Medievalist Comics and the American CenturyThe comic book has become an essential icon of the American Century, an era defined by optimism in the face of change and by recognition of the intrinsic value of democracy and modernization. For many, the Middle Ages stand as an antithesis to these ideals, and yet medievalist comics have emerged and endured, even thrived alongside their superhero counterparts. Chris Bishop presents a reception history of medievalist comics, setting them against a greater backdrop of modern American history. From its genesis in the 1930s to the present, Bishop surveys the medievalist comic, its stories, characters, settings, and themes drawn from the European Middle Ages. Hal Foster's Prince Valiant emerged from an America at odds with monarchy, but still in love with King Arthur. Green Arrow remains the continuation of a long fascination with Robin Hood that has become as central to the American identity as it was to the British. The Mighty Thor reflects the legacy of Germanic migration into the United States. The rugged individualism of Conan the Barbarian owes more to the western cowboy than it does to the continental knight-errant. In the narrative of Red Sonja, we can trace a parallel history of feminism. Bishop regards these comics as not merely happenchance, but each success (Prince Valiant and The Mighty Thor) or failure (Beowulf: Dragon Slayer) as a result and an indicator of certain American preoccupations amid a larger cultural context. Intrinsically modernist paragons of pop-culture ephemera, American comics have ironically continued to engage with the European Middle Ages. Bishop illuminates some of the ways in which we use an imagined past to navigate the present and plots some possible futures as we valiantly shape a new century. |
Contents
Prince Valiant 1937 | |
The Green Arrow 1941 | |
The Mighty Thor 1962 | |
Conan the Barbarian 1970 | |
Red Sonja 1973 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adventure Comics American Century ancient AngloSaxon appeared Arthur Arthurian artist audience August Batman became began Beowulf Brian Wood Camelot chapter character Child comic book Conan the Barbarian cultural DC Comics DC’s decades Dragon Slayer dystopian early Edda edition English European fans fantasy featured female feudal fiction film French German Green Arrow Grendel Hal Foster Hearst hero issue James John Journey into Mystery King Kirby knights later legends literature Lord magazine Marvel medievalism medievalist comic Middle Ages Mighty Thor modern National nineteenth century Norse Northlanders novel O’Neil original outlaw paperback Percy’s poem political popular Prince Valiant produced publication published Pyle’s readers reception history Red Sonja Robert Robin Hood Saga Savage Sword Scandinavian Sonya story storyline strip success superhero sword and sorcery Sword of Conan Thor’s Tolkien translation United University Press Uslan Viking Prince vision WestSaxon White’s William women Women in Refrigerators writers Wyeth wyrd York