Do the gods wear capes? : spirituality, fantasy, and superheroes / Ben Saunders.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Saunders, Ben.

Series:

New directions in religion and literature.

New directions in religion and literature

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Superheroes--Psychological aspects.

Superheroes.

Religion.

Spirituality.

Fantasy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (191 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London : Continuum, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Brash, bold, and sometimes brutal, superheroes might seem to epitomize modern pop-culture at its most melodramatic and mindless. But according to Ben Saunders, the appeal of the superhero is fundamentally metaphysical - even spiritual - in nature. In chapter-length analyses of the early comic book adventures of Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and Iron-Man, Saunders explores a number of complex philosophical and theological issues, including: the problem of evil; the will-to-power; the tension between intimacy and vulnerability; and the challenge of love, in the face of mortality. He conclu

Contents:

Cover; Contents; Series Editors' Preface; Acknowledgments; Introduction: The Power of Love; Chapter One: Superman: Truth, Justice, and All that Stuff; Chapter Two: Wonder Woman: Bondage and Liberation; Chapter Three: Spider-Man: Heroic Failure and Spiritual Triumph; Chapter Four: Iron Man: Techno-Faith; Coda: Modern Gods; Appendix: On the Place of Superhero Studies within Comics Studies; Notes; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4411-1311-8

1-283-12252-9

9786613122520

1-4411-2722-4

OCLC:

727649590