Customer Reviews

Secret Identity Crisis: Comic Books and the Unmasking of Cold War America

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I do have to admit, the author of this book is a former professor of mine so I am slightly biased, but I loved this book. In "Secret Identity Crisis" Dr. Costello blows apart the myth of consensus that grew out of World War II and dominated the American political economy of the early Cold War. Costello uses the lens of Marvel Comics' superheroes Captain America, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, and others, to show how American political thought evolved over time - sometimes self-evidently, at other times less so. Framing his analysis through a medium such as comic books not only makes it enjoyable to read, but, because of the time frame involved (the early 1960s to the present), comics also provide the perfect backdrop for recognizing the fundamental changes in the so-called consensus of the American political economy over this period. I highly recommend this book for lovers of Cold War history, American politics, and, of course, Marvel Comics.

Do you like comic books? Are you an American Studies major? Do you have a term paper on the cold war and pop culture due in 2 weeks? If you answer yes to most these than this book is for you.

Shazam.

The book is a delight; who could imagine that one could take such a scholarly approach to the medium, and yet keep that conversational aspect to the narrative that eases one into the argument? I was particularly taken with the section of the introduction that tells about the construction and content of comics as well as instruction on how to read them, for those of us who were not introduced as kids.

Costello is deft with language, and masterfully slides the reader into the experience...before you know it, you've learned a lot about not only comic books but about American history. I imagine he is an excellent teacher, as the previous poster suggested.

I strongly recommend this work.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should acknowledge that I am related to the author...and darn proud of my baby brother, too...

LAC