Unmasking+Super+Heroes

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Social Effects**__ People often disregard the art-form as mere children's books. It has been overlooked by popular media critics, but rather they have become an acceptable medium for dealing with social, political, and world issues.

__**Origins of Comics**__ The origins of comic books began as comic serials, they were published as supplemental material in newspapers. They were short frame comic strips with a mainly comedic content.

Comics were re-printed versions of the short serials that appeared in newspapers. They were originally sold at news stands as anthologies or collections of running series. As their popularity increased publishers began dedicating entire booklets to a specific character and the challenges he/she faced on a regular basis.

Super heroes originally were developed to deal with the issues of the current times. Superman for example, fought crime and corruption, which were the most prevalent issues during his irst publications in the post depression era.
 * __Evolution of Super Heroes__**

__**What is the Importance of Costumes**__

__**Why do Super Heroes appeal to kids?**__ Comic books have the ability to transport the reader to an alternate time and place in which they can become their favourite hero. A portion of their appeal lies in the appeal of being able to overcome obstacles that are part of their everyday lives.

__**Propaganda?**__ Can we assume that comic books are a form of propaganda? In the inital days of comic books, super heroes like Captain America promoted an entirely American and Western perspective. He fought the evil forces known as the "Red Skull", which is clearly a reference to the ever present communist threat during the cold war.

Comics came under fire by the government for apparently promoting unclean ideals or dealing with mature subject matter that could influence children in a negative manner. The government created a governing body that ensured that the content being published was appropriate for children to view. The censorship agency was known as the Comic Code Authority. The CCA would review comics before they were printed and distributed and decide whether it could be allowed.
 * __Censorship__**


 * __Effects of Censorship on Evolution of Comics__**

__**Comic Book Super Heroes as Metaphors**__ Comic books super heroes also exist within the text as a metaphor for current trends in world. For example, the incredible hulk was the product of a nuclear incident which turned him into radioactive creature. The time frame in which the incredible hulk was created was during the height of the nuclear area of the cold war. During this time frame, there was constantly the threat of a nuclear disaster.


 * __Future of Comic Books?__**