Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human - Hardcover

Morrison, Grant

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1400069122 ISBN 13: 9781400069125

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau, 2011

Synopsis

From one of the most acclaimed and profound writers in the world of comics comes a thrilling and provocative exploration of humankind’s great modern myth: the superhero

The first superhero comic ever published, Action Comics no. 1 in 1938, introduced the world to something both unprecedented and timeless: Superman, a caped god for the modern age. In a matter of years, the skies of the imaginary world were filled with strange mutants, aliens, and vigilantes: Batman, Wonder Woman, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and the X-Men—the list of names as familiar as our own. In less than a century, they’ve gone from not existing at all to being everywhere we look: on our movie and television screens, in our videogames and dreams. But what are they trying to tell us?

For Grant Morrison, arguably the greatest of contemporary chroniclers of the “superworld,” these heroes are powerful archetypes whose ongoing, decades-spanning story arcs reflect and predict the course of human existence: Through them we tell the story of ourselves, our troubled history, and our starry aspirations. In this exhilarating work of a lifetime, Morrison draws on art, science, mythology, and his own astonishing journeys through this shadow universe to provide the first true history of the superhero—why they matter, why they will always be with us, and what they tell us about who we are . . . and what we may yet become.

About this title

Review:

'While it begins with an entirely engrossing and detailed history of superheroes and the culture sur¬rounding them, Morrison's own life story creeps into the narrative now and again - and if this seems a little self-indulgent, it's also completely necessary. This isn't just a history - it's an epic, super-charged discourse on why caped crusaders hold such power over our imaginations, what they say about humanity in its noblest and darkest moments. That this is essential reading for superhero fans probably goes without saying - but there's plenty to chew on here for anyone who believes in the transformative power of fiction.' --Leeds Guide, Sam McCall

'A unique, inspirational work.' --Oxford Times

About the Author:

Grant Morrison is one of the most popular and acclaimed contemporary writers of any genre. His long list of credits as a comic-book writer include JLA, New X-Men, Seven Soldiers, Animal Man, Doom Patrol, The Invisibles, We3, The Filth, and Batman: Arkham Asylum, the bestselling original graphic novel of all time. He is also an award-winning playwright and screenwriter.

About this edition

• Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1400069122
• ISBN 13: 9781400069125
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 444