About the Book
Why are so many of the superhero myths tied up with loss, often violent, of parents or parental figures? What is the significance of the dual identity? What makes some superhuman figures "good" and others "evil"? Why are so many of the prime superheroes white and male? How has the superhero evolved over the course of the 20th and early 21st centuries? And how might the myths be changing? Why is it that the key superhero archetypes - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the X-Men - touch primal needs and experiences in everyone? Why has the superhero moved beyond the pages of comics into other media? All these topics, and more, are covered in this lively and original exploration of the reasons why the superhero - in comic books, films, and TV - is such a potent myth for our times and culture.
About the Author :
As former Group Editor of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man line, Danny Fingeroth became intimately familiar with the key elements of superhero mythology. He is exceptionally well versed in just what it takes to breathe life into these characters. Fingeroth is currently the creator and editor of Write Now magazine. He lives in New York City with his wife, sons, and 30,000 comic books.
Review :
"Aficionados of hero comics, pulps, and detective paperbacks of the 1940s and 1950s will appreciate this book in which Fingeroth poses questions and then helps the reader answer them. Recommended." CHOICE--Sanford Lakoff "CHOICE "
"In "Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society", Danny Fingeroth offers something unique: a work of popular comic book criticism that explores why comic book superheroes have continued to matter so much to so many of us over the past several decades, and why characters such as Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman have not only entered into popular consciousness, but, moreover, remained so firmly rooted there. All in all, Danny Fingeroth has written an important...book that serves to adequately defend superhero comics against the charges of being either simple adolescent, male power fantasies, or, for that matter, perverted escapades intended to corrupt the minds of young readers everywhere, that have been leveled against them over the years. Fingeroth recognizes, and at a number of points well demonstrates, that superhero comics are, indeed, important cultural artifacts that deserve our critical attention....this book is recommended." - "Image Text", Vol. 2 no. 2, " Winter 2005"--Sanford Lakoff "Image "
"Of the series of academic books that I have seen addressing comic books, and the superhero genre in particular, Fingeroth's work is one of the best."- Brett Chandler Patterson, "Science Fiction Research Association- SFRA Review, "Jan/Feb/March 2007, #279--Sanford Lakoff
"With a uniquely psychological approach, Fingeroth attempts to understand America's continuing fascination with spandex-clad crime-fighters. His conclusions are intriguing. " -Washington Square News, 4/26/04--Sanford Lakoff
Mention- Portland Press Herald, May 5, 2007 --Sanford Lakoff
Mention- Portland Press Herald, May 5, 2007 --,
Subject of article "Whatever happened to the superheroes of old" includes interview with Fingeroth. -"BBC News Magazine, June 2006" " "
"In "Superman on theCouch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society", Danny Fingeroth offers something unique: a work of popular comic book criticismthat explores why comic book superheroes have continued to matter so much to somany of us over the past several decades, and why characters such as Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman have not only entered into popular consciousness, but, moreover, remained so firmly rooted there. All in all, Danny Fingeroth haswritten an important...book that serves to adequately defend superhero comicsagainst the charges of being either simple adolescent, male power fantasies, or, for that matter, perverted escapades intended to corrupt the minds of youngreaders everywhere, that have been leveled against them over the years.Fingeroth recognizes, and at a number of points well demonstrates, thatsuperhero comics are, indeed, important cultural artifacts that deserve ourcritical attention....this book is recommended." - "Image Text", Vol. 2 no. 2, "Winter 2005"--, "Image "
Mention- Portland Press Herald, May 5, 2007--,
Mention- Portland Press Herald, May 5, 2007--Portland Press Herald
Superman on the Couch has a number of interesting, novel things to say about the assimilation and naturalization of superhero fiction. Superman on the couch is a near-exhaustive look at the superhero phenomenon, through the eyes of a man who has spent all his working life around them. I would recommend the book to anyone with even a passing interest in comics or fiction in general. Thoroughly engrossing read. It provides even the most jaded superhero fan with a wealth of clever, novel ideas to chew over. Matthew Craig, RobotFist.com, 6/7/04
Superman on the Couch is informative and well researched, examining characters from cultural, psychological and historical perspectives. Fingeroth, who ran the Spider-Man line and consulted on the 1990 s Spider-Man fox cartoons, knows his subject matter. Tim Clodfelter, Winston-Salem Journal 7/4/04
