Superhero Comics

This work dissects the origin and growth of superhero comic books, their major influences, 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.

When we last saw our heroes, George and Harold, they had been turned into evil zombie nerds doomed to roam a devastated, post-apocalyptic planet for all eternity. But why, you might ask, didn't the amazing Captain Underpants save the boys from this frightening fate? Because Tippy Tinkletrousers and his time-traveling hijinks prevented George and Harold from creating Captain Underpants in the first place! Now, having changed the course of human history forever, they'll have to figure out a way to change it back!

Over the last 60 years, the Marvel superhero comic books have grown into a gigantic mountain in the middle of contemporary culture. They are the longest continuous, self-contained work of fiction ever created: over half a million pages to date - and growing. Thousands of writers and artists have contributed to it. Every schoolchild recognises its protagonists: Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men. And not even the people telling the story have read the whole thing - nobody's supposed to. So, of course, that's what Douglas Wolk did.

The fate of the entire Marvel Universe hangs in the balance as Earth's mightiest heroes face their greatest challenge! Summoned across the stars by the mysterious and unbelievably powerful Beyonder, the Avengers, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men are set against their deadliest foes on the mysterious planet known as Battleworld - with the winner promised the ultimate prize. But as battle lines are drawn, new alliances are forged, and old enemies clash, one among them is not willing to settle for anything less than godhood.

Its July 2008, and uber-geek Liquin Sonos journeys back to the one place on Earth where he feels normal: the San Diego Comic-Con. Accompanied by first-time attendee Kate, socially inept would-be animator Windsor, and the flamboyant talent agent Brigham, Liquin delves further into the sex and...

After surviving a holiday to Italy without his parents (which included jellyfish and giant watermelons), Stan reckons he deserves a bit of a break. Or at a least a break in between trying to act in his school play. But when he’s offered the chance to take a tour around a TV studio, he thinks it can’t do any harm. How wrong he is.

The defining, behind-the-scenes chronicle of one of the most extraordinary, beloved, and dominant pop cultural entities in America’s history -- Marvel Comics – and the outsized personalities who made Marvel including Martin Goodman, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby. “Sean Howe’s history of...

Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, the Avengers, the X-Men, Watchmen, and more: the companion volume to the PBS documentary series of the same name that tells the story of the superhero in American popular culture. Together again for the first time, here come the greatest...

Liquin Sonos and his geeky friends return! Two years after the events of Sex Drugs & Superheroes, Liquin has finished his magnum opus screenplay and journeys to the San Diego Comic-Con to meet with a high-powered agent to make his dream of becoming a screenwriter come true. Joining him on the journey are his friends Kate, the film student, her boyfriend Windsor, the angst-ridden animator, the flamboyant agent Brigham and the vampy party girl Roxanne. Little do his friends know, however, that Liquin has a deadly master plan to sell his work!

In the year 2012, Liquin Sonos and his friends return to the San Diego Comic-Con in a last bid to achieve their Hollywood dreams. But the bonds of friendship strain under the pressure to succeed, and Liquin fears the emergence of his nemesis, Ragnar Wortham, signals his doom. In the year 2047, Ashlyn, a freedom-fighting refugee, struggles to survive among plague, poverty and factional warfare. But a frightening revelation into her past offers a way to end the bloodshed once and for all, and the death of Liquin Sonos is the key.

What can you learn from the world’s most successful companies? Marvel characters have been shaping pop culture for decades and when comic books were no longer keeping the company afloat, Marvel Studios was born. Marvel Studios is the multibillion-dollar home to iconic franchises. They are...

Bloomsbury presents Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: The Epic 1980s Saga by Tom K. Mason, read by Daniel Henning. Explore the Stories Behind the Legends In 1984, Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter brought Marvel’s heroes and villains together for an epic battle that became the template for...

In this insightful and provocative book, comics-industry veteran Danny Fingeroth explores the backgrounds of the most well-known superheroes and their creators—largely young American Jewish men from Eastern European backgrounds. These innovators include Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Will Eisner, and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In Disguised as Clark Kent, Fingeroth explores how the creators’ Jewish backgrounds helped make superheroes the most familiar popular-culture icons of all.

Uncover the pop culture history of sequential art, from modest newspaper strips to sprawling superhero universes. Perfect for your daily commute or a weekend deep-dive, this immersive journey reveals how creators used slapstick, horror, and romance to reflect our deepest societal anxieties...

Up in the sky! Look! It's Superman! Almost everyone knows about the man from Krypton who, disguised as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent working with the fearless Lois Lane, fights for the vulnerable and the oppressed. But few know the truth about this indelible character's creation. From...

The blockbuster DC Icons series that began with Leigh Bardugo's Wonder Woman, Marie Lu's Batman, and Sarah J. Maas's Catwoman continues with the story of the world's first super hero--SUPERMAN--from award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author MATT DE LA PEÑA. When the dawn breaks, a...

This dark and twisty BATMAN in the blockbuster DC Icons series is an action-packed thrill ride from #1 New York Times bestselling author MARIE LU. AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his...

The Instant New York Times Bestseller! From the brilliant mind behind Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil, 300, and Sin City, comes Push the Wall is part memoir, part master class for budding artists and writers by one of the greatest living creators whose work has influenced pop culture...

The super (like, actually, with powers and stuff) series from the amazingly talented Sophy Henn, award-winning author and illustrator of Bad Nana! The perfect read for children aged 7, 8, 9 and upwards, and for fans of Dork Diaries, Tom Gates, Amelia Fang, Wimpy Kid and Dog Man. “A SPECTACULAR...

We're currently in the golden age of superhero blockbusters. Movies like Black Panther, Wonder Woman, Joker, and Avengers: Endgame routinely break box office records and compete for Oscars. Yet, Zack Snyder's 2017 behemoth Justice League - a veritable sure bet at the Hollywood casino - tanked miserably, and the behind-the-scenes reasons for the movie's demise are fascinating.