Grant Morrison and the superhero renaissance : critical essays / edited by Darragh Greene and Kate Roddy.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Greene, Darragh, editor.

Roddy, Kate, editor.

John G. Hartman Memorial Library Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Morrison, Grant--Criticism and interpretation.

Morrison, Grant.

Superheroes in literature.

Comic books, strips, etc--History and criticism.

Comic books, strips, etc.

Graphic novels--History and criticism.

Graphic novels.

Criticism and interpretation.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

viii, 241 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2015]

Summary:

Superheroes arc enjoying a cultural resurgence, dominating the box office and breaking out of specialty comics scores onto the shelves of mainstream retailers. A leading figure behind the superhero Renaissance is Grant Morrison, longtime architect of the DC Comics' universe and author of many of the most successful comic books in recent years. Renowned for his anarchic original creations-Zenith, The Invisibles, The Filth, We3-as well as for his acclaimed serialized comics-JLA, Superman, Batman, New X-Men-Grant Morrison has radically redefined the superhero archetype. Known for his eccentric lifestyle and as a practitioner of "pop magic," Morrison sees the superhero as not merely fantasy but a medium for imagining a better humanity. Drawing on a variety of analytical approaches, this first-ever collection of critical essays on his work explores his rejuvenation of the figure of the superhero as a means to address the challenges of modern life. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I Formal Analysis

"And so we return and begin again": The Immersive/Recursive Strategies of Morrison's Puzzle Narratives / hris Murray Murray, hris 17

"Screw symbolism and let's go home": Morrison and Bathos / Kate Roddy Roddy, Kate 43

The Writer and "the Writer": The Death of the Author in Suicide Squad #58 / Roy T. Cook Cook, Roy T. 64

"Let me slip into someone more comfortable": The Imaginary Adolescence of the Superhero / Keith Scott Scott, Keith 82

Parasitic Signifiers: The Invasiveness of Language in Grant Morrison's Comics / Clare Pitkethly Pitkethly, Clare 100

Part II Thematic Analysis

From Shame into Glory in The Filth / David Coughlan Coughlan, David 115

"The Jungian Stuff": Symbols of Transformation in All-Star Superman / Darragh Greene Greene, Darragh 131

The Dark Knight and the Devil: Demons and Demonology in Batman, 2005-2013 / Schedel Luitjen Luitjen, Schedel 150

"Our Father, Who Art in Gotham": The Life, Death and Rebirth of Batman / Nicholas Galante Galante, Nicholas 166

Fallout Boys: Paranoia, Power and Control in Morrison's Cold War Superheroes / Muireann O'Sullivan O'Sullivan, Muireann 183

"Morrison Inc." and Themes of Benevolent Capitalism / Emmet O'Cuana O'Cuana, Emmet 205.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the John G. Hartman Memorial Library Fund.

ISBN:

9780786478101

0786478101

OCLC:

908375466

Publisher Number:

99964007773