Captain America, Masculinity, and Violence: The Evolution of a National Icon

by J. Richard Stevens

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Pub Date May 15 2015 | Archive Date Jun 01 2015

Description

In Captain America, Masculinity, and Violence, Stevens reveals how the comic book hero has evolved to maintain relevance to America’s fluctuating ideas of masculinity, patriotism, and violence. Stevens outlines the history of Captain America’s adventures and places the unfolding storyline in dialogue with the comic book industry as well as America’s varying political culture. Stevens shows that Captain America represents the ultimate American story: permanent enough to survive for nearly seventy years with a history fluid enough to be constantly reinterpreted to meet the needs of an ever-changing culture.

J. Richard Stevens is assistant professor in media studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.

6 x 9, 376 pages, notes, works cited, index

In Captain America, Masculinity, and Violence, Stevens reveals how the comic book hero has evolved to maintain relevance to America’s fluctuating ideas of masculinity, patriotism, and violence...

Advance Praise

“Captain America, Masculinity, and Violence reveals a shapeshifting mythic character responsive to national perils, creator sensibilities, ownership changes, and passionate fan letters. The deaths, rebirths, and transfigurations of old Cap are presented with outstanding clarity.”- John Shelton Lawrence, co-author of The Myth of the American Superhero and Captain America and the Crusade against Evil

"I can think of very few similar studies that match it, and none that are better."- Gary Hoppenstand, Michigan State University