Caped Crusaders 101 - 2nd Edition by Jeffrey Kahan & Stanley Stewart (Paperback)

About the Book

The comic-spawned Spider-Man franchise, despite its "pop" status, demonstrates important trends in literature. How, for example, do writers involved with the franchise reconcile divergent plotlines and characterizations that appear in multiple serials, and in a number of concurrent depictions of the hero in comic series, television series and films? Readers may be surprised to realize that Shakespeare grappled with similar topics in his Henry VI.

Book Synopsis

This updated and expanded textbook inspires a greater appreciation for literature by studying important literary themes found in comics. By deconstructing comics, it raises critical thinking about literature, a crucial skill for understanding language and composition. Chapters discuss DC, Marvel and other comics' varied attempts at portraying race, politics, economics, business ethics and democracy; responses to the Cold War and the events of September 11; and portrayals of prisons and capital punishment. New to this edition, an additional chapter explores how the deaths of Captain America, Superman and Batman offer insightful commentary on the nature of heroism. Each chapter offers a series of questions that stimulate further reading, writing and discussion.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Review Quotes

Reviews of the first edition: "highly recommended, valuable"-SFRA Review; "this book needs to be on every comic book collector's book shelves...detailed...a great read, an essential comic...highly recommend[ed]"-Jaxma Online; "interesting and worthwhile"-The Compulsive Reader; "an amazing piece of analysis"-Curledup.com.

About the Author

Jeffrey Kahan is a professor of English at the University of La Verne in California. The late Stanley Stewart was a distinguished professor in the English Department of the University of California at Riverside.