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Cover of The Superhero Multiverse

The Superhero Multiverse

by Lorna Piatti-Farnell

Book Details

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Published:2021-11-01
Pages:323
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

About This Book

The Superhero Multiverse focuses on the evolving meanings of the superhero icon in 21st-century film and popular media, with an emphasis on re-adapting, re-imagining, and re-making. With its focus on multimedia and transmedia transformations, The Superhero Multiverse pivots on two important points: firstly, it reflects on the core concerns of the superhero narrative—including the relationship between ‘superhero comics’ and ‘superhero films’, the comics roots of superhero media, matters of canon

Our Review

This incisive academic work dissects the ever-expanding world of superhero narratives, charting their evolution from comic book pages to a dominant force in 21st-century film and popular media. Piatti-Farnell focuses intently on the processes of re-adaptation and re-imagining, exploring how characters and stories are perpetually remade across different platforms. The analysis is grounded in the core DNA of the genre, scrutinizing the vital relationship between original superhero comics and their cinematic offspring, while also tackling complex issues of narrative canon.

What sets this study apart is its sharp focus on multimedia and transmedia transformations, making it a vital read for anyone seeking to understand not just what superhero stories are, but how they migrate and mutate. It moves beyond simple character analysis to investigate the very mechanics of the modern superhero industrial complex. Students of media studies and pop culture enthusiasts will find a compelling framework for decoding the endless reboots and alternate realities that define our current landscape, ultimately providing a crucial lens for understanding one of the most pervasive narrative forms of our time.

Themes

Social Science

Subjects

Social Science