Raymond M. Walshe​

Since Superman showed up on the scene there have been “humanity at stake” stories in the superhero comics/movie genre. Because of their awesome powers, superheroes have simply had to face equally or more daunting threats to strike a balance in the storylines. Even so, such extreme storylines weren’t the norm in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s or even 80s. Most of the stories were based on a threat to the hero themselves, their city or country. Fast forward to 2016; more superher

Four Ways Superhero Movies Reflect Us – Part 3 It is anyone’s guess who first said “Art imitates life.” Aristotle recorded this reflection in his treatise Poetics, but it was likely a well worn saying even in that time. Oscar Wilde is widely credited with being the first to insist “Life imitates art.” When looking at superheroes from the beginning as art imitating life, or life imitating art, we can see evidence of both. Superman appeared on the scene in 1938. When you think

Spectacle is more entertaining than substance and what better vehicle is there for delivering spectacle than the superhero movie? When examining the wide world of entertainment - television, books, live theatre, internet and film – a great deal more spectacle can be found than substance. And yet every one of these mediums thrives. We can’t seem to help ourselves, drawn to spectacles like moths to a flame. It appears counterintuitive why this should be. Wouldn’t our lives be m

Four Ways Superhero Movies Reflect Us – Part 1 In 1978 the first Superman starring Christopher Reeves was released and promised us “You will believe a man can fly.” Long lines formed at theaters around the country as moviegoers agreed, and, for the first time, a superhero movie had achieved blockbuster status. Since Superman, there have been no less than forty movies in this genre to earn over $100 million in gross receipts each with total earnings in excess of $12 billion