A century of reinvention, from Superman in the Great Depression to the blockbuster movies of today

From Superman to The Avengers, the evolution of comic book legends

The first appearance of Superman in 1938 was a seismic moment in American pop culture. Since then, hundreds of superheroes have been created, deconstructed and reinvented for new generations of comic book fans, not least DC staples Batman and Wonder Woman and the Marvel Universe's X-Men and The Avengers.

In this fascinating, wide-ranging exploration of the superhero phenomenon, Brian J. Robb charts the rise of American superheroes, from their initial Depression-era heyday in throwaway comics to their glossy rebirth in the twenty-first century's most popular blockbuster movies.

Praise for the author's Brief Guide to Star Wars

Well-written and easy to read . . . I recommend this book to any Star Wars fan.