On the Origin of Superheroes: From the Big Bang to Action Comics No. 1

by Chris Gavaler

Most readers think that superheroes began with Superman's appearance in Action Comics No. 1, but that Kryptonian rocket didn't just drop out of the sky. By the time Superman's creators were born, the superhero's most defining elements--secret identities, aliases, disguises, signature symbols, traumatic origin stories, extraordinary powers, self-sacrificing altruism--were already well-rehearsed standards. Superheroes have a sprawling, action-packed...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1609383818
• ISBN13: 9781609383817
• Release Date: November 2015
• Publisher: University of Iowa Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"