Superhero Comics

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.

This work dissects the origin and growth of superhero comic books, their major influences, and the creators behind them. It demonstrates how Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America and many more stand as time capsules of their eras, rising and falling with societal changes, and reflecting an amalgam of influences. The book covers in detail the iconic superhero comic book creators and their unique contributions in their quest for realism, including Julius Schwartz and the science-fiction origins of superheroes.

THE BRONZE AGE OF COMICS: SUPERHUMAN Volume One looks at super-hero comic books from 1970 to 1983, with sections on such characters as Batman, The Flash, New Teen Titans, Justice League, Sub-Mariner, The Avengers, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Thor, X-Men, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, and more. There are also sections on Ms. Marvel, Black Widow, The Cat and Tigra, Aquaman, Iron Fist, Master of Kung Fu, Power Man and many more, with such chapters as "Kung Fu Fighters," "Black is Beautiful." and "Some of Marvel's Super Ladies." And let's not forget series starring the Joker, Freedom ...

His greatest hero has become his greatest enemy. Captain Alpha was Ryan Walker's childhood hero, the greatest crimefighter that Eros City had ever seen. When Captain Alpha fell into a coma, Ryan was inspired to become Paragon, the city's most powerful superhero. Since then, Ryan Walker seems to have it all. He's defeated countless supervillains and thugs, earned the love and praise of Eros City, and surrounded himself with three beautiful superheroines. Now Captain Alpha is back and he's gone so insane with jealousy that he'll do anything to reclaim his title, including destroy the city. ...

In Superman Is Jewish? Harry Brod reveals the links between Jews and superheroes in a penetrating investigation of iconic comic book figures. He describes how the role of each hero reflects the evolution of the Jewish place in American culture - an alien in a foreign land, like Superman; a figure plagued by guilt for not having saved his family, like Spider-Man; outsiders persecuted for being different (X-Men); a nice, smart guy afraid people won't like him when he's angry (the Hulk).

"Matt Drabble is a name that will one day be as widely recognized as Stephen King & Dean Koontz" - READERS FAVORITE He fell from the stars and changed the world. Suddenly there existed a super being much like those that only existed on the pages of comic books, but not everyone took to the newcomer nor what he represented and some would seek to destroy what they perceived as a blasphemer. SOUL were an organisation created by a Cynthia Arrow, a religious zealot overwhelmed with the desire to deal in terror and rid the country of their greatest hero by any means necessary. Driven by her ...

Retired SuperHeroes battling their fiercest Arch-Villain. . . Boredom, are called into battle once again for the defense of the galaxy and more when a nearly invincible, invading, extraterrestrial power neutralizes Earth's younger generations of Supers in the prelude to its strike.

It's been a decade since the first ultra-enhanced human beings were forced to abandon covert military operations. Advancing public technology and new government legislation made continuing to operate in secrecy untenable, and so they mainstreamed, becoming the world's first superhero group - the Order of Champions. They are the ten mightiest individuals on the planet - beloved by the masses and feared by their enemies. And their world is falling apart. The superheroes have become complacent - secure in their own sense of invincibility. They are arrogant and alone and increasingly rocked by ...

In a land ruled by armor, the iron man is king. Jakson the thief holds no love for the throne. His half-brother, the crown prince, hates him. His father, the king, refuses to acknowledge him. He is at home on the streets as a trickster and rogue. Yet he dreams of knighthood. For armor is power, and the king's knights wield the strongest steel. A desperate gamble leads Jakson to an otherworldly artifact: armor from another age. His discovery propels him into a deadly game of knights, a game of treachery, violence, and corruption. Threats arise from beyond the kingdom and from within. Allies ...

In this story from the novel, “SuperHero – Retirement”, not happy with where their relationship is going, a SuperSorceress gives her SuperBoyfriend some SuperMotivation.

It’s been one year since Jake Strong’s powers as a Super emerged and tragedy struck, causing his whole world to collapse. In the aftermath, he devotes himself almost entirely to honing his powers and using them to bring down petty criminals in Chicago. At 18 years old, he’s already earned quite the name for himself among the public, media, and local police. That is, until a new threat arises—one that’s powerful enough to manipulate not just civilians but also Supers in a dangerous endgame that could throw the world into chaos and anarchy. When the threat proves to be more than he ...

SUPERHEROIC: THE BRONZE AGE OF COMICS VOLUME TWO follows SUPERHUMAN: THE BRONZE AGE OF COMICS VOLUME ONE. This volume covers IRON MAN, GREEN LANTERN, CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, SUPERMAN and his supporting cast, FANTASTIC FOUR, DAREDEVIL, THE DEFENDERS, WORLD'S FINEST, SUPERMAN FAMILY, JACK KIRBY'S FOURTH WORLD series and many, many other titles and heroes, including characters published by ATLAS, RED CIRCLE/ARCHIE and others. Each chapter looks at the most memorable issues, writers, and artists, detailing how "relevance" and social issues began to affect the comics of the ...

In this short story from the novel, “SuperHero- Retirement”, recently retired Arch-Villains can’t help themselves. It’s so good to be bad.

The defining, behind-the-scenes chronicle of one of the most extraordinary, beloved, and dominant pop cultural entities in America’s history - Marvel Comics - and the outsized personalities who made Marvel, including Martin Goodman, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby.

Truth, justice… and the Gospel? From the ashes of Krypton to the hills of Nazareth, this unique book draws powerful connections between the world’s greatest superhero and the world’s greatest Savior. For nearly a century, Superman has inspired generations with his strength, sacrifice, and unwavering hope. But what if those stories echo something even greater? Something eternal? In Superman and the Gospel of Jesus, pastor and lifelong comic book fan Scott Bayles explores how the Man of Steel points us to the Son of God. Through vivid storytelling, deep biblical insight, and heartfelt ...

Elizabeth Fontaine is a lonely, ordinary young woman in a world where superheroes struggle daily against the world's evil. To fill the empty void within her soul, she becomes a hero fangirl, following every supers event, subscribing to multiple fanzines, and never missing the daily superhero talk shows...until one day, fate grants her the opportunity to leave behind her boring, dreary life and become what she's always dreamed of...a superheroine! Elizabeth learns the hard way the meaning of the phrase “Caveat Emptor!”

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list. Bruce is turning 18 and inheriting his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Industries and all the tech gadgetry that he could ever desire. But on the way home from his birthday party, he makes an impulsive choice that leads to community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison. There, he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer with ties to the Nightwalkers. A girl who will speak only to Bruce. She is the mystery he must unravel.

In this story from the novel, “SuperHero – Retirement”, when a recently retired SuperHero in his Alternative Identity meets his daughter’s father-in-law to be sparks fly.

Growing up in Bay View City, Connor just wants to survive high school and avoid the dangerous world of metas. But when he finds himself with a new set of metabands, he must embrace his destiny as the meta known as Omni. With the guidance of Midnight, a mysterious vigilante, Connor sets out on a thrilling journey to unlock the secrets of his powers and uncover the truth about The Battle that changed the world forever.

In this story from the novel SuperHero Retirement, Retired SuperHeroes reveal to their squire one of the greatest advantages Supers have with regard to romance is there's no such thing as a lover who's Geographically Undesirable.