One question that must be answered when considering a critical anthology like Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men is how, especially for the broader public, will you (editors) address crucial issues. The decision to focus on comics and comic book culture alone creates resistance, thus it is important to have a strong thematic framework to guide the construction of the volume. For Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men our aim is to examine the the superhero genre because it highlights the struggle between American ideas and shifting social, political, and economic realties. Without question some points touched on in this volume, such as Superman’s class and ethnic symbolism are the gist of academic debate. Yet, this volume differs because of its innovative examination of race, gender, and ideology in comics through a wider examination of comic characters and comic forms. If you question the importance of comics, the success of recent comic book movies and the perception that “comic book values” are part of the American mind should give you reason to consider this volume. As editors, we come to this collection with perspectives that emphasizes the comic book as a means to consider postwar America. Below Tom Donaldson, discusses his dissertation, one chapter of which provides the foundation for, "Ineffectual Girl Among the Legions of Superheroes: The Marginalization and Domestication of Female Superheroes, 1955-1970” his contribution to Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men.
A blog for and about the intersection of comic books and American history.
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