Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society

by Danny Fingeroth

Overview

Why are so many of the superhero myths tied up with loss, often violent, of parents or parental figures? What is the significance of the dual identity? What makes some superhuman figures "good" and others "evil"? Why are so many of the prime superheroes white and male? How has the superhero evolved over the course of the 20th and early 21st centuries? And how might the myths be changing? Why is it that the key superhero archetypes - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the X-Men - touch primal needs and experiences in everyone? Why has the superhero moved beyond the pages of comics into other media? All these topics, and more, are covered in this lively and original exploration of the reasons why the superhero - in comic books, films, and TV - is such a potent myth for our times and culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826415400
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/27/2004
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.99(w) x 9.01(h) x 0.49(d)

About the Author

As former Group Editor of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man line, Danny Fingeroth became intimately familiar with the key elements of superhero mythology. He is exceptionally well versed in just what it takes to breathe life into these characters. Fingeroth is currently the creator and editor of Write Now magazine. He lives in New York City with his wife, sons, and 30,000 comic books.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	9
1	Why Superheroes?	13
2	It Started with Gilgamesh: The History of the Superhero	31
3	The Dual Identity: Of Pimpernels and Immigrants from the Stars	47
4	Storm of the Orphans: Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man	63
5	Amazon Grace: Wonder Woman, Xena, and Buffy	79
6	Thermonuclear Families: The Justice League, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four	97
7	You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry: The Hulk, Judge Dredd, and Wolverine	119
8	Changing Voices: From Robin to Spider-Man	139
9	Values and Villains: What's at Stake?	155
10	The Future of the Superhero	169
	Afterword: Getting Personal	173
	Select Bibliography	179
	Acknowledgments	183
	Index	185

What People are Saying About This

Stan Lee

In Superman on the Couch, you'll explore subjects that may make you reconsider preconceived notions and perhaps bring you greater appreciation of the superhero stories. (from the Foreward)

Will Eisner

Danny Fingeroth has produced a readable and socially insightful consideration of the superhero. His analysis of society's solution to its dissatisfaction with the protection provided by standard law-and-order systems makes it important and current. Stan Lee's 'excelsorial' foreward is an enjoyable addition.

Editorial Reviews

Fingeroth draws on his decades of working at Marvel Comics (including work as the editorial director of the Spider-Man comics family) to write this personal, engaging, and earnest work. He addresses, among other topics, superheroes and immigration (Superman, the ultimate alien), superheroes and family relations (Fantastic Four and X-Men), and the development of the teen voice in comic books (from sidekick to Spider-Man). Fingeroth hits a number of high notes, especially in his discussion of villains as proactive characters, as opposed to the usually reactive heroes. He also considers the idea of the female superhero. Fingeroth supports his assertions with a good array of scholarly and popular sources, including work by Joseph Campbell, Gloria Steinem, and Les Daniels. The result is an easygoing exploration of superheroes' cultural significance, and it will appeal to a mainstream audience. Comics legend Stan Lee provides the foreword to this slim volume. The hardcover carries a hefty price tag, so larger public libraries may wish to consider the paperback. Because of the subject matter's appeal and the accessibility of Fingeroth's writing, this title is an especially good choice for school libraries.-Audrey Snowden, Brewer, ME Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Adult/High School-Fingeroth offers a lucid and accessible social critique of the mainstream comics' preternatural characters as well as reasoning why and how the public welcomes such stories. Although he rightfully reaches back to earlier literary uses and developments of heroic character types, these discussions don't demand strong academic knowledge of world cultures, nor do his analyses of superhero motives require readers to be grounded in theoretical psychology. Instead, this is an engaging discussion that may turn some readers into literary sleuths and deeper thinkers, simply because the writing is so solid and the presentation so balanced. Even those who aren't fans of Spider-Man or Batman will be able to understand the relevance of considering how fiction and culture interact with one another. An excellent resource for both research and pleasure reading.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal