Genre research/conventions

Superhero Genre By Ed Lockyer

History of genre

Superhero fiction is a subgenre originating in and most common to American comic books, though it has expanded into other media through adaptations and original works. The form is a type of speculative fiction examining the adventures of costumed crime fighters known as superheroes, who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals known as supervillains. Occasionally, this type of fiction is referred to as superhuman or super-powered fiction rather than superhero fiction in order to reflect that broader scope of both heroes and villains, as well as cover those characters with enhanced abilities that fall outside the classic superhero/supervillain dichotomy.

Beginning of genre Almost immediately after superheroes rose to prominence in comic books, they were adapted into Saturday movie serials aimed at children, starting with Mandrake The Magician (1939). Serials such as Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941), Batman (1943), The Phantom (1943), Captain America (1944), and Superman (1948) followed.

In the following decades, the decline of Saturday serials and turmoil in the comic book industry put an end to superhero motion pictures, with the exception of episodes of the television series Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves, which had been compiled for theatrical release, and Batman (1966) a big-screen extension of the Batman television series starring Adam West. Another early superhero film was ŌgonBat (1966), a Japanese film starring Sonny Chiba based on the 1930 Kamishibaisuperhero Ōgon Bat.

Original superhero characters emerged in other, more comedy oriented films such as the French political satire film Mr. Freedom (1969) and the American B movies Rat Pfink a Boo Boo (1966) and The Wild World of Batwoman (1966).

Characteristics of the Cinematic Superhero Genre

American Monomythic Structure

- A community is threatened by evil; normal institutions fail.

- A superhero emerges to renounce temptations and carry out the redemptive task; aided by fate.

- His decisive victory restores the community to its paradisiacal condition.

- The superhero then recedes.

Outlined by Robert Jewett and John Shelton Lawrence

• Threatened by evil

• Normal institutions fail

• A superhero emerges

• Victory restored

• Superhero recedes

Conventions

• Superhuman abilities/powers

- Superman flying

- Spiderman web slinging

- Wolverines claws

• Futuristic vehicles

- Batmobile

- X-jet

- Spaceships

• Weapons

- Batarangs

- Bo-staff

- Nunchucks

Hero - Usually wearing bright colours,

acts morally, human.

Villain- dark colours, creature or

human gone bad.

Main companies

• Owned by Disney, Fox and Sony

• Films include

Sam Raimi

- Director of original DC Spiderman Trilogy.- Got the comic book hero in the public eye and turned into a huge franchise.

Toby Maguire

Iconic actor of the DC Spiderman original trilogy.

• Owned by Warner brothers

• Most well known films

Christopher NolanThe director of the most famous DC comic film trilogy Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

Christian Bale

Actor who rebooted the batman series with the dark knight trilogy