Caped Crusaders 101

This updated and expanded textbook inspires a greater appreciation for literature by studying important literary themes found in comics. By deconstructing comics, it raises critical thinking about literature, a crucial skill for understanding language and composition. Chapters discuss DC, Marvel and other comics’ varied attempts at portraying race, politics, economics, business ethics and democracy; responses to the Cold War and the events of September 11; and portrayals of prisons and capital punishment. New to this edition, an additional chapter explores how the deaths of Captain America, Superman and Batman offer insightful commentary on the nature of heroism. Each chapter offers a series of questions that stimulate further reading, writing and discussion. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Jeffrey Kahan is a professor in the English department at the University of La Verne in La Verne, California.

Stanley Stewart is a distinguished professor in the English Department of the University of California at Riverside.

Jeffrey Kahan and Stanley Stewart

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 249
Bibliographic Info: 20 photos, notes, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4774-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi
Introduction: Why Comics Can Save Us from Illiteracy     1

1. Black Heroes for Hire: Serializing Social Construction in the Comics      7
2. Comic Books, Cold Wars, and Desert Storms      36
3. Spider-Man and Corporate Responsibility      66
4. The Comic Book Code and American F-agg      92
5. Dr. Strange, or, How I Learned to Love Metaphysics      127
6. 9/11 and the Man Without Fear      149
7. Comics and the Prison System      177
8. Killing Off the Hero      203

Coda: Our Heroes, Ourselves      223
Chapter Notes      229
Index      237

• “Highly recommended, valuable”—SFRA Review
• “This book needs to be on every comic book collector’s bookshelves…detailed…a great read, an essential comic…highly recommend[ed]”—Jaxma Online
• “Interesting and worthwhile”—The Compulsive Reader
• “An amazing piece of analysis”—Curledup.com