Super black
Subtitle: American pop culture and black superheroes
By: Adilifu Nama
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Austin
Language: eng
Number of pages: 180
ISBN-13: 9780292726543; 9780292726741; 9780292735453
Subjects: African Americans in literature; Popular culture; African Americans in art; Superheroes; Comic books, strips
Description: Super Black places the appearance of black superheroes alongside broad and sweeping cultural trends in American politics and pop culture, which reveals how black superheroes are not disposable pop products, but rather a fascinating racial phenomenon through which futuristic expressions and fantastic visions of black racial identity and symbolic political meaning are presented. Adilifu Nama sees the value--and finds new avenues for exploring racial identity--in black superheroes who are often dismissed as sidekicks, imitators of established white heroes, or are accused of having no role outside of blaxploitation film contexts. Nama examines seminal black comic book superheroes, some of whom also appear on the screen, as well as how the imaginary black superhero has come to life in the image of President Barack Obama.--Adapted from back cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Color them black; title: Birth of the cool; title: Friends and lovers; title: Attack of the clones; title: For reel?: black superheroes come to life.