UNDERSTANDING SUPERHERO COMIC BOOKS

This work dissects the origin and growth of superhero comic books, their major influences from comic strips and the pulps, and the creators behind them. It demonstrates how Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America and many more stand as time capsules of their eras, rising and falling with societal changes, and reflecting an amalgam of influences. The book covers in detail the iconic superhero comic book creators and their unique contributions in their quest for realism, including Julius Schwartz and the science-fiction origins of superheroes; the collaborative design of the Marvel Universe by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Steve Ditko; Jim Starlin’s incorporation of the death of superheroes in comic books; John Byrne and the revitalization of superheroes in the modern age; and Alan Moore’s deconstruction of superheroes. “In Understanding Super Hero Comic Books, Alex Grand offers a thoughtful, well-written analysis of superheroes and their impact on popular culture and history. Whether a comic book superfan or someone new to the genre, readers will find Grand’s insights into the history meaningful and illuminating. This book proves that we really do live in a superhero age!”―Bob Batchelor, author of Stan Lee: A Life and Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel “This book is important. It’s going to start more arguments than it settles. That’s a good thing. Let’s hash it out. Let’s separate the lies and agendas from the truth and fairness. Thank you, Alex. This is a remarkable work.”-Jim Shooter, former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief, 1978-1987 "No one does comic history like Alex Grand. He is a meticulous researcher and an insightful interviewer...fascinating.." - Tom DeFalco, editor-in-chief Marvel Comics 1980s-90s "A complete intensive overview of the superhero comic industry today with its early roots in comic strips." - Tom Palmer, Silver Age inker Just when you might think there is little new to learn about superheroes, Alex takes a step back and puts them in the perspective of the earliest influences and pop culture of the time. He comes in for an angle rarely or never before explored, giving us an entirely new look at how superheroes came to be. Sections (and chapters within each) explore Building Blocks (strips, pulps, Hollywood Cinema, even early magicians); Rise and Fall of Superheroes (Superman's Litigation, Golden Age artists leave superheroes, EC vs Wertham); Flight of the Superheroes (Julius Schwartz's Silver Age, Birth of Marvel, Monsters become heroes, Lee, Kirby and Ditko, the Marvel Method's Credit Controversy, Jack Kirby's Space Gods); Modern Superheroes (Jim Starlin, John Byrne, Alan Moore, the origins of the Graphic Novel); and finally, Diversity and Aftermath (women in 20th Century Comic Books, African Americans, Death of the 20th Century Comic Book Greats). Exhaustively indexed with a massive bibliography and chapter notes. Alex Grand is the founder of Comicbookhistorians.com and a regular panelist at Comic-Con in San Diego. He has been featured in comics-based documentaries, television and radio programs, and in The Wall Street Journal, Hollywood Reporter, The Comics Journal, The Jack Kirby Collector and Alter Ego.