Penguin: Pain and Prejudice


Gregg Andrew Hurwitz - 2012
    How did young Oswald Cobblepot go from being the apple of his mother's eye to the leader of underworld gangs and adversary of The Caped Crusader?Collecting: Penguin: Pain and Prejudice #1-5 and Joker's Asylum: Penguin #1.

The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half-Baked Heroes from Comic Book History


Jon Morris - 2015
    So prepare yourself for such not-ready-for-prime-time heroes as Bee Man (Batman, but with bees), the Clown (circus-themed crimebuster), the Eye (a giant, floating eyeball; just accept it), and many other oddballs and oddities. Drawing on the entire history of the medium, The League of Regrettable Superheroes will appeal to die-hard comics fans, casual comics readers, and anyone who enjoys peering into the stranger corners of pop culture.

Batman: Sins of the Father


Christos Gage - 2018
    Someone is killing people associated with Arkham Asylum...during the time Thomas Wayne was forcibly committing people there!Suspicion falls on the families suing Bruce Wayne to pay for the harm caused by his father. Batman has other ideas, but his investigation leads to him becoming the target of a deadly assassin. It's a deadly game of cat and mouse as Batman tries to stop Deadshot from killing former Arkham Asylum employees, while also trying to determine just who he is and why he's targeting them. Then, Batman goes up against the Black Spider--does he work for Deadshot or one of the new mystery figures making waves in the Gotham underworld?Written by Christos N. Gage (Spider-Verse, Civil War II) with art by Raffaele Ienco, Batman: Sins of the Father is great for fans of the game and the Dark Knight alike! Collects issues #1-6.

DC Comics Covergirls


Louise Simonson - 2007
    Written by renowned comic book writer Louise Simonson, the book examines the evolution of the comic book women of DC Comics: the 1942 introduction of the most famous DC heroine, Wonder Woman, and her various incarnations up to the present; the creation of comic book spin-offs based on characters such as Lois Lane; and the recent wealth of fierce, female character-driven comics such as Supergirl, Birds of Prey, Batgirl, and Catwoman, featuring women who have no trouble being both sexy and strong-willed. Famous featured DC Comics artists include Jim Lee, Alex Ross, Adam Hughes, J. Scott Campbell, Michael Turner, Tim Sale, and Jill Thompson. DC Comics Covergirls is a smart and in-depth look at the female comic book characters we've grown up with all these years, and is sure to appeal to new comic book fans and diehard collectors alike.

Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society


Danny Fingeroth - 2004
    Why are so many of the superhero myths tied up with loss, often violent, of parents or parental figures? What is the significance of the dual identity? What makes some superhuman figures "good" and others "evil"? Why are so many of the prime superheroes white and male? How has the superhero evolved over the course of the 20th and early 21st centuries? And how might the myths be changing? Why is it that the key superhero archetypes - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the X-Men - touch primal needs and experiences in everyone? Why has the superhero moved beyond the pages of comics into other media? All these topics, and more, are covered in this lively and original exploration of the reasons why the superhero - in comic books, films, and TV - is such a potent myth for our times and culture.

The Great Comic Book Heroes


Jules Feiffer - 1965
    In 1965, Feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 1930s and early 1940s, including Plastic Man, Batman, Superman, The Spirit and others. In the book, Feiffer writes about the unique the place of comics in the space between high and low art and the power which this space offers both the creator and reader.The Great Comic Book Heroes is widely acknowledged to be the first book to analyze the juvenile medium of superhero comics in a critical manner, but without denying the iconic hold such works have over readers of all ages. Out of print for over 30 years, Feiffer's book discusses the role that the patriotic superhero played during World War II in shaping the public spirit of civilians and soldiers, as well as the escapist power these stories held over the zeitgeist of America. With wit and insight Feiffer discusses what the great comic book heroes meant to him as a child and later as an artist.

Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1


Mike W. Barr - 2017
    Whether patrolling the streets of Gotham City or battling evil worldwide with the Justice League, he will face any foe, no matter the cost. But wars have a way of spreading. And when a deadly conflict abroad hits close to home, the Dark Knight must abandon his old allies and form a new force for justice a team of heroes who aren t afraid to operate outside the rules. Katana. Black Lightning. Metamorpho. Geo-Force. Halo. Some are experienced combatants who ve been driven to the fringes of the metahuman community. Others are new to their powers and the danger that comes with them. But together, under the shadow of the Bat, they will redefine what it means to be a superhero team From comics legends Mike W. Barr (BATMAN: SON OF THE DEMON) and Jim Aparo (BATMAN: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY) comes BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS VOL. 1. Guest-starring the New Teen Titans, it s the start of the classic saga that takes the Dark Knight outside all expectations! BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS VOL. 1 collects THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #200, BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #1-13, and NEW TEEN TITANS #37."

The Flash Chronicles, Vol. 1


Robert Kanigher - 2009
    Transformed by a lab accident, police scientist Barry Allen is secretly the Flash - the fastest man alive, and the protector of Keystone City.

Superman: Action Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1


Dan Jurgens - 2017
    And when that Superman fell in the line of duty, the original Man of Steel stepped up to take his place. But at what cost? No sooner does the legendary hero take to the skies than his greatest enemies emerge to face him, from Metropolis’ self-styled protector Lex Luthor to the engine of death and destruction known as Doomsday. Meanwhile, a person-or being-claiming to be the real Clark Kent is dogging his every move. And back in the fields of Smallville, his wife, Lois, and son, Jonathan, face this strange new world as well. A new era has dawned. Is the Man of Tomorrow ready to face it? Find out in SUPERMAN: ACTION COMICS: THE REBIRTH DELUXE EDITION BOOK 1! Collects ACTION COMICS #957-966 and JUSTICE LEAGUE #52.

Love Is Love: A Comic Book Anthology to Benefit the Survivors of the Orlando Pulse Shooting


Marc AndreykoPhil Jimenez - 2016
    Co-published by two of the premiere publishers in comics—DC and IDW, this oversize comic contains moving and heartfelt material from some of the greatest talent in comics, mourning the victims, supporting the survivors, celebrating the LGBTQ community, and examining love in today’s world. All material has been kindly donated by the writers, artists, and editors with all proceeds going to victims, survivors, and their families. Be a part of an historic comics event! It doesn’t matter who you love. All that matters is you love.

Zero Year: Part 1 (DC Comics - The Legend of Batman #1)


Scott Snyder - 2017
    The city is in the merciless grip of the Red Hood gang, many of whose members have been blackmailed into a life of crime by the mysterious Red Hood Number One. Before long Bruce is forced out into the open and his return becomes public. In order to continue his fight he decides that he must become something more - the Batman!Contents: Batman #21-26

The Psychology of Superheroes: An Unauthorized Exploration


Robin S. RosenbergSiamak Tundra Naficy - 2008
    Exposing the inner thoughts that these reclusive heroes would only dare share with trained professionals, heady experts give detailed psychoanalyses of what makes specific superheroes tick while answering such questions as "Why do superheroes choose to be superheroes?" "Why is there so much prejudice against the X-Men" "mutants?" "What makes Spider-Man so altruistic?" and "Why are supervillains so aggressive?" Additionally, the essays tackle why superheroes have such an enduring effect on American culture.Includes:- The positive psychology of superheroes by Christopher Peterson and Nansook Park- The social psychology of the Justice league of America by Wind Goodfriend- Superman's personality by Robin S. Rosenberg- Anti-heroism in the continuum of good and evil by Michael Spivey and Steven Knowlton- Positive psychology of Peter Parker by Robert Biwas-Diener- Prejudice lessons from the Xavier Institute by Mikhail Lyubansky- When I grow up I want to be a superhero by Bryan J. Dik- Is there a superhero in all of us? by Peter A. Hancock and Gabriella M. Hancock- Mind-reading superheroes by William J. Ickes- An appetite for destruction by Chuck Tate- The stereotypical (Wonder) woman by Chuck Tate- What would Freud say? by Andrew R. Getzfeld- Coming to terms with bizarro by Siamak Tundra Naficy- Coping with stress ... the superhero way by Stephanie R. deLusé- Arkham Asylum by Bradley J. Daniels- The incredible Hulk by Christopher J. Patrick and Sarah K. Patrick- Gender typicality and extremity in popular culture by Kerri L. Johnson, Leah E. Lurye, and Jonathan B. Freeman- Cracking the superhero's moral code by Peter DeScioli and Robert Kurzban.

Holy Superheroes!: Exploring Faith and Spirituality in Comic Books


Greg Garrett - 2005
    Pulitzer-prize nominee and English professor Greg Garrett explores the deeper side of comic books--and the motion pictures they inspire--for the lessons they can teach us about faith, justice, and redemption.

DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes


Les Daniels - 1995
    To the delight of millions of kids everywhere, the modern comic book was born. With the introduction of Superman in 1938. DC Comics made history again, this time with the publication of the first super hero comic book. To this day, the Man of Steel remains the most recognized and celebrated hero in the world. Inspired by its innovative early success, DC went on to create legions of other superheores -- Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and dozens more of the most popular comic book characters ever created. In the sixty years since the first super heroes wer ecreated, the artists, writers, and editors of DC Comics have been developing, refining and extending the reach of their comic book characters. The DC fictional world has branched into a worldwide profusion of entertainment formats: books, toys, movies, radio, television, videogames, and an online computer network. Here, for the very first time, is the complete story of America's favorite heroes and their talented, dedicated creators. In over 100 short and spirited essays, author Les Daniels offers remarkable new anecdotes about the company's history, traces the complex genealogies of the characters, describes behind-the-scenes politics that influence the stories, and interviews dozens of artists and writers -- the real stars of his engrossing tales. The reader can open the book anywhere and become immersed immediately in the fantasy world of high adventure and magical mayhem.

Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold: The Batman Team-Ups, Vol. 1


Bob Haney - 2007
    The Caped Crusader teams up with some of the World's Greatest Super-Heroes in this titanic volume guest-starring Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Atom, Green Arrow and many others.