Superhero Fiction Information
Superhero fiction is a genre of fiction featuring characters "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest". It examines the adventures of costumed crime fighters known as superheroes, who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals known as supervillains.
Under the umbrella of speculative fiction, superhero fiction can be combined into hybrid genres by introducing elements from other forms of fiction, such as science, horror, fantasy, alternate history, supernatural, adventure, western, romance, and crime fiction. This is accomplished by situating superhero narrative elements within the context of a wider, genre themed setting.
The superhero genre has launched the careers of many successful writers and artists, who have in turn influenced the development of the genre through their contributions. Many other artists, such as actors and musicians, have also had their own work influenced by stories of superheroes.
Since the 1938 debut of Superman, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief, standalone adventures, to serials written over several years — have dominated American comic books. In the decades that have followed, it has crossed international and social boundaries, influencing and interacting with other cultures, and has been translated from superhero comics into other forms of media, including film, animation, television, and video games.
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Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!
Catch phrase by Jay Morton, The Adventures of Superman February 4, 1940. Superman is a fictional character and one of the most famous and popular comic book superheroes of all time. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. The character's appearance is distinctive and iconic: a blue, red and yellow costume, complete with cape, with a stylized "S" shield on his chest. The original story of Superman relates that he was born Kal-El on the planet Krypton, before being rocketed to Earth as an infant by his scientist father Jor-El, moments before Krypton's destruction. Discovered and adopted by a Kansas farmer and his wife, the child is raised as Clark Kent and imbued with a strong moral compass. Very early he started to display superhuman abilities, which upon reaching maturity he resolved to use for the benefit of humanity. Sold to Detective Comics Inc. within one year of being created, Superman debuted in Action Comics #1 (June 1938), and has since appeared in radio serials, television programs, films, comic books, newspaper strips and video games, contributing to his long-standing ubiquity. With the success of his adventures, Superman helped to create the superhero genre and establish its primacy within the American comic book. (read more...) More selected characters...Selected storyline
Democracy is a series of stories published in the Judge Dredd comic strip in 2000 AD, each connected by the theme of social and political philosophy, exploring democracy in the fictional future city of Mega-City One. The issue of Democracy has been a significant recurring theme in the comic strip. In particular, a number of stories published since 1986 have addressed the issue of the Judges' dictatorial system of government, and efforts by the citizens to re-establish democracy. Besides being a notable story arc in itself, the "Democracy" stories also had wider repercussions which led directly to the events depicted in the story "Necropolis".
The stories include "America," which is regularly voted by fans in polls as the best Dredd story ever written, and is Dredd creator John Wagner's favourite Judge Dredd story. Editor David Bishop called it "the best Judge Dredd story ever written." The first Democracy story, "Letter From a Democrat," is co-writer Alan Grant's favourite Dredd story.
All of the stories in the "Democracy" arc were written by Wagner or under his direction. (read more...) More selected storylines...Selected article
"In any good Superman movie, the fate of the whole planet should be at stake. You've got to have villains whose powers and abilities demand that Superman (and only Superman) can be the one who stops them. That's the only way to make the movie exciting and a dramatic challenge."
—Writer Jonathan Lemkin on writing Superman Reborn The history of Superman in films began when Ilya and Alexander Salkind and Pierre Spengler purchased the Superman film rights in 1974. After numerous scripts, Richard Donner was hired to direct the film, filming Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) simultaneously. Donner had already shot 80% of Superman II before it was decided to finish shooting the first film. The Salkinds fired Donner after Supermans release, and commissioned Richard Lester as the director to finish Superman II. Lester also returned for Superman III (1983), and the Salkinds further produced the 1984 spin-off Supergirl before selling the rights to Cannon Films, resulting in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). With over 15 years of development for a fifth Superman film, Superman Returns, directed by Bryan Singer, was released in 2006, along with Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. Following the disappointing financial results of Superman Returns, Warner Bros. plans to reboot the film series for a December 2012 release. Christopher Nolan will produce the reboot, with David S. Goyer writing and Zack Snyder directing. (read more...) More selected articles...Selected biography
Steve Ross Purcell is an American cartoonist, animator and game designer. He is most widely known as the creator of Sam & Max, an independent comic book series about a pair of anthropomorphic animal vigilantes and private investigators, for which Purcell received an Eisner Award in 2007. He performed freelance work for Marvel Comics and Fishwrap Productions before publishing his first Sam & Max comic in 1987.
Purcell's work in superhero fiction came primarily from his freelance work for various comic book companies, for which he was hired for such work as New Mutants, Hellboy Christmas Special, Alpha Flight, Marvel Comics Presents, Secret Files and Origins, and Defenders of Dynatron City. (read more...) More selected biographies...Selected media
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Featured Articles: Anarky, Aquaman (TV program), Batman, Interactions (The Spectacular Spider-Man), Sinestro Corps War, Smallville (season 1), Superman, Superman in film, Watchmen
Featured Lists: List of Smallville episodes
Featured topics: Characters of Smallville, Smallville (season 1)
Good Articles: Anole (comics), Barbara Gordon, Batman (1989 film), Batgirl, Batman & Robin (film), Batman Begins, Batman Forever, Batman Returns, Batman in film, Batman: Anarky, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batwoman, Catalysts (The Spectacular Spider-Man), Characters of Smallville, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent (Smallville), Competition (The Spectacular Spider-Man), Democracy (Judge Dredd storyline), Daredevil (film), Fantastic Four in film, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Hulk (film), Iron Man (film), Justice League (Smallville), Lana Lang (Smallville), Lex Luthor (Smallville), Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane (Smallville), Market Forces (The Spectacular Spider-Man), Marvel 1602, Marvel Trading Card Game, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Natural Selection (The Spectacular Spider-Man), Pride & Joy (comics), Production of Watchmen, Reaction (The Spectacular Spider-Man), Silver Age of Comic Books, Smallville, Spider-Man, Spider-Man (film), Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: One More Day, Superman (film), Superman Returns, Survival of the Fittest (The Spectacular Spider-Man), The Dark Knight (film), The Incredible Hulk (film), The Invisible Hand (The Spectacular Spider-Man), The Uncertainty Principle (The Spectacular Spider-Man), Unbreakable (film), Wanted (2008 film), Watchmen (film), X-Men (film series), X-Men (film), X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X2 (film)
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