This presentation explains the origins of superhero comics and explores how the evolution of the genre reflects the U.S. experience.

1. JULIAN CHAMBLISS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY
ROLLINS COLLEGE

2. COMIC BOOK
INTERSECT
WITH THE
AMERICAN
EXPERIENCE

19. A NEW GENRE

25. CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT

28. A DANGER TO THE CHILDREN

30. SAFE FOR KIDS, BUT…

35. HEROES
FOR THE
ATOMIC AGE

37. MARVEL COMICS

39. CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLES…
James Meredith
at Ole Miss
Sept. 1962
Birmingham
Protest
April –May
1963

40. … ARE REFLECTED IN THE
INTRODUCTION OF CHARACTER SUCH
AS THE BLACK PANTHER (1966)
Fantastic Four #52 (1966)

43. THE END OF COLD WAR CONSENSUS
Iron Man Vol. 1 #27 (1970)
IRON MAN Vol. 1 #78 (Sept., 1975)

44. THE SEVENTIES: THE RISE OF SOCIALLY
ENGAGED COMICS

47. >>>>>>>>

58. CLOSED

62. RELEASED IN 2000

63. SPIDER-MAN (2002)

64. HEROES (2006-2010)