The Code of the Superhero: Morality and Citizenship in the Comics

Since their inception, superheroes in comic books and other media have endeavored to guide the nation’s children and adults. But what have superheroes been teaching, and how has that curriculum changed from generation to generation? This examination of American superhero history investigates the transforming landscape of the so-called Superhero Code. It discusses the history of the costumed crusaders across more than eight decades, then dives into a case study of a comic-book hero and a transmedial adaptation. Over the course of 6 eras and 12 characters, the book explores the responses of each new generation of characters to contemporary political and social concerns as well as the superheroes’ timeless moral messages for readers young and old.

Ryan L. Johnson lives in Dallas, Texas, where he teaches humanities at Dallas College and writes about comics, anime, and popular literature.