Superhero Comic Books: Most Influential Medium in American Culture for Over 70 Years

Summer blockbusters these days seem to all share something in common; more and more big budget movies are based on comic books. In 2010 alone over 15 highly financed films based on both well known and obscure comic book characters and story lines were released, and the number only looks to increase. The rapid increase in popularity of comic book films is a sign of technological advancements in movie making which have allowed for decades old stories and legendary characters to be justly adapted to the big screen. These new movies are testament to a genre of story telling which is uniquely American and rich with history. The comic book format and industry has grown and shifted throughout its existence and has remained one of the most influential mediums in American culture for over 70 years. The concept of the “superhero” and the modern comic book began in 1938 with the release of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman. Created by two jewish immigrants from Brooklyn, Superman quickly gained popularity and an American icon was born. Superman’s instant popularity can be attributed to the ingenious conceptualization of his character, that of a man with all the powers and abilities of the old greek gods who chooses to protect and help humanity instead of rule or manipulate it. One of the greatest literary inventions of Superman’s early appearances was the use of his alter ego, Clark Kent which served as a relatable everyman whom the masses gravitated to. The public took comfort in the fact that their all powerful hero was in fact as mild mannered as any of them, and this helped to sustain the characters survival whereas other pulp fiction heroes failed and were canceled. The success of Superman lead to some of the earliest color cartoons in history, featuring the character in several adventures. By 1943 the Superman Shield was one of the most recognizable symbols in the country, and a slew of new characters had been created in response to the