Post-Superheroes: Transcending Media

Guest Editor, Wendy Haslem

CONTENTS

1. Superhero by Numbers - Lisa Watson and Phil Stocks

2. El Santo: Wrestler, Saint and Superhero - Gabrielle Murray

3. America vs Japan: the Influence of American Comics on Manga - Ludovic Graillat

4. Superheroes, Superegos : Icons of War and the War of Icons in the Fiction of Kazuo Ishiguro - Pascal Zinck

5. Why are Japanese Girls’ Comics full of Boys Bonking? - Mark McLelland

6. Enlightenment in a Dark Age: The Yogi as Spiritual Hero - Gary Hickey

7. Achilleus: Man of Bronze - Annabel Orchard

Abstract: This paper reports on results of a statistical analysis correlating superhero characteristics such as powers, motivations, weaknesses, and costumes with commercial viability as represented by comic book sales and number of appearances in new media such as cinema and television. Results indicate that features of a character have little impact in the comic book market, and that new media trends support a move away from god-like, untouchable heroes to heroes displaying more human frailties and highly visual super abilities. Continue Reading »