Fascinating and often bizarre true stories behind more than 130 urban legends about comic book culture. Was Superman a Spy? demystifies all of the interesting stories, unbelievable anecdotes, wacky rumors, and persistent myths that have piled up like priceless back issues in the seventy-plus years of the comic book industry, including: • Elvis Presley's trademark hairstyle was based on a comic book character (True) • Stan Lee featured a gay character in one of Marvel's 1960s war comics (False) • Wolverine of the X-Men was originally meant to be an actual wolverine! (True) • What would have been DC's first black superhero was changed at the last moment to a white hero (True) • A Dutch inventor was blocked from getting a patent on a process because it had been used previously in a Donald Duck comic book (True) With many more legends resolved, Was Superman a Spy? is a must-have for the legions of comic book fans and all seekers of “truth, justice, and the American way.”
Outrageous, fascinating and bizarre facts from every corner of the comic book universeWhat comic book artist was the recipient of an on-stage thank you from Paul McCartney and an on-air apology from Johnny Carson? What superhero got his powers by being bitten by a mongoose? What popular NPR host was forever immortalized as a "bad boyfriend" in a notable comic book? In Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent?, author Brian Cronin will answer those questions and more by revealing the most obscure, wacky and surprising facts about comics—from the characters and creators, to the TV shows, movies and merch. Cronin has teamed up with some of the top comic book writers and artists of today to present 100 trivia lists, including: · Nine Celebrities That Guest-Starred in Comic Books…without Their Permission · Seven Bands That Got Their Names from Comics · Ten Crazy Items Found on Batman’s Utility Belt · Five Comic Book Inventions That Eventually Became Real · Five Stupidest Superhero Origins · And much, much more! From Batman to Spiderman, Aquaman to the X-Men, each list in Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent? will entertain and inform whether you’re a hardcore geek or a casual fan.
Intertwining stories about the invention of Superman as a defender of the little guy, his rise as a media force, and the real fight against the Ku Klux Klan demonstrate how a mythical hero could take on the fight for civil rights.
Lex Luthor is up to his old tricks again. Wearing his battle suit, the super-villain sets out to steal a special chip from S.T.A.R Labs, called the Mega Module with the help of a few friends. Superman shows up just in time to stop Lex's pals, but Lex manages to insert the Mega Module into his suit before Superman can stop him. Now, with power levels similar to Superman's, Lex is looking to steal Superman's claim to fame as the real Man of Steel!
Writer of the "Comic book urban legends revealed" online column since 2005 "demystifies all of the interesting stories, unblievable anecdotes, wacky rumors, and persistent myths that have piled up ... in the seventy-plus years of the comic book industry."--Cover, p.4.
When a sentient ship which collects and preserves dying civilizations mistakenly collects Metropolis, Superman investigates and discovers that the evil Brainiac has become trapped and has infiltrated the ship's systems.
"Sally the Sleuth is a reprint of a 1930s comic first appearing in pulp novels which were primarily sexual escapades. It was later transformed into a non-sexual crime comic series in the 1950s."--
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT presents the new, original adventures of Batman from the acclaimed digital-first series by an all-star lineup of comics’ finest talents including Damon Lindelof (Lost, Prometheus), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Jeff Lemire (ANIMAL MAN) and more! Discover startling sides of The Dark Knight that span from his earliest days in the cowl to his never-ending battles against Gotham’s greatest enemies, including the Joker and Two-Face. Collecting issues #1-5 of BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT!
Almost immediately after his first appearance in comic books in June 1938, Superman began to be adapted to other media. The subsequent decades have brought even more adaptations of the Man of Steel, his friends, family, and enemies in film, television, comic strip, radio, novels, video games, and even a musical. The rapid adaptation of the Man of Steel occurred before the character and storyworld were fully developed on the comic book page, allowing the adaptations an unprecedented level of freedom and adaptability. The essays in this collection provide specific insight into the practice of adapting Superman from comic books to other media and cultural contexts through a variety of methods, including social, economic, and political contexts. Authors touch on subjects such as the different international receptions to the characters, the evolution of both Clark Kent's character and Superman's powers, the importance of the radio, how the adaptations interact with issues such as racism and Cold War paranoia, and the role of fan fiction in the franchise. By applying a wide range of critical approaches to adaption and Superman, this collection offers new insights into our popular entertainment and our cultural history.
