Comics Values & Culture Relations

Superheroes tend to embody the values of the societies that produced them, but these values are not static;
rather, they change over time as the dominant values of societies evolve. Select one superhero character and
read multiple issues featuring that character, published several years (if not decades) apart. What values were
initially emphasized, and how? Are distinct values emphasized in the later version? How does each
differently reflect the cultures that produced the comic? It may be helpful to think of this in terms of genre
revisionism. What is revised? What is gained, lost, or interrogated through these revisions? (Suggestion: In
crafting your essay, avoid making overarching claims about the characters in general; instead, be sure that
your argument and evidence emerge from the specifics of the comic books you selected as case studies.)
The essay should include images from the comics, contain no spelling or grammatical mistakes, cite all
sources properly and consistently (including page numbers), and be formatted according to MLA style. Keep
in mind as you write that your main source of evidence in support of your argument should be your analysis
of the comics themselves; secondary sources (e.g., scholarship) should be used to put your analyses in
context or to provide supplemental support. Secondary sources do not replace your own engagement with the
texts! Remember, it’s your job to analyze the comics—not to summarize what others have already written
about them.
*Selected Superhero: Spider-Man