Superheroes!: Capes and Crusaders in Comics and Films

by Roz Kaveney

Modern myths, cheap trash or the objects of fetishist desire? Most people know something about Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and Wonder Woman, even if what they know is heavily filtered through film and television versions, rather than the comics in which they first appeared. Yet, even though the continuity of the DC and Marvel Comics universes rival or surpass in size almost anything else in Western culture, surprisingly little attention has been paid to comics, which we were supposed to grow out of. In "Superheroes!", acclaimed cultural commentator Roz Kaveney argues that this is a mistake, that, at their best, superhero comics are a form in which some writers and artists are doing fascinating work, not in spite of their chosen form, but because of it. "Superheroes!" discusses the slow accretion of comics universes from the thirties to the present day, the ongoing debate within the conventions of the superhero comic about whether superheroes are a good thing and the discussion within the comics fan community of the extent to which superhero comics are disfigured by misogyny and sexism.
Roz Kaveney attempts to explain the differences between Marvel and DC, the notion of the floating present (or why Spider-Man, fifteen when he adopted the costume, is still only in his early thirties), and the various attempts by both companies to re-invent and re-boot individual characters and their entire continuity universes. She also looks at the influence of comics on the group of film and television screenwriters she calls 'the fanboy creators', all of whom moonlight as comics script writers, using Joss Whedon as her case study, and examines the adaptation of well-known comics into large-budget feature films, not always to the advantage of the material.

Genres: Nonfiction, Superheroes, Pop Culture, Comics

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

An in depth look and analysis of the Marvel and DC canon of superheroes, continuities and creators. I personally like this read even more for its appreciation and look at one of my favourite comic serials, Brian Michael Bendis's Alias, Vol. 1. It also looks deeply at Watchmen, Dark Knight, The Avengers etc. as well as DC and Marvel 'events'. There's also a chapter on the many film adaptations, although the book is written before the coming of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 7 out of 12.

[Mjhancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Operating from an impressive wealth of knowledge, Roz Kaveney argues for the value of the superhero comic, in terms of the notion of the superhero, and the ongoing, continuity-based narrative. The book is divided up into seven chapters. Chapter one is a general discussion of superheroes, in which Kaveney touches on a number of different aspects, including but not limited to her own experience as a reader, the comic book in comparison to the sagas of the opera, the differences between Marvel and DC, a general history from the Golden Age to the current moment, and other superhero perspectives. The rest of the chapters all focus more narrowly on specific topics. Chapter 2 deals with her chief claim that comics should be studied as valuable long term narratives, with a thorough analysis of Brian Bendis' Alias. Chapter 3 continues in that general direction with another "thick" work that is more specifically about the nature of superhero comics: Alan Moore's Watchmen. Chapter 4 looks at long-term runs, with features on Miller's Dark Knight Returns, Busiek's Avengers Forever, and Morrison's New X-Men. Chapter 5 is on reboots and company-wide events, including DC's Crises and Marvel's Civil War. Chapter 6 argues that comicbooks have significant influence on developments in other mediums, by tracing the outputs and influences of Joss Whedon. And the final chapter considers the superhero movie, up to Elektra (perhaps not the best end point). I'd like to say that Kaveney's book is accessible, but as someone who's been reading comics for nearly twenty years, my opinion on the matter is a little suspect. I can say that chapter 2--which dealt with the comics I was least familiar with--discussed Alias in such a way that I was never in the dark. The caveat to accessibility is that those exceptionally familiar with comics may occasionally be waiting politely for the recap to end so the argument can continue again, but it's such a nice argument that it isn't much of a burden. It's scholarly level investigation and research, without getting bogged down in sources and theories. I think I might seek out other stuff by Kaveney, based on the strength of this book.

[Will Plunkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was definitely in-comic research done for this book, and her personal interest in the genre, worthy of a higher rating. But the lack of an ending (like turning to the last page of a limited series to read only The End in a small panel) was disappointing. This also made me realize why several of my teachers in school told me to limit my use of commas. I finished reading this on the same weekend as a local comics convention: Comic Revolution in Ontario (California, not Canada).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being totally honest, I saw Roz interviewing Neil Gaiman for the British Library discussion on fantasy and she seems so beautifully articulate and smart I immediately searched the Kent libraries and put a request on this as its the only book they had by her.

The result is this book is far smarter and I am when it comes to superheroes!
I loved it, although it did to some extent feel like a series of essays rather than a fully cohesive book to me. It has also highlighted I know nothing of Alias. I personally was hoping for a bit more social commentary on franchises I was more familiar with, or that haven't already been covered as frequently (Batman). But am amazed at how much was packed into this! Well worth reading!

[Dilliwag · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came highly recommended by members of an academic message board I frequent. Imagine my surprise when the book turned out to be not all that academic. While Kaveney did offer some insightful analysis of such comic classics as The Watchmen, the Avengers, and the Justice League, she provided little in the way of theoretical grounding. In the eyes of this academic reader, that is a significant weakness. Still, the basic content of the book is enjoyable. If you're a superhero geek, like me, I'm sure you'll consider the read worth your while.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting thoughts about what happens when superheroes and culture, literary theory, and the art form intersect.

[Ondra Král · Rating 2 out of 5]

Podivná knížka, u které pořádně nechápu, kdo má být její cílovka.