The HBS hosts discuss the role of superheroes in culture and popular media.
In American graphic fiction and contemporary film, the superhero stands at the center of many popular narratives. Superhero stories published by DC Comics and Marvel are a multi-million dollar per year industry and, in 2019 alone, superhero movies grossed 3.19 billion dollars in revenue. Although it may seem to the novice as if these publishing houses and film studios just recycle the same stories (and sequels) over and over, connoisseurs of the genre know that the figure of the “superhero” has changed and evolved dramatically over the last half-century. What does the figure of the superhero represent? Who does it serve? How has it adapted to reflect broader cultural, political, and social changes?
In this episode, Dr. Charles F. Peterson– a bona fide connoisseur of comics and superhero films– schools his novice co-hosts on the nuances of superheroes and their development, as well as the deep and often profound philosophical truths that they help to reveal about us ordinary (not super and not heroic) humans.
Check out the links below for references to the thinkers, ideas, films, and figures referenced in this episode:
- Wired interview with Alan Moore “Legendary Comics Writer Alan Moore on Superheroes, The League, and Making Magic” (2009)
- Grant Morrison, Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human (2012)
- Scott Thill, “In Supergods, Grant Morrison Probes Superhero Myths” (Wired, 2009)
- Archie Bland, “Comic book superheroes: the gods of modern mythology” (The Guardian, 2016)
- The Justice League (DC Comics)
- “Adventures of Superman” episode (TV series, 1952-1958)
- Alison Bechdel, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic (2007)
- Marjorie Satrapi, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (2004)
- Sally Rooney on “Superheroes and the Myth of American Power” (LitHub, 2016)
- Alan Moore, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2013)
- Chris Knowles, Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes (2007)
- The X-Men (Marvel)
- Watchmen (DC Comics)
- Watchmen (HBO miniseries)
- Homer, The Iliad
- “Eight Ancient Mythological Superheroes that Show Marvel How It’s Done” (BBC Radio 4)
- Frank Miller and Klaus Jansen, Daredevil (2016)
- Stan Lee (Marvel creator spotlight)
- Jesus as superhero by DC Comics: Mark Russell, Second Coming (2020)
- Gary Shannon, “Batman, Superman & Superhero Narcissism” (The Young Folks, 2016)
- George Orwell, 1984 (1961)
- Christopher Menzel, “Possible Worlds” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
- Cornel West, “Sweet Mysteries of Life” (2010)
- JB Augustine, “Alan Moore: Superhero Movies Infantilized and ‘Blighted Culture'” (Bounding Into Comics, 2020)
