Hosted and narrated by Liev Schreiber, this three-part PBS-aired documentary devoted to American comic-book superheroes (sorry, Astro Boy) serves up an entertaining history while also updating aging collection mainstays such as Comic Book Confidential and Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters & Marvels. The late-1930s intros of Superman and Batman (the latter was actually Bob Kane's inspired rip-off of the pulp's leading dark-knight crimefighter, the Shadow) led to a comics explosion up through World War II. During the ensuing peacetime, however, comics were blamed for juvenile delinquency and sexual deviance, so the superhero market slumped. Stan Lee's 1960s-era Marvel Comics, beginning with the Fantastic Four, introduced (relative) emotional nuance and real-world issues to the genre, attracting more mature readers. Eventually censorship was banished, and mainstream acceptance was achieved for costumed heroes and heroines (thanks in part to blockbuster Hollywood adaptations). Comics geeks might complain that the saga is too tightly focused on Marvel and DC Comics, but most viewers will enjoy this fine survey that features interviews with genre greats and affiliated authors, actors, and artists—including Stan Lee, Carmine Infantino, Jerry Robinson, Adam West, Lynda Carter, Michael Chabon, and Frank Miller. Extras include bonus interviews. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)
Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle
(2013) 180 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR), Blu-ray: $29.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-60883-974-2 (dvd), 978-1-60883-975-9 (blu-ray). Volume 29, Issue 1
Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle
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