Overview

This book celebrates the 100 greatest superhero films and tv shows from the early 1940s to the present. Each entry includes a plot summary, background information, production details, critical reception, box office results, awards, and commentary assessing the film or show's contribution to the superhero genre and popular culture.

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9781538114506

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It's clobbering time! Ingle and Sutera pull off the impossible. Once and forever, this dynamic duo pulverizes age-old misconceptions of save-the-day superheroes as only popcorn fun. With feline agility, Shuri-level supersmarts, and a Spidey websling-superstick connectivity across all media and era, Ingle and Sutera provide the repository of historical, social, and aesthetic knowledge of superhero televisual and silver-screen narrative. From scholar to fan to layperson, 100 Greatest Superhero Films and TV Shows empowers us to find our superstrength in the fight for justice, equality, and freedom for all!--Frederick Luis Aldama, award-winning author and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas, Austin

[A] compact, fact-filled compilation.... Although this is a serious study, the text is accessible and not pedantic. In discussing the origins of superheroes, for example, the authors suggest a categorization as follows: mutant (Wolverine), alien (Superman), science (Hulk), technology (Iron Man), magic (Shazam), divine-heaven/hell (Spawn), and natural (Batman) that will be easily understood by any superhero fan.... For those interested in further study, there is a well-chosen bibliography. A solid choice for film and popular-culture collections.-- Booklist In this guide to the best films and TV series centered on superheroes, Ingle and Sutera list their picks alphabetically, from Angel and Ant-Man to Wonder Woman (both the 2017 film and the 1970s series starring Lynda Carter) and five X-Men iterations. A brief history of the rise of comic book characters as film subjects precedes a discussion of iconographic superhero genre elements (urban settings; characters who fight crime or protect citizens; weapons; costumes) and a section where the authors lay out their selection criteria (such as aesthetics, historical significance, and unique thematic content). Each entry lists cast members, runtime or number of episodes, and audience rating and includes a synopsis, commentary, and photos. A list of 49 films that almost made it into the book may provoke lively debate. A diverting book with accessible writing and, on occasion, academic depth. Superhero fans will be charmed.-- Library Journal There was an idea. To bring together The 100 Greatest Superhero Films and TV Shows to see what we might learn about these stories and, perhaps, ourselves. Zachary Ingle and David M. Sutera have dared to take a deep dive into these speculative worlds and have returned with this indispensable volume. Their superheroic efforts and attention to detail are on full display here. Casual readers will be delighted, and even hardcore fans will find gems to add to their crown of knowledge.--Christopher Gonzalez, Utah State University, author of Reel Latinxs: Representation in US Film and TV It's clobbering time! Ingle and Sutera pull off the impossible. Once and forever, this dynamic duo pulverizes age-old misconceptions of save-the-day superheroes as only popcorn fun. With feline agility, Shuri-level supersmarts, and a Spidey websling-superstick connectivity across all media and era, Ingle and Sutera provide the repository of historical, social, and aesthetic knowledge of superhero televisual and silver-screen narrative. From scholar to fan to layperson, The 100 Greatest Superhero Films and TV Shows empowers us to find our superstrength in the fight for justice, equality, and freedom for all!--Frederick Luis Aldama, award-winning author and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas, Austin

Author Information

Zachary Ingle teaches film and media studies at the University of Kansas. He is a contributor to World Film Locations: Paris and World Film Locations: Las Vegas and is the author of Fan Phenomena: The Big Lebowski. David M. Sutera is assistant professor of communications at Doane University. He is the author of Sports Fans 2.0: How Fans Are Using Social Media to Get Closer to the Game.

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