Superheroes and Gods

The work provides a unique study of superheroes and gods in literature, popular culture, and ancient myth. The author selects a number of mythological figures (e.g., Babylonia’s Gilgamesh and Enkidu), ancient gods (e.g., Greece’s Eros and Tartarus), and modern superheroes (e.g., the United States’ Superman and Captain Marvel) and identifies the often striking similarities between each unique category of characters. The author contends that the vast majority of mythological superheroes follow the same archetypal character patterns, regardless of each hero’s unique time period or culture. Each of the first nine chapters examines the heroes and gods of a particular region or country, while the final chapter examines modern descendants of the hero prototype like Batman and Spiderman and several infamous anti-heroes (for example, Dracula and The Hulk).

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Works by retired professor Don LoCicero include eight published novels, a study of the novella genre, a text on humor and numerous scholarly articles and book reviews. LoCicero lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Don LoCicero

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 255
Bibliographic Info: 43 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3184-7
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8929-9
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Introduction      3

1. Babylonia      7
2. Persia      18
3. India      37
4. Egypt      50
5. Greece      69
6. Rome      112
7. Scandinavia and Germany      126
8. The United States      155
9. Finland      179
10. The Super Antihero      201

Epilogue      228
Chapter Notes      231
Bibliography      241
Index      243

• “Fascinating…strongly recommended”—Midwest Book Review
• “Admirable anthology”—SFRA Review