Comic Book Character: Unleashing The Hero In Us All (Paperback)

by David A. Zimmerman (Author) "Hear the phrase "comic book reader," and many people immediately picture a gangly, pimply loser..." (more)
Key Phrases: comic book universe, comic book culture, comic book readers, Iron Man, Captain America, Tony Stark (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Zimmerman, an IVP associate editor, is a devoted yet critical comics fan who wears his enthusiasms on his sleeve. The book's best moments are its riffs on superhero convention, such as a tribute to the costume as "likely the single most ludicrous device in the comic book universe" or a cogent summary of the laws of superhero sexual chemistry: "If a woman is a villain, chances are some male hero has a thing for her. If a woman is a hero, chances are two male heroes have a thing for her." Zimmerman also displays a strong sense of historical and political context for the comics, as in his discussion of the shifting significance of Captain America or the distinctive worldviews of the Marvel and D.C. universes. By comparison, his efforts to bridge between superhero and biblical universes, or to discuss specifically Christian content, are less spontaneous and seldom break new ground. Zimmerman's strong suit is not relating theological principles but posing theological questions with the vividness of superhero symbolism: "If you were a superhero, how could you get through a day without wondering about the origin of reality, without questioning how you came to be so specially gifted?... how could you avoid demanding an accounting from God for the pain and suffering you witness day in and day out?"
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Product Description
Power and responsibility. Truth and justice. Never-ending vigilance against the doers of evil. These themes permeate comic book superhero stories in print, on movie and television screens, and throughout popular culture. With classic characters being reconceptualized for emerging generations, superheroes have returned to the public eye and are enjoying new heights of popularity.

What draws countless fans to these heroic figures? What do superheroes symbolize and mean for our human experience? And are there religious or spiritual reasons for the revival of interest in them?

Astute cultural critic and self-avowed comic book fanboy David Zimmerman turns a thoughtful eye to the world of costumed heroes and villains, showing how these iconic tales of good versus evil tap into universal human yearnings for justice and righteousness. Exploring the complex personas of characters like Superman and Batman, Spider-Man and the X-Men, Zimmerman unveils their cultural significance as models of moral character, virtue and heroism. Ultimately, placing comic book stories in dialogue with the Christian story sheds light on who we are, what we value and how we live.

Comic Book Character calls true believers everywhere to integrity, mission and transformation. Come discover what it means to be a hero!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (November 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830832602
• ISBN-13: 978-0830832606
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #904,253 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful, December 11, 2005

By	W. Gullige (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's nice to see books like this for the Christian comic geek. There are so many books out there like "how to be a superhero", etc. that spoof the pop-culture, but these types of books make something of that culture. Something good.

Every generation has their problems, and likewise, every generation needs heroes. Too few people are willing to go the distance in their walk with God, so as to become a true speedster of the light.

I'm glad for books like this, and I'm sure any new readers will be too.

Also check out "Who Needs a Superhero?" That one was life changing for me.


-Matt

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Super Hero's as a Moral Center?, March 2, 2005

By	R. J. Luedke (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Zimmerman does a adaquate job of finding a spiritual center for many of the characters well known in the comic book universe. Though some of his observations may seem like marginal "philosophical stretches", he excels in showing how the dilema's facing the Super Hero in comics, can be very metaphorical to our world today. Could be a very powerful outreach for teen youth programs, to incite conversation and thought from a genre that they are genuinely interested in.

Robert James Luedke, (Author...Eye Witness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superhero Theology..., December 27, 2004

By	Jeff Frazier - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Zimmerman's book is both an entertaining and educational read. He is an unapologetic comic book geek with an obvious passion about his subject. The brilliant thing about this book is that it is not really about comic book superheroes, it is about reality (ironic) and what makes life worth living. Zimmerman is at his best when he uses the world of comic book heroes to ask questions of ultimate meaning about life in our own world. The book does not give many straightforward answers to life's questions, but it does help us to know if we are looking in the right direction, namely toward the God of the Bible. I found the combination of historical insight, cultural analysis, theological reflection and general wittines to be thoroughly engaging. This book will probably be read most by fans of comics, but that is a shame because it speaks to us all.