Superheroes and Cultural Issues

Here's an interesting article from CBS News on superheroes and contemporary cultural issues.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/26/entertainment/main1660039.shtml

It suggests that comic books are currently creating discussion around issues such as homosexuality, terrorism, and modern war.

My personal favourite is Superman debating the decision to invade the imaginary Middle-Eastern country of Qurac.

If you ever get the chance, check out the book Superman on the Couch by Danny Fingeroth. It presents a very strong argument that comic books and superheroes are a modern incarnation of our use of mythology to tell moral stories.

This makes sense. In addition to its special effects and fight scenes, the Matrix movies definitely generated a lot of interest because of their consideration of larger religious and ontological issues.