
American Comics
A History
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Narrated by:
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Jeremy Dauber
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By:
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Jeremy Dauber
About this listen
This is the sweeping story of cartoons, comic strips, and graphic novels and their century-long hold on the American imagination.
Starting with the Civil War and cartoonist Thomas Nast, creator of the lasting images of Uncle Sam and Santa Claus, author Jeremy Dauber whizzes listeners through the progress of comics in the 20th century and beyond. Follow the history from the golden age of newspaper comic strips - Krazy Kat, Yellow Kid, Dick Tracy - to the midcentury superhero boom - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman - and from the moral panic of the Eisenhower era to the underground comix movement; from the grim and gritty Dark Knights and Watchmen to the graphic novel’s brilliant rise - Art Spiegelman, Alison Bechdel, Joe Sacco.
Dauber’s story shows not only how comics have changed, but also how American politics and history have changed them. Throughout, he describes the origins of beloved comics, champions neglected masterpieces, and argues that we can understand how America sees itself through whose stories comics tell.
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THE BRONZE AGE OF COMICS: SUPERHUMAN Volume One looks at super-hero comic books from 1970 to 1983, with sections on such characters as Batman, The Flash, New Teen Titans, Justice League, Sub-Mariner, The Avengers, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Thor, X-Men, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, and more. There are also sections on Ms. Marvel, Black Widow, The Cat and Tigra, Aquaman, Iron Fist, Master of Kung Fu, Power Man and many more, with such chapters as "Kung Fu Fighters," "Black is Beautiful." and "Some of Marvel's Super Ladies." And let's not forget series starring the Joker, Freedom ...
By: William Schoell
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Superman
- The Unauthorized Biography
- By: Glen Weldon
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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How has the Big Blue Boy Scout stayed so popular for so long? How has he changed with the times, and what essential aspects of him have remained constant? This fascinating biography examines Superman as a cultural phenomenon through 75 years of action-packed adventures, from his early years as a social activist in circus tights to his growth into the internationally renowned demigod he is today.
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Unauthorized and fairly biased
- By AdarkanddrearyKnight on 05-15-22
By: Glen Weldon
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Supergods
- What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human
- By: Grant Morrison
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 16 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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From one of the most acclaimed and profound writers in the world of comics comes a thrilling and provocative exploration of humankind's great modern myth: the superhero. In this exhilarating work of a lifetime, Grant Morrison draws on art, science, mythology, and his own astonishing journeys through this shadow universe to provide the first true history of the superhero - why they matter, why they will always be with us, and what they tell us about who we are... and what we may yet become.
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Average history of comic books
- By Bradford on 09-30-11
By: Grant Morrison
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It's Superman!
- By: Tom De Haven
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 16 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Opening with the young Clark Kent on a date, this novel takes an entirely fresh approach to the emergence of his superpowers and the start of his newspaper career, following him from rural 1930s Kansas across America to Hollywood in its golden age and then to New York City. He meets a worldly Lois Lane and conniving political boss Lex Luthor, and begins his battles against criminal masterminds, mad scientists, and super villains inspired by fascists.
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Probably not what you are expecting.
- By Thomas on 04-20-07
By: Tom De Haven
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The Ten-Cent Plague
- The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America
- By: David Hajdu
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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In the years between World War II and the emergence of television as a mass medium, American popular culture as we know it was first created in the bold, pulpy pages of comic books. The Ten-Cent Plague explores this cultural emergence and its fierce backlash while challenging common notions of the divide between "high" and "low" art.
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Very frightening
- By Paul on 09-24-08
By: David Hajdu
Informative
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Refreshing take on the history
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a fantastically inclusive look at the history of comics!
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Shockingly Thorough
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Starting from the very beginning of their publishing all the way to mid-Covid era, not a character or subject was left untouched. There are some fascinating eras of the comic industry and how they change and grow with the world around them.
Will this have a wide audience? No, absolutely not. However, this listener is very appreciative of his work.
Wonderful history
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I wanted it to be better
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Excellent history!
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Truly excellent history of comics
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One of the best books I've read in a while. I am so happy to have heard it. I listened through the plus catalogue, but I'm thinking of buying it for myself, even also maybe everyone I know.
A must listen
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Starts out strong then turns into a dull muddle
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