Mark Gruenwald and the star spangled symbolism of Captain America, 1985-1995 / Jason Olsen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Olsen, Jason, 1974- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Captain America (Fictitious character).

Captain America.

Gruenwald, Mark--Criticism and interpretation.

Gruenwald, Mark.

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

Comic books, strips, etc.

Literature and society--United States--History--20th century.

Literature and society.

National characteristics, American, in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (287 pages)

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers, 2021.

Summary:

"From 1985 to 1995, Mark Gruenwald was the head writer for Captain America. During this decade, Gruenwald wrote some of the most essential stories in Captain America's history and guided the comic through an eventful period of both world history and comic book history. This book dissects the influence of the world at large on Gruenwald's stories and the subsequent influence of Gruenwald's work on the world of comics. The book's ten chapters discuss a wide range of topics including the generational tensions inherent in a comic about a G.I. Generation hero, written by a baby boomer, for an audience of Gen Xers; the enduring threat of the Red Skull and the never-ending aura of World War II; the rising popularity of vigilante characters during the '90s; and how Captain America fits into the war on drugs and its "just say no" mentality. Set against the declining American patriotism of the 1980s and 1990s, this book places special emphasis on the symbolism of the most American of superheroes"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction: Gruenwald's Captain America

Part I: Patriotism and Symbolism

One. Star Spangled Symbolism

Two. Captain ­Un-America-ed

Three. Patriot and ­Super-Patriot

Four. Generation Cap

Part II: Villainous Opposition

Five. The War That Won't Go Away

Six. The Ideological Enemy

Seven. The Serpent Society

Part III: Death and Distraction

Eight. Justice vs. Justice

Nine. Fire and Ice

Ten. Mark Gruenwald's "Fighting Chance"

Chapter Notes

Works Cited

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-273) and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4766-4261-3

9781476642611

OCLC:

1252762797