Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked

Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked, which takes a serious look at the phenomenon of comic book superheroes and their impact on popular culture, was originally broadcast on the History Channel to promote the theatrical release of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. This comprehensive survey offers an historical overview (starting with the first comic books published during the Great Depression in 1931), exploring how comic book superheroes have consistently provided an accurate reflection of social movements, wartime patriotism, and cultural controversies throughout the decades. From Superman to Batman, and Wonder Woman to Spiderman, colorful graphics and informative interviews illustrate how comic books have constantly reinvented themselves to keep up with the times, surviving a cyclical rise and fall that peaked with the collector's boom of the 1980s and '90s. Interviewees include a virtual who's-who of comic book legends: Spiderman creator Stan Lee, Spirit creator Will Eisner, influential artist Jim Steranko, and author/expert Michael Chabon, among others. Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked is a fun watch, full of nostalgia for "Golden Age" collectors, and very informative for newcomers in the era of the graphic novel. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Shannon)