Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked (2003)

A history of superheroes in comic books, from the first appearance of Superman in the 1930s to today's morally-conflicted, violent anti-heroes.

Director:

Steve Kroopnick (as Stephen Kroopnick)

Writer:

James Grant Goldin

Stars:

Peta Wilson, Denny O'Neil, Jim Steranko

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peta Wilson	...	Host
Denny O'Neil	...	Himself
Jim Steranko	...	Himself
Michael Chabon	...	Himself
Will Eisner	...	Himself
Mike Richardson	...	Himself
Kevin Smith	...	Himself
Frank Miller	...	Himself
Bradford Wright	...	Himself
Paul Levitz	...	Himself
Stan Lee	...	Himself
Joe Quesada	...	Himself
Avi Arad	...	Himself
Neil Gaiman	...	Himself
Keith David	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

Industry insiders like Stan Lee and Neil Gaiman (The Sandman) reflect on the way their colorful creations reflect society at large. They have spread from the pulpy pages of nickel comics to Saturday morning cartoons, the big screen and beyond. They have evolved from simple, All-American heroes to tortured, complicated characters reflecting the dreams, desires and fears of modern society. From Superman to The Sandman, Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked is a fascinating, feature-length look at the evolution of an art form that has proved remarkably adaptable and enduring. Filled with classic images from DC and Marvel Comics as well as extensive interviews with modern masters of the graphic novel like Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns), this documentary, originally aired on the History Channel, goes far beyond the superficial escapist fantasies to probe the forces that shaped the characters who have become legend. In the adventures of The Incredible Hulk, Spider Man, The...

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Plot Keywords:

comic book | marvel comics | four word title | invisible woman | human torch | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kaos og kryptonit - superhelte gennem tidsmaskinen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Triage Entertainment

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References Superman II (1980)

User Reviews

Are Comic Book Superheroes Relevant?

Hey! If you are someone who really enjoys reading comic books, and graphic novels, too - This fast-paced and equally informative documentary from the folks at the "History Channel" should definitely be of some significant interest to you.

From Superman, to the Flash, to Batman, to the Fantastic 4, and beyond - This 100-minute presentation (of stills, archival footage, and guest interviews) offers the inquisitive viewer a thorough and well-rounded look at the history of comic book superheroes.

Anyway - When it comes to the importance of comic book superheroes - I think that they have clearly played a big part in the overall development of the American/Canadian pop culture scene (as it so proudly stands today). And this, to me, is something that is not to be taken lightly.