Asuperheroorsuperheroineis a fictional character who typically possessessuperpowersor abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of thehero;typically using their powers to help theworld become a better place,or dedicating themselves toprotecting the publicand fightingcrime.Superhero fictionis the genre offictionthat is centered on such characters,[1]especially, since the 1930s, inAmerican comic books(and later inHollywood films,film serials, television andvideo games), as well as in Japanese media (includingkamishibai,tokusatsu,manga,animeand video games).

Whiz Comicscover featuringCaptain Marvel,published byFawcett Comicsin 1940

Superheroes come from a wide array of different backgrounds and origins. Some superheroes (such asSpider-ManandSuperman) possess non-human orsuperhumanbiology or use and practicemagicto achieve their abilities (such asDoctor StrangeandCaptain Marvel) while others (for example,Iron ManandBatman) derive their status from advancedtechnologythey create and use.[2][3][4]TheDictionary.comdefinition of "superhero" is "a figure, especially in acomic striporcartoon,endowed with superhuman powers and usually portrayed as fighting evil or crime ",[5]and theMerriam-Websterdictionary gives the definition as "a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers; also: an exceptionally skillful or successful person."[6]Terms such as masked crime fighters, costumed adventurers or maskedvigilantesare sometimes used to refer to characters such asthe Spirit,who may not be explicitly referred to as superheroes but nevertheless share similar traits.

Some superheroes use their powers to help fight daily crime while also combating threats against humanity fromsupervillains,who are their criminal counterparts. Often at least one of these supervillains will be the superhero'sarchenemyornemesis.Some popular supervillains becomerecurring charactersin their own right.

History

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Influences

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Antecedentsof the archetype include mythological characters such asGilgamesh,Hanuman,Perseus,Odysseus,David,anddemigodslikeHeracles,all of whom were blessed with extraordinary abilities, which later inspired the superpowers that became a fundamental aspect of modern-day superheroes.[7][8]The distinct clothing and costumes of individuals fromEnglish folklore,likeRobin HoodandSpring-Heeled Jack,also became inspirations.[9]The dark costume of the latter, complete with adomino maskand a cape, became influential for the myriad of masked rogues inpenny dreadfulsanddime novels.[10][11]

Thevigilantesof the AmericanOld Westalso became an influence to the superhero.[12]Several vigilantes during this time period hid their identities using masks.[10]In frontier communities where de jure law was not yet matured, people sometimes took the law into their own hands with makeshift masks made out ofsacks.Vigilante mobs and gangs like the San Diego Vigilantes and theBald Knobbersbecame infamous throughout that Old West era.[10][13][14]Such masked vigilantism later inspired fictional masked crimefighters in American story-telling, beginning with the characterDeadwood Dickin 1877.[10][12]

1900s–1939

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Fox Feature Syndicate's 1930s–1940s superhero theFlame

The wordsuperherodates back to 1899.[15]The 1903 British playThe Scarlet Pimperneland its spinoffs popularized the idea of a masked avenger and the superhero trope of asecret identity.[9]Over the next few decades, masked and costumedpulp fictioncharacters such asJimmie Dale/The Grey Seal(1914),Zorro(1919),Buck Rogers(1928),The Shadow(1930), andFlash Gordon(1934), andcomic stripheroes such as thePhantom(1936), began appearing, as did non-costumed characters withsuper strength,including the comic-strip charactersPatoruzú(1928) andPopeye(1929) and novelistPhilip Wylie's characterHugo Danner(1930).[16]Another early example wasSarutobi Sasuke,a Japanese superheroninjafromchildren's novelsin the 1910s;[17][18][19]by 1914, he had a number of superhuman powers and abilities.[17]The French characterL'Oiselle,created in 1909, can be classed as a superheroine.[20]

In August 1937, in a letter column of the pulp magazineThrilling Wonder Stories,the wordsuperherowas used to define the title character of the comic stripZarnak,by Max Plaisted.[21][22]In the 1930s, the trends converged in some of the earliest superpowered costumed heroes, such as Japan'sŌgon Bat(1931) and Prince of Gamma (early 1930s), who first appeared inkamishibai(a kind of hybrid media combining pictures with live storytelling),[23][24]Mandrake the Magician(1934),[25][26][27]Olga Mesmer(1937)[28]and thenSuperman(1938) andCaptain Marvel(1939) at the beginning of theGolden Age of Comic Books,whose span, though disputed, is generally agreed to have started with Superman's launch.[29]Superman has remained one of the most recognizable superheroes,[29]and his success spawned a new archetype of characters with secret identities and superhuman powers.[30][31][32]At the end of the decade, in 1939,Batmanwas created byBob KaneandBill Finger.

1940s

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America's Best Comics #7October 1943

During the 1940s there were many superheroes:The Flash,Green LanternandBlue Beetledebuted in this era. This era saw the debut of one of the earliest female superheroes, writer-artistFletcher Hanks's characterFantomah,an agelessancient Egyptianwoman in the modern day who could transform into a skull-faced creature with superpowers to fight evil; she debuted inFiction House'sJungle Comic#2 (Feb. 1940), credited to the pseudonymous "Barclay Flagg".[33][34]TheInvisible Scarlet O'Neil,a non-costumed character who fought crime and wartime saboteurs using the superpower ofinvisibilitycreated by Russell Stamm, would debut in the eponymoussyndicatednewspapercomic stripa few months later on June 3, 1940.[35]

In 1940, Maximo the Amazing Superman debut inBig Little Book series,byRussell R. Winterbotham(text), Henry E. Vallely and Erwin L. Hess (art).[36][37]

Mr. Scarlet,the "Red Raider of Justice", a superhero appearing inWow Comics(1940)

Captain Americaalso appeared for the first time in print in December 1940, a year prior to the attack onPearl Harborby the Japanese government, when America was still inisolationism.Created byJoe SimonandJack Kirby,the superhero was the physical embodiment of the American spirit during World War II.

One superpowered character was portrayed as anantiheroine,a rarity for its time: theBlack Widow,a costumed emissary ofSatanwho killed evildoers in order to send them toHell—debuted inMystic Comics#4 (Aug. 1940), fromTimely Comics,the 1940s predecessor ofMarvel Comics.Most of the other female costumed crime fighters during this era lacked superpowers. Notable characters includeThe Woman in Red,[38][39]introduced inStandard Comics'Thrilling Comics#2 (March 1940);Lady Luck,debuting in the Sunday-newspapercomic-book insertThe Spirit SectionJune 2, 1940; the comedic characterRed Tornado,debuting inAll-American Comics#20 (Nov 1940);Miss Fury,[40]debuting in the eponymous comic strip by female cartoonistTarpé Millson April 6, 1941; thePhantom Lady,introduced inQuality ComicsPolice Comics#1 (Aug. 1941); theBlack Cat,[41][42]introduced inHarvey Comics'Pocket Comics#1 (also Aug. 1941); and theBlack Canary,introduced inFlash Comics#86 (Aug. 1947) as a supporting character.[43]The most iconic comic book superheroine, who debuted during the Golden Age, isWonder Woman.[44]Modeled from the myth of theAmazonsofGreek mythology,she was created bypsychologistWilliam Moulton Marston,with help and inspiration from his wifeElizabethand theirmutual loverOlive Byrne.[45][46]Wonder Woman's first appearance was inAll Star Comics#8 (Dec. 1941), published byAll-American Publications,one of two companies that would merge to formDC Comicsin 1944.

Pérákwas anurban legendoriginating from the city ofPragueduring theGerman occupation of Czechoslovakiain the midst ofWorld War II.In the decades following the war, Pérák has also been portrayed as the onlyCzechsuperhero in film and comics.

1950s

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In 1952,Osamu Tezuka'smangaTetsuwan Atom,more popularly known in the West asAstro Boy,was published. The series focused upon a robot boy built by ascientistto replace his deceased son. Being built from an incomplete robot originally intended formilitarypurposes, Astro Boy possessed amazing powers such as flight throughthrustersin his feet and the incredible mechanical strength of his limbs.

The 1950s saw theSilver Age of Comics.During this era DC introduced the likes ofBatwomanin 1956,Supergirl,Miss Arrowette,andBat-Girl;all femalederivativesof established male superheroes.

In 1957 Japan,Shintohoproduced the first film serial featuring the superhero characterSuper Giant,signaling a shift inJapanese popular culturetowardstokusatsumasked superheroes overkaijugiant monsters. Along withAstro Boy,theSuper Giantserials had a profound effect onJapanese television.1958 saw the debut of superheroMoonlight Maskon Japanese television. It was the first of numerous televised superhero dramas that would make up thetokusatsusuperhero genre.[47]Created byKōhan Kawauchi,he followed up its success with the tokusatsu superhero showsSeven Color Mask(1959) andMessenger of Allah(1960), both starring a youngSonny Chiba.

1960s

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It is arguable that theMarvel Comicsteams of the early 1960s brought the biggest assortment of superheroes ever at one time into permanent publication, the likes ofSpider-Man(1962),The Hulk,Iron Man,Daredevil,Nick Fury,The Mighty Thor,The Avengers(featuring a rebootedCaptain America,Thor, Hulk,Ant-Man,Quicksilver), and many others were given their own monthly titles.

Typically the superhero supergroups featured at least one (and often the only) female member, much like DC's flagship superhero team theJustice League of America(whose initial roster included Wonder Woman as thetoken female); examples include theFantastic Four'sInvisible Girl,theX-Men'sJean Grey(originally known asMarvel Girl), theAvengers'Wasp,and theBrotherhood of Mutants'Scarlet Witch(who later joined the Avengers) with her brother, Quicksilver.

In 1963,Astro Boywas adapted into a highly influentialanimetelevision series.Phantom Agentsin 1964 focused onninjasworking for the Japanese government and would be the foundation forSentai-type series. 1966 saw the debut of the sci-fi/horror seriesUltra Qcreated byEiji Tsuburayathis would eventually lead to the sequelUltraman,spawning asuccessful franchisewhich pioneered theKyodai Herosubgenre where the superheroes would be as big as giant monsters (kaiju) that they fought.

ThekaijumonsterGodzilla,originally a villain, began being portrayed as a radioactive superhero in theGodzillafilms,[48]starting withGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monster(1964).[49]By the 1970s, Godzilla came to be viewed as a superhero, with the magazineKing of the Monstersin 1977 describing Godzilla as "Superhero of the '70s."[50]

1970s

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In 1971,Kamen Riderlaunched the "Henshin Boom" onJapanese televisionin the early 1970s, greatly impacting thetokusatsusuperhero genre in Japan.[51]In 1972, theScience Ninja Team Gatchamananime debuted, which built upon the superhero team idea of the live-actionPhantom Agentsas well as introducing different colors for team members and special vehicles to support them, said vehicles could also combine into a larger one. Another important event was the debut ofMazinger Zby Go Nagai, creating theSuper Robotgenre. Go Nagai also wrote the mangaCutey Honeyin 1973; although theMagical Girlgenre already existed, Nagai's manga introduced Transformation sequences that would become a staple of Magical Girl media.

The 1970s would see more anti-heroes introduced into Superhero fiction such examples included the debut ofShotaro Ishinomori'sSkull Man(the basis for his laterKamen Rider) in 1970, Go Nagai'sDevilmanin 1972 and Gerry Conway and John Romita'sPunisherin 1974.

The darkSkull Manmanga would later get a television adaptation and underwent drastic changes. The character was redesigned to resemble a grasshopper, becoming the renowned first masked hero of theKamen Riderseries. Kamen Rider is a motorcycle-riding hero in an insect-like costume, who shouts Henshin (Metamorphosis) to don his costume and gain superhuman powers.

The ideas ofsecond-wave feminism,which spread through the 1960s into the 1970s, greatly influenced the way comic book companies would depict as well as market their female characters: Wonder Woman was for a time revamped as amod-dressingmartial artistdirectly inspired by theEmma Peelcharacter from theBritish television seriesThe Avengers(no relation to the superhero team of the same name),[52]but later reverted to Marston's original concept after the editors ofMs. magazinepublicly disapproved of the character being depowered and without her traditional costume;[53]Supergirl was moved from being a secondary feature onAction Comicsto headlineAdventure Comicsin 1969; theLady Liberatorsappeared in an issue ofThe Avengersas a group of mind-controlled superheroines led byValkyrie(actually adisguised supervillainess) and were meant to be a caricatured parody of feminist activists;[54]and Jean Grey became the embodiment of a cosmic being known as thePhoenix Forcewith seemingly unlimited power in the late 1970s, a stark contrast from her depiction as the weakest member of her team a decade ago.

Both major American publishers began introducing new superheroines with a more distinct feminist theme as part of their origin stories or character development. Examples includeBig Barda,Power Girl,andthe Huntressby DC comics; and from Marvel, thesecond Black Widow,Shanna the She-Devil,andThe Cat.[55]Femalesupporting characterswho were successful professionals or hold positions of authority in their own right also debuted in the pages of several popular superhero titles from the late 1950s onward:Hal Jordan's love interestCarol Ferriswas introduced as the Vice-President ofFerris Aircraftand later took over the company from her father;Medusa,who was first introduced in theFantastic Fourseries, is a member of theInhuman Royal Familyand a prominent statesperson within her people's quasi-feudal society; andCarol Danvers,a decoratedofficerin theUnited States Air Forcewho would become a costumed superheroine herself years later.

In 1975Shotaro Ishinomori'sHimitsu Sentai Gorengerdebuted on what is now TV Asahi, it brought the concepts of multi-colored teams and supporting vehicles that debuted in Gatchaman into live-action, and began theSuper Sentaifranchise (later adapted into the AmericanPower Rangersseries in the 1990s). In 1978, Toei adaptedSpider-Manintoa live-action Japanese television series.In this continuity, Spider-Man had a vehicle called Marveller that could transform into a giant and powerful robot called Leopardon, this idea would be carried over to Toei'sBattle Fever J(also co-produced with Marvel) and now multi-colored teams not only had support vehicles but giant robots to fight giant monsters with.

1980–present

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In subsequent decades, popular characters likeDazzler,She-Hulk,Elektra,Catwoman,Witchblade,Spider-Girl,Batgirlandthe Birds of Preybecame stars of long-running eponymous titles. Female characters began assuming leadership roles in many ensemble superhero teams; theUncanny X-Menseries and its related spin-off titles in particular have included many female characters in pivotal roles since the 1970s.[56]Volume 4 of theX-Men comic book seriesfeatured an all-female team as part of theMarvel NOW!branding initiative in 2013.[57]Superpowered female characters likeBuffy the Vampire Slayer[58]andDarna[59][60]have a tremendous influence on popular culture in their respective countries of origin.

With more and moreanime,mangaandtokusatsubeing translated or adapted, Western audiences were beginning to experience the Japanese styles of superhero fiction more than they were able to before.Saban'sMighty Morphin Power Rangers,an adaptation ofZyuranger,created a multimedia franchise that used footage fromSuper Sentai.[61]Internationally, theJapanese comic book character,Sailor Moon,is recognized as one of the most important and popular female superheroes ever created.[62][63][64][65][66]

Trademark status

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Background

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The first use of the word "super hero" dates back to 1917.[67]At the time, the word was merely used to describe a "public figure of great accomplishments."[67]However, in 1967, Ben Cooper, Inc., an American Halloween costume manufacturer, became the first entity to commercialize the phrase "super hero" when it registered the mark in connection with Halloween costumes.[67]In 1972,Mego Corporation,an American toy company, attempted to register the mark "World's Greatest Superheroes" in connection with its line of action figures.[68]Mego Corporation’s attempted registration led Ben Cooper, Inc. to sue Mego Corporation for trademark infringement.[68]Due to its financial struggles, Mego Corporation was unwilling to defend itself against Ben Cooper Inc.'s suit.[68]As a result, in 1977, Mego Corporation jointly assigned its interest in the trademark toDC Comics,Inc. ( "DC" ) andMarvel Comics( "Marvel" ).[68]Due to the financial prowess of DC and Marvel, Ben Cooper, Inc. decided to withdraw its trademark opposition and jointly assigned its interest in the "World's Greatest Super Heroes" mark to DC and Marvel.[68]Two years later in 1979, DC and Marvel applied for the mark in connection with comic books, and were granted the mark by theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office(USPTO) in 1981.[69]

In the years leading up to the assignment of the mark, both DC and Marvel battled to register various trademarks involving the phrase “superhero.”[70]However, DC and Marvel quickly discovered that they could only register marks involving the phrase "superhero" if the phrase referenced their own company or a character associated with their company.[70]As a result, DC and Marvel decided to become joint owners of the "superhero" trademark.[70]

Although many consumers likely see DC and Marvel as competitors, the two comic book publishing giants are allies when it comes to protecting the trademark "superhero" and variants thereof. Although joint ownership in a trademark is uncommon, the USPTO will grant joint ownership in a mark.[71]For example, in the caseArrow Trading Co., Inc. v. Victorinox A.G. and Wegner S.A.,Opposition No. 103315 (TTAB June 27, 2003), the TTAB held that when "two entities have a long-standing relationship and rely on each other for quality control, it may be found, in appropriate circumstances, that the parties, as joint owners, do represent a single source."[72]

DC and Marvel have continued to expand theircommercializationof the "superhero" mark to categories beyond comic books.[73]Now, the two publishers jointly own numerous trademarks forfigurines(see Spider-Man, Batman), movies, TV shows, magazines, merchandise, cardboard stand-up figures,playing cards,erasers,pencils,notebooks,cartoons,and many more.[73]For instance, the companies filed a trademark application as joint owners for the mark "SUPER HEROES" for a series of animatedmotion picturesin 2009 (Reg. No. 5613972).[69]Both DC and Marvel also individually owned[74][75]trademarks involving the "super hero" mark.[69]Notably, DC owns the mark "Legion of Super-Heroes"for comic magazines and Marvel owns the mark" Marvel Super Hero Island "for story books, fiction books, and children’s activity books.[69]

DC and Marvel have become known for aggressively protecting their registered marks.[76]In 2019, the companies pursued a British law student named Graham Jules who was attempting to publish aself-help booktitledBusiness Zero to Superhero.[77]Much academic debate exists about whether the "super hero" mark has become generic and whether DC and Marvel have created aduopolyover the "super hero" mark.[69][78][79]Conversely, DC and Marvel hold that they are merely exercising their right and duty to protect their registered marks.[79]

Current status/relevant cases

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The following trademarks were or are registered jointly with MARVEL CHARACTERS, INC. and DC COMICS:

  • 73222079 SUPER HEROES for publications[80](Cancelled)
  • 72243225 SUPER HERO for costumes[81](Cancelled)
  • 77732560 SUPER HEROES for production and distribution of a series of animated motion picture[82]
  • 78356610 SUPER HEROES for t-shirts[83](Cancelled)
  • 73011796 SUPER HEROES for toy figures[84](Cancelled)

As mentioned, the two companies also own a variety of other superhero-related marks. For instance, DC owns "Legion of Super-Heroes" and "DC Super Hero Girls"and Marvel owns “Marvel Super Hero Island" and "Marvel Super Hero Adventures."[85]

DC and Marvel have garnered a reputation for zealously protecting their superhero marks. As noted above, one of these instances included a man by the name of Graham Jules, who sought to publish a book entitledBusiness Zero to Superhero.[86]In 2014, he received a cease and desist from DC and Marvel who claimed that his use of the term superhero would cause confusion and dilute their brands.[86]He was offered a few thousand dollars in settlement to change the name of his book, but he did not concede.[86]A few days prior to the scheduled hearing at the Intellectual Property Office in London, the companies backed down.[86]

A similar scenario occurred when comic book creator Ray Felix attempted to register his comic book seriesA World Without Superheroeswith the USPTO.[87]Felix is one of many who argue that the term "superhero" has become generic (see discussion below).[87]Felix's mark is currently abandoned, but he has stated that he intends to fight against DC and Marvel for use of the term.[88]

In 2024, Superbabies Limited managed to obtain a default judgement and cancel the "super heroes" trademarks as genericized, except for the animation pictures mark.[89]This was unexpected as Marvel and DC had filed a motion to extend time to answer.[90]

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There is an ongoing debate among legal scholars and in the courts about whether the term "superhero" has becomegenericizeddue to its widespread use in popular culture, similar to terms like "aspirin" or "escalator" which lost their trademark protection and became generic terms for their respective products.[91]Some argue the term "SUPER HERO" trademark is at risk of becoming generic.

Courts have noted that determining whether a term has become generic is a highly factual inquiry not suitable for resolution without considering evidence like dictionary definitions, media usage, and consumer surveys.[92]Trademark owners can take steps to preventgenericide,such as using the trademark with the generic product name, educating the public, and policing unauthorized uses.[93]However, misuse by the public alone does not necessarily cause a trademark to become generic if the primary significance of the term is still to indicate a particular source.[94]

Some legal experts argue that, like the once-trademarked terms "aspirin" and "yo-yo," the term "superhero" now primarily refers to a general type of character with extraordinary abilities, rather than characters originating from specific publishers.

Minority superheroes

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In keeping with their origins as representing the archetypicalherostock character in 1930s American comics, superheroes are predominantly depicted asWhite Americanmiddle- or upper-classyoung adult males and females who are typically tall, athletic, educated, physically attractive and in perfect health. Beginning in the 1960s with thecivil rights movementin the United States, and increasingly with the rising concern overpolitical correctnessin the 1980s, superhero fiction centered on cultural, ethnic, national, racial and languageminority groups(from the perspective ofUS demographics) began to be produced. This began with depiction ofblack superheroesin the 1960s, followed in the 1970s with a number of other ethnic-minority superheroes.[95]In keeping with the political mood of the time,cultural diversityandinclusivismwould be an important part of superhero groups starting from the 1980s. In the 1990s, this was further augmented by the first depictions of superheroes as homosexual. In 2017,Sign Geneemerged, the first group ofdeafsuperheroes with superpowers through the use ofsign language.[96]

Female superheroes and villains

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Female super heroes—and villains—have been around since the early years of comic books dating back to the 1940s.[97]The representation of women in comic books has been questioned in the past decade following the rise of comic book characters in the film industry (Marvel/DC movies). Women are presented differently than their male counterparts, typically wearing revealing clothing that showcases their curves and cleavage and showing a lot of skin in some cases.[98][99]Heroes like Power Girl and Wonder Woman are portrayed wearing little clothing and showing cleavage.[98][99]Power Girl is portrayed as wearing a suit not unlike the swimsuits in the T.V. showBaywatch.The sexualization of women in comic books can be explained mainly by the fact that the majority of writers are male.[99]Not only are the writers mostly male, but the audience is mostly male as well.[100][99]Therefore, writers are designing characters to appeal to a mostly male audience.[100][101]The super hero characters illustrate a sociological idea called the "male gaze"which is media created from the viewpoint of a normative heterosexual male.[101][102]The female characters in comic books are used to satisfy male desire for the "ideal" woman (small waist, large breasts, toned, athletic body).[101][103][99]These characters have god-like power, but the most easily identifiable feature is their hyper sexualized bodies: they are designed to be sexually pleasing to the hypotheticalheteronormativemale audience.[98][102][103][99]

Villains, such asHarley QuinnandPoison Ivy,use their sexuality to take advantage of their male victims.[99]In the film versions of these characters, their sexuality and seductive methods are highlighted. Poison Ivy uses seduction through poison to take over the minds of her victims as seen in the 1997 filmBatman and Robin.Harley Quinn in 2016'sSuicide Squaduses her sexuality to her advantage, acting in a promiscuous manner.

Through the overdeveloped bodies of the heroes or the seductive mannerisms of the villains, women in comic books are used as subordinates to their male counterparts, regardless of their strength or power.[104]Wonder Woman has been subject to a long history of suppression as a result of her strength and power, including American culture's undoing of the Lynda Carter television series.[105]In 2017'sWonder Woman,she had the power of a god, but was still drawn to a much weaker, mortal male character.[102]This can be explained by the sociological concept "feminine apologetic," which reinforces a woman's femininity to account for her masculine attributes (strength, individualism, toughness, aggressiveness, bravery).[102]Women in comic books are considered to be misrepresented due to being created by men, for men.[101][103]

The Hawkeye Initiativeis a website satirizing the sexualized portrayal of women in comics by recreating the same poses using male superheroes, especially Marvel'sHawkeye.[106][107][108]

Ethnic and religious minorities

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In 1966, Marvel introduced theBlack Panther,an Africanmonarchwho became the first non-caricaturedblack superhero.[109]The firstAfrican-Americansuperhero, theFalcon,followed in 1969, and three years later,Luke Cage,a self-styled"hero-for-hire",became the firstblack superheroto star inhis own series.In 1989, theMonica Rambeauincarnation of Captain Marvelwas the first female black superhero from a major publisher to get her own title in a special one-shot issue. In 1971,Red Wolfbecame the firstNative Americanin the superheroic tradition to headline a series.[110]In 1973,Shang-Chibecame the first prominentAsian superheroto star in an American comic book (Katohad been a secondary character of theGreen Hornetmedia franchise series since its inception in the 1930s.[111]).Kitty Pryde,a member of the X-Men, was an openly Jewish superhero in mainstream American comic books as early as 1978.[112]

Comic-book companies were in the early stages of cultural expansion and many of these characters played to specificstereotypes;Cage and many of his contemporaries often employed lingo similar to that ofblaxploitationfilms, Native Americans were often associated withshamanismandwild animals,andAsian Americanswere often portrayed askung fu martial artists.Subsequent minority heroes, such as theX-Men'sStormand theTeen Titans'Cyborgavoided such conventions; they were both part of ensemble teams, which became increasingly diverse in subsequent years. The X-Men, in particular, were revived in 1975 with a line-up of characters drawn from several nations, including theKenyanStorm,GermanNightcrawler,Soviet/RussianColossus,IrishBanshee,andJapaneseSunfire.In 1993,Milestone Comics,an African-American-owned media/publishing company entered into a publishing agreement with DC Comics that allowed them to introduce a line of comics that included characters of many ethnic minorities. Milestone's initial run lasted four years, during which it introducedStatic,a character adapted into theWB Networkanimated seriesStatic Shock.

In addition to the creation of new minority heroes, publishers have filled the identities and roles of once-Caucasian heroes with new characters from minority backgrounds. The African-AmericanJohn Stewartappeared in the 1970s as an alternate for Earth's Green LanternHal Jordan,and would become a regular member of theGreen Lantern Corpsfrom the 1980s onward. The creators of the 2000s-eraJustice Leagueanimated seriesselected Stewart as the show's Green Lantern. In theUltimate Marveluniverse,Miles Morales,a youth ofPuerto Ricanand African-American ancestry who was also bitten by a genetically-altered spider, debuted asthe new Spider-Manafter theapparent deathofthe original Spider-Man, Peter Parker.Kamala Khan,aPakistani-AmericanMuslimteenager who is revealed to haveInhuman lineageafter hershapeshiftingpowers manifested, takes on the identity ofMs. Marvelin 2014 afterCarol Danvershad become Captain Marvel. Her self-titled comic book series became a cultural phenomenon, with extensive media coverage byCNN,theNew York TimesandThe Colbert Report,and embraced by anti-Islamophobiacampaigners inSan Franciscowho plastered over anti-Muslim bus adverts with Kamala stickers.[113]Other such successor-heroes of color includeJames "Rhodey" RhodesasIron Manand to a lesser extentRiri "Ironheart" Williams,Ryan Choiasthe Atom,Jaime ReyesasBlue BeetleandAmadeus ChoasHulk.

Certain established characters have had their ethnicity changed when adapted to another continuity or media. A notable example isNick Fury,who is reinterpreted asAfrican-Americanboth in the Ultimate Marvel as well as theMarvel Cinematic Universecontinuities.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

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In 1992, MarvelrevealedthatNorthstar,a member of theCanadianmutant superhero teamAlpha Flight,washomosexual,after years of implication.[114]This ended a long-standing editorial mandate that there would be no homosexual characters in Marvel comics.[115]Although some minor secondary characters inDC Comics' mature-audience 1980s miniseriesWatchmenwere gay, and the reformed supervillainPied Pipercame outtoWally Westin an issue ofThe Flashin 1991, Northstar is considered to be the first openly gay superhero appearing in mainstream comic books. From the mid-2000s onward, several established Marvel and DC comics characters (or a variant version of the pre-existing character) were outed or reintroduced as LGBT individuals by both publishers. Examples include theMikaal Tomas incarnation of Starmanin 1998;Colossusin theUltimate X-Menseries;Renee Montoyain DC'sGotham Centralseries in 2003; theKate Kane incarnation of Batwomanin 2006;RictorandShatterstarin an issue ofX-Factorin 2009; the Golden Age Green LanternAlan Scottis reimagined as openly gay followingThe New 52reboot in 2011;[116][117]and in 2015, a younger time displaced version ofIcemanin an issue ofAll-New X-Men.[118]

Many new openly gay, lesbian and bisexual characters have since emerged in superhero fiction, such asGen13's Rainmaker,ApolloandMidnighterofThe Authority,andWiccanandHulklingof theYoung Avengers.Notabletransgenderorgender bendingcharacters are fewer in number by comparison: the alter ego of superheroineZsazsa Zaturnnah,a seminal character in Philippine popular culture,[119]is an effeminate gay man who transforms into a female superhuman after ingesting a magical stone.DesirefromNeil Gaiman'sThe Sandmanseries, Cloud fromDefenders,andXavinfrom theRunawaysare all characters who could (and often) change their gender at will.Alysia Yeoh,a supporting character created by writerGail Simonefor theBatgirlongoing series published by DC Comics, received substantial media attention in 2011 for being the first major transgender character written in a contemporary context in a mainstream American comic book.[120]

TheSailor Moonseries is known for featuring a substantial number of openlyLGBTcharacters since its inception, asJapanhave traditionally been more open about portraying homosexuality in its children's media compared to many countries in the West.[121][122]Certain characters who are presented as homosexual or transgender in one continuity may not be presented as such in others, particularly with dubbed versions made for international release.[123]

An animated shortThe Ambiguously Gay Duoparodies comic book superheroes and features Ace and Gary (Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell). It originated onThe Dana Carvey Showand then moved toSaturday Night Live.

Language minority

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In 2017, Pluin introducedSign Gene,a film featuring a group ofdeafsuperheroes whose powers derive from their use ofsign language.The film was produced by and with deaf people and deals withDeaf culture,history and language.[96][124][125]

Subtypes

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See also

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References

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Further reading

edit
  • William Irwin (ed.),Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture,Wiley, 2011.
  • Etienne F. Augé, Barry F. FitzgeraldSuperheroes: A scientist and a historian debate the biggest movie genre of today,Bot Uitgevers, 2024.
edit