Marc DiPaolo is an assistant professor of English at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He has written books on Jane Austen and on environmentalist science fiction and fantasy. DiPaolo has been interviewed on NPR, BBC4, and appeared in the AMC documentary Robert Kirkman's Secret History of Comics.

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments     

Preface     

Introduction: Are Superheroes Republicans? On The Avengers, Star Trek, and Watchmen     


1. Batman as Terrorist, Technocrat and Feudal Lord     

2. Wonder Woman as World War II Veteran, Feminist Icon, and Sex Symbol     

3. Spider-Man as Benedict Arnold, Objectivist, and Class Warrior     

4. The Punisher as Murderous Immigration Officer and Vietnam War Veteran     

5. Superman vs. Ronald Reagan and the Ku Klux Klan     

6. The Special Relationship: Britain and America in James Bond, Doctor Who, and Hellblazer     

7. Tortured Consciences: Jack Bauer, the Invisible Woman, and George W. Bush's America     

8. Gay Rights, Civil Rights, and Nazism in the X-Men Universe     

9. In Brightest Day, in Darkest Knight: President Obama vs. the Zombie Apocalypse     


Chapter Notes     

Bibliography     

Index     

Superhero adventure comics have a long history of commenting upon American public opinion and government policy, and the surge in the popularity of comics since the events of September 11, 2001, ensures their continued relevance. This critical text examines the seventy-year history of comic book superheroes on film and in comic books and their reflections of the politics of their time. Superheroes addressed include Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Superman, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, and topics covered include American wars, conflicts, and public policy.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.