Cover of Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre

Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre

This title presents an entertaining and exhaustive history, tracing the superhero's roots in mythology, science fiction, and pulps, which follows the genre's development to its current renaissance in film, literature, and graphic novels.

Subject
historyliterary criticism
Genre
superhero
Audience
adult
Form
graphic novels

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

Liked Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Marvel Year by Year: A Visual History Shares superhero, graphic novels, nonfiction
  2. The Superhero Handbook Shares superhero, graphic novels, nonfiction
  3. Spider-Man: Black Cat Shares superhero, graphic novels
  4. Wolverine: Violent Tendencies Shares superhero, graphic novels

“If you want more of the same (history), start with these.”

  1. Our Hero: Superman on Earth
  2. Smallville: The Official Companion Season 1
  3. Super Heroes: A Modern Mythology
  4. Iron Man Manual

“If it was the superhero that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia
  2. Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes
  3. Spider-Man: Requiem
  4. Green Lantern: Sleepers, Book 1

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Lurkers
  2. Graphic Novels: Everything You Need to Know
  3. Nebula Awards Showcase 2009
  4. Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction