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Superhero Blockbusters: Seriality and Politics

Online ISBN:
9781399518635
Print ISBN:
9781474485180
Publisher:
Edinburgh University Press
Book

Superhero Blockbusters: Seriality and Politics

Felix Brinker
Felix Brinker
Leibniz University Hannover
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Published online:
19 January 2023
Published in print:
26 April 2022
Online ISBN:
9781399518635
Print ISBN:
9781474485180
Publisher:
Edinburgh University Press

Abstract

Superhero Blockbusters: Seriality and Politicsexamines the enduring popularity of blockbuster films based on DC or Marvel superhero comics. It argues that the success of superhero movies is rooted in a multi-dimensional seriality that endows films of the genre with an unmatched potential to engage audiences over longer periods of time, to solicit a range of cultural activities, and to actively intervene in the discourses of online fandom and professional film criticism. To make this case, the book develops a critical theory of digital-era popular seriality and examines the evolution of superhero movies from Superman (1978) to Avengers: Endgame (2019) and beyond. It also discusses textual and extra-textual practices of fan mobilization and considers the genre’s shared political imagery and its purchase on contemporary political debates.

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