PBS has announced the Blu-ray release of Ghost Light Films'
Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle, a 3-episode documentary series that traces the dawn, evolution and impact of the comic book era. The series is narrated by actor Liev Schreiber, and arrives on Blu-ray on October 15th, a week after its broadcast debut.
Synopsis: The series examines the dawn of the comic book genre and its powerful legacy, as well as the evolution of the characters who leapt from the pages over the last 75 years and their ongoing worldwide cultural impact. It chronicles how these disposable diversions were subject to intense government scrutiny for their influence on American children and how they were created in large part by the children of immigrants whose fierce loyalty to a new homeland laid the foundation for a multi-billion-dollar industry that is an influential part of our national identity.
Featuring rare footage along with new interviews with legends such as Joe Simon, Stan Lee, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, Michael Chabon and Jules Feiffer, the series will explore the art form of the comic book superhero and its complex interrelation with American culture. Over the decades, comic books artists, writers and publishers have unleashed thousands of exotic, bizarre, heroic and seductive adventurers upon the public; some have become instantly recognizable all over the globe, many have crashed miserably under the weight of their own lack of inspiration, but all were created in the hopes that they connect with some aspect of the American consumer. In this regard, the series explores how the evolution of the costumed crusader reflects our social, political and cultural history.
A companion book, "
Superheroes!: Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture" by Laurence Maslon, is being released a week earlier, and chronicles the never-ending battle of the comic book industry, its greatest creators, and its greatest creations. Covering the effect of superheroes on American culture -- in print, on film and television, and in digital media -- and the effect of American culture on its superheroes, the book draws from more than 50 new interviews with everyone from Stan Lee to Grant Morrison, commentators Michael Chabon to Jules Feiffer, actors from Adam West to Lynda Carter, and filmmakers such as Zach Snyder. It's an up-to-the-minute narrative history of the superhero, from the comic strip adventurers of the Great Depression, up to the blockbuster CGI movie superstars of the 21st Century. Featuring more than 500 full-color comic book panels, covers, sketches, photographs of both essential and rare artwork, Superheroes is the definitive story of this powerful presence in pop culture.
Tech specs and special features for the Blu-ray release of
Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle have yet to be revealed. Episodes include:
- Truth, Justice, and the American Way (1938-1958): During the Depression, the popularity of dozens of superhero characters opens the door for a new generation of artists and writers. World War II creates a patriotic fervor for star-spangled adventurers to represent the American spirit at war and on the home front, but in the 1950s, superheroes are caught in the fire of government scrutiny and regulation. When the thrilling "Adventures of Superman" is broadcast on the new medium of television, America's first and greatest superhero leads the entire comic book industry to renewed strength.
- Great Power, Great Responsibility (1959-1977): A new breed of superhero emerges in the 1960s, inspired by the age of atomic energy and space travel and, in turn, inspiring artists of the time. The pop art movement draws heavily on comic books, with superhero images appearing in the works of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Civil rights in America and other social issues make their way onto the page as black superheroes emerge with powerhouses such as the Black Panther and Luke Cage. The pages of "Green Lantern/Green Arrow" address social issues in their relevant storylines, and comic books are forced to confront the reality of an increasingly complex world.
- A Hero Can Be Anyone (1978-Present): This episode captures the enthusiasm for superheroes as they are embraced in all forms of media and by all demographics, beginning with the historic "Superman" movie featuring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. In 1986, Batman is overhauled as The Dark Knight to reflect the nocturnal underside of his character, and Watchmen brings new sophistication to comic book narratives, illuminating a violent and politicized world. In the burgeoning new millennium, superheroes have taken over popular culture with feature films, television shows and video games complementing a new generation of web-based comics that bring superhero adventures to every corner of the world.