Paper #1: The Reader Behind the Mask (due Monday!)

The truth may be that Kent existed not for the purposes of the story but for the reader. He is Superman’s opinion of the rest of us, a pointed caricature of what we, the noncriminal element, were really like. His fake identity was our real one. That’s why we loved him so. (Feiffer, The Great Comic Book Heroes)

INTRO: Superheroes are fantasy. They’re people (and sometimes, not people at all) who can challenge the laws of physics, ignore the threshold of pain, and think faster—and deeper—than the rest of us. And more importantly, they’re immortal: they keep going on, year after year, no matter what humanity throws at them. Yet the unique X factor of superheroes doesn’t seem to be their superpowers at all. It’s their human connection. Each one of them is uniquely flawed, and embraces these flaws so that they often look, think, and feel like the rest of us. Or as Feiffer says above, “[their] fake identity was our real one.”

PROMPT: So for your first short paper, I want you to answer the question, how do the first four books show us humanity behind the mask? Why are superheroes more than the sum of their powers? In answering this question, think about how each author/artist tries to answer this question with their take on Superman, Batman, Scarlet Witch, etc. Remember that each one is consciously reinventing the myth, and retelling the story to help us see them in a new, modern light. So how are they answering the question? What to them, makes these heroes human and recognizable? How is Superman an “American” alien? How does Batman express our own hopes and frustrations in the face of unfathomable evil (or—how might Joker also show us our own human face behind the smile?). How does Scarlet Witch represent a strong female identity among a very male pantheon of heroes? And how does Man-Eaters parody the impossible ideals of superheroes for the people who aren’t allowed to be super (literally, in this case)?

REQUIREMENTS: Be sure to QUOTE from at least two of the books. Quoting could be using the dialogue to make a point, OR it could be describing the art—explaining how the way a comic is drawn helps us see something unique or important about the story. Don’t write about comics as if they’re a novel: remember that they are ART AND STORY. Use both in your paper! No page limit…but use at least 2 of the books in your discussion.

EX: When quoting from one of the books, try to do it in this format: “In Moore and Boland’s Batman: The Killing Joke, The Joker asks Batman, “So why can’t you see the funny side? Why aren’t you laughing?” (Moore). This is important because… (always introduce a quote, cite it with the author or page #, and then respond to the quote—make us know why you included it, or think it’s important). 

DUE NEXT MONDAY IN-CLASS!