Superheroes and Contemporary Cultures

Cross-Medial Explorations and Societal Perspectives

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Edited by Torsten Caeners and Danny Graydon

Type

Studies

Subject

Genre > Fantasy

Keywords

superheroes, sociology, ideology

Publishing date

2026 (May 22, 2026)

Publisher

Intellect Books

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Hardcover • 223 pages
6 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches (17 x 24.5 cm)

ISBN

978-1-83595-253-5

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Book Presentation:
A global, interdisciplinary dive into superheroes and their cultural power across media.

Offering a global and interdisciplinary perspective on the superhero genre across comics, television, and film, this book presents a diverse range of contemporary superhero scholarship. It combines close readings of iconic characters like Batman, Iron Man, and The Watchmen with critical analysis of broader cultural and societal discourses.

The volume explores how superheroes reflect and problematize ideology, the military-industrial complex, and notions of public and private responsibility. Key themes include identity construction through secret identities and masking, as well as cultural and personal grief and trauma in relation to race and politics. Designed for students, scholars, and fans alike, this work reveals the enduring mainstream appeal of superheroes and their complex intersections with global popular culture.

See the publisher website: Intellect Books