Document Type
Research Paper
Publication Date
2018
Abstract
When Superman leapt onto newsstands, he brought religiosity with him, specifically Christian and Jewish religiosity. From his creators’ Jewish backgrounds, to the Christian imagery read into him, Superman is a symbol of how religion can intersect with the comic book medium. Debates still erupt over the question: is Superman Jewish? This is reductionist, at best. It begs the question, what does it mean to say that a character is religious? What is the question referencing? The diegetic religion of the character? The religious affiliation of who the character is based on? The writers and artists of the comic? How closely the character’s traits and story mimic religious traits and stories? Through these follow up questions it becomes clear that our initial question is far more complicated than it may first have appeared.
Department
Religious Studies
Recommended Citation
Newhall, John B., "Devoted Heroes: Muslim Superheroes, Comics, and Fundamentalism" (2018). Richard A. Harrison Symposium. 10.
https://lux.lawrence.edu/harrison/10