A comprehensive guide to the world of Superheroes and Villains, a real must have for comic book fans and film buffs. Inlcuding Thor, X-Men, Wolverine, Captain America and Green Lantern
Graphic Novel. A is for Angel, B is for Batman, C is for Captain Marvel. This text features everything you'll ever need to know about superheroes and villains.
When a priceless, jewel encrusted bird statue is installed atop a skyscraper in Gotham, Catwoman has her eyes--and her claws--on the prize. But when she puts her paws on the curious statue, this feline gets caught up in the Penguin's foul power play.
It's easy to name a superhero--Superman, Batman, Thor, Spiderman, the Green Lantern, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rorschach, Wolverine--but it's not so easy to define what a superhero is. Buffy has superpowers, but she doesn't have a costume. Batman has a costume, but doesn't have superpowers. What is the role of power and superpower? And what are supervillains and why do we need them? In What is a Superhero?, psychologist Robin Rosenberg and comics scholar Peter Coogan explore this question from a variety of viewpoints, bringing together contributions from nineteen comic book experts--including both scholars in such fields as cultural studies, art, and psychology as well as leading comic book writers and editors. What emerges is a kaleidoscopic portrait of this most popular of pop-culture figures. Writer Jeph Loeb, for instance, sees the desire to make the world a better place as the driving force of the superhero. Jennifer K. Stuller argues that the female superhero inspires women to stand up, be strong, support others, and most important, to believe in themselves. More darkly, A. David Lewis sees the indestructible superhero as the ultimate embodiment of the American "denial of death," while writer Danny Fingeroth sees superheroes as embodying the best aspects of humankind, acting with a nobility of purpose that inspires us. Interestingly, Fingeroth also expands the definition of superhero so that it would include characters like John McClane of the Die Hard movies: "Once they dodge ridiculous quantities of machine gun bullets they're superheroes, cape or no cape." From summer blockbusters to best-selling graphic novels, the superhero is an integral part of our culture. What is a Superhero? not only illuminates this pop-culture figure, but also sheds much light on the fantasies and beliefs of the American people.
Meet more than one hundred of the oddest supervillains in comics history, complete with backstories, vintage art, and colorful commentary. This collection affectionately spotlights the most ridiculous, bizarre, and cringe-worthy criminals ever published, from fandom favorites like MODOK and Egg Fu to forgotten weirdos like Brickbat (choice of weapon: poison bricks) and Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man. Casual comics readers and diehard enthusiasts alike will relish the hilarious commentary and vintage art from obscure old comics.
Gilbert Shelton is the creator of the multi-million selling Freak Brothers and Fat Freddy's Cat. Wonder Wart-Hog was his earliest creation and probably still his favourite. The character has appeared over the years in publications varying from Drag Cartoons to Zap Comix as well as several comics of his own. There is even a Wonder Wart-Hog motocross team!
"Little Billee is a young English painter with great talent. He and his friends Taffy and the Laird share a studio in a Quartier Latin neighborhood full of artists and musicians, including a German-Polish music teacher named Svengali. The group become acquainted with an artists' model named Trilby, who was orphaned as a child and who works to support her little brother and herself. Trilby is lively, charming, unpretentious, and beautiful, and soon Little Billee is madly in love. When his mother learns that Little Billee intends to marry an artists' model (nude models were almost as socially unacceptable as protitutes) she travels to Paris and tells Trilby that such a marriage would mean ruin for Billee and his family. Trilby promises that she will never see Little Billee again. Soon afterward, Trilby vanishes, leaving Billee sick and distraught. Many years later, Billee and his friends hear of a singer called "La Svengali" who has astonished all of Europe. By attending one of her performances, they learn that "La Svengali" is the wife of the music teacher they knew in the Quartier Latin, trained by him to sing with more technical mastery than anyone has ever heard. When "La Svengali" appears on stage, they see that she is none other than Trilby. Her singing moves the audience to tears, though everyone notices that she moves stiffly and strangely and that her face is as blank as an automaton's. Not until Svengali dies suddenly during a concert is Trilby set free from the hypnotic spell that has controlled her for years.""--Allreaders.com.
Once again danger threatens the citizens of Glendale, AZ, and Cat-Boy, Leopard Girl, General Joe and the rest of Team-Cat jump into action. Dog-Boy, the world’s most inept villain, is after the legendary Sword of Jimbo Colompton, and it’s up to the superheroes to prevent the atomic weapon from falling into the wrong hands. But is it really Dog-Boy they’re worried about? Cat-Boy is up to his usual shenanigans, which seem more unusual than usual! Which could bring us to the unusual conclusion that Cat-Boy is bored out of his mind! Which puts EVERYONE in more danger than usual!
Dr. Wertham was senior psychiatrist for the Department of Hospitals in New York City. This book, thoroughly documented by facts and cases, gives the substance of Dr. Wertham's expert opinion on the effects that comic books have on the minds and behavior of children who come in contact with them. Reprint of the 1954 edition with a new comprehensive Introduction by James E. Reibman, Ph.D.
"Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The Flash. Green Lantern. Aquaman. Martian Manhunter. Green Arrow. Hawkman. The Atom. Plastic Man. Shazam! Together they are known as the Justice League of America."--Cover page 4.