The Amazing Transforming Superhero

This collection of essays analyzes the many ways in which comic book and film superheroes have been revised or rewritten in response to changes in real-world politics, social mores, and popular culture. Among many topics covered are the jingoistic origin of Captain America in the wake of the McCarthy hearings, the post-World War II fantasy-feminist role of Wonder Woman, and the Nietzschean influences on the "sidekick revolt" in the 2004 film The Incredibles.

Terrence R. Wandtke is an associate professor of literature and media at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois. He is the founder and director of Imago Film Festival.

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Preface	p. 1
Introduction: Once Upon a Time Once Again	p. 5
Superheroes in the Golden and Silver Ages
Retconning America: Captain America in the Wake of World War II and the McCarthy Hearings	p. 33
Super-Girls and Mild Mannered Men: Gender Trouble in Metropolis	p. 52
From Jimmy Durante to Michael Chiklis: The Thing Comes Full Circle	p. 70
Superheroes in the Modern Age
Frank Miller Strikes Again and Batman Becomes a Postmodern Anti-Hero: The Tragi(Comic) Reformulation of the Dark Knight	p. 87
The "Transcreation" of a Mediated Myth: Spider-Man in India	p. 112
Warren Ellis Is the Future of Superhero Comics: How to Write Superhero Stories That Aren't Superhero Stories	p. 129
Superheroes in the Multi-Media Age
Wonder Woman as World War II Veteran, Camp Feminist Icon, and Male Sex Fantasy	p. 151
Smallville as a Rhetorical Means of Moral Value Education	p. 174
"Le Western Noir": The Punisher as Revisionist Superhero Western	p. 192
The Nietzschean Influence in The Incredibles and the Sidekick Revolt-Audrey Anton	p. 209
Afterword: Conclusion to the Never-Ending Story(s)	p. 231
About the Contributors	p. 237
Index	p. 241
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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The Amazing Transforming Superhero

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials