercises are challenging, yes. They are meant to be... but they are also fun. You will learn more about who you really are than you ever thought possible. Every detail you need is inside: Training Plans Super Powers You Can Develop Missions to Plan and Accomplish Tools for Your Own Utility Belt Even Gadgets for Your Car! The book is divided into three sections: SuperHero Theory SuperHero Boot Camp Super Powers If you find yourself searching for that next level; if you know you can achieve more but you don't yet know how; if you are ready to leap off that proverbial cliff you are facing but just know that you can fly if you were only given a chance... than this book is definitely for you. I give you, my reader, but one promise: If you follow this book through until the end and you complete every exercise you find inside... you absolutely will become.... a SuperHero

The Myth of the American Superhero

The Myth of the American Superhero PDF Author: John Shelton Lawrence
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN: 0802825737
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 429

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Book Description
As the nation seems to yearn for redemption from the evils that threaten its tranquility, the authors maintain that Joseph Campbell's monomythic hero is alive and well, but significantly displaced, in American popular culture.