Superhero

A superhero is a fictional character who is noted for feats of courage and nobility, who usually has colorful name and costume and abilities beyond those of normal human beings.

Treatment in other media

Film

:{{main|Superhero films}}

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Superhero films began as Saturday movie serials aimed at children during the 1940s. The decline of these serials meant the death of superhero films until the release of 1978?s Superman. Several sequels followed in the 1980s and a popular Batman franchise lasted from 1989 until 1997.

Related Topics:
Serial - 1940 - 1978 - Superman - Sequel - 1980s - Batman - 1989 - 1997

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In the early 2000s, blockbusters such as 2000?s X-Men and 2002?s Spider-Man have lead to dozens of superhero films. The improvements in special effects technology and more sophisticated writing that emulates the spirit of the comic books has drawn in mainstream audiences and caused critics to take superhero films more seriously.

Related Topics:
2000 - X-Men - 2002 - Spider-Man - Special effects

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Live-action television series

:{{main|Superhero live-action television series}}

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Several popular but, by modern standards, campy live action superhero programs aired from the early 1950s until the late 1970s. These included The Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves, the psychedelic-colored Batman series of the 1960s starring Adam West and Burt Ward and CBS?s Wonder Woman series of the 1970s starring Lynda Carter.

Related Topics:
Campy - 1950s - 1970s - The Adventures of Superman - George Reeves - Batman - 1960s - Adam West - Burt Ward - CBS - Wonder Woman - Lynda Carter

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In the 1990s, networks attempted several unconventional uses of the superhero genre in live action shows, including the exceptionally popular Smallville, which reinvents Superman?s origins as teen drama. Other examples include Lois and Clark, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Alias.

Related Topics:
1990s - Smallville - Superman - Lois and Clark - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Alias

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Since the 1960s, Japanese, ?tokusatsu? action/science fiction/superhero shows, including Ultraman, Spectreman and Kamen Rider, have displayed another culture?s distinct take on the superhero genre.

Related Topics:
1960s - Japan - Tokusatsu - Science fiction - Ultraman - Spectreman - Kamen Rider

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Animation

:{{main|Superheroes in Animation}}

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In the 1940s, Fleischer/Famous Studios produced a number of groundbreaking Superman cartoons which became the first examples of superheroes in animation.

Related Topics:
1940 - Fleischer - Famous Studios - Superman - Animation

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Since the 1960s, superhero cartoons have been a staple of children?s television. However, by the early 1980s, broadcasting restrictions on violence in children?s entertainment lead to series that were extremely tame, a trend perhaps best exemplified by the series Super Friends.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1980s - Super Friends

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In the 1990s, ' and X-Men lead the way for series that displayed advanced animation, mature writing and respect for the comic books on which they were based. This trend continues with Cartoon Network?s successful adaptations of DC's Justice League and Teen Titans.

Related Topics:
1990s - X-Men - Comic book - Cartoon Network - Justice League - Teen Titans

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Radio

In the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s, Superman was one of the most popular radio serials in the United States. Along with Green Hornet, the series helped popularize superheroes during their earliest years. By the early 1950s, the rise of television ended radio serials, including Superman, Green Hornet and their imitators.

Related Topics:
1930s - 1940s - Superman - Radio - United States - Green Hornet - 1950s - Television

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Prose

Popular superheroes have occasionally been adapted into prose fiction, starting with the 1942 novel Superman by George Lowther. Elliot S! Maggin also wrote two popular Superman novels, Last Son of Krypton and Miracle Monday, in the 1970s.

Related Topics:
1942 - Novel - Superman - George Lowther - Elliot S! Maggin - Last Son of Krypton - Miracle Monday - 1970s

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Juvenile novels featuring Batman, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Justice League have also been published from time to time, often marketed in association with popular TV series.

Related Topics:
Batman - Spider-Man - X-Men - Justice League

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George R.R. Martin?s Wild Cards novels, launched in 1987, were a non-comic book-based science fiction series that dealt with super-powered heroes.

Related Topics:
George R.R. Martin - Wild Cards - 1987 - Science fiction

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In the 1990s and 2000s, Marvel and DC released novels based on important stories from their comics, such as The Death of Superman and the year-long .

Related Topics:
1990s - 2000s - The Death of Superman

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Computer Games

While many popular superheroes have been featured in licensed computer games, up until recently there have been few that have revolved around heroes created specifically for the game. This has changed due to two popular franchises: The Silver Age-inspired Freedom Force (2002) and City of Heroes (2004), a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, both of which allow players to create their own superheroes.

Related Topics:
Silver Age - Freedom Force - 2002 - City of Heroes - 2004 - Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game

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