The Rest Is HistoryDec 13, 2021

130. Superheroes

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 130. Superheroes on The Rest Is History.

Notable books mentioned: Supergods by Grant Morrison, Super Gods by Grant Morrison, Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human by Grant Morrison, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orksy

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Mentioned at 0:46

Supergods

Grant Morrison

The host mentions 'Supergods' by Grant Morrison to illustrate the connection between superheroes and humanity's quest for meaning and divinity. Thi…

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Mentioned at 6:29

Super Gods

Grant Morrison

The host mentions 'Super Gods' by Grant Morrison to explore the connections between modern superheroes and ancient mythology. This discussion highl…

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Mentioned at 10:40

Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human

Grant Morrison

The host mentions Grant Morrison's book to highlight the connection between superheroes and humanity's quest for the divine. It serves as a backdro…

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130. Superheroes

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Episode summary, books & quotes

130. Superheroes mentions Supergods by Grant Morrison, Super Gods by Grant Morrison, Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human by Grant Morrison, and The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orksy with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

Supergods Super Gods Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human The Scarlet Pimpernel

Episode summary

From their origins in the 1930's running parallel to the rise of fascism in Europe, to the Adam West camp of the 1960's, to the gritty modern reboots - what has made Superheroes a cultural phenomenon, and what mirror does it hold up to society? To sign up to the brand new Rest Is History Club, go restishistorypod.com or click here. Benefits for members include an extra episode every week, a live streamed show every month, ad-free listening, and access to a Rest Is History chatroom where we'll be discussing episodes and suggesting subjects for future shows. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook

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Media mentions11

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Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 130. Superheroes on The Rest Is History.

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The conversation centers on 20th anniversary of The Lord.
A second recurring theme is comic book influence.
Referenced books include Supergods by Grant Morrison and Super Gods by Grant Morrison.
The strongest audience signal points to Fans of superheroes and comic book culture and Fans of superhero narratives and mythology.

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Which books are mentioned in 130. Superheroes?

Supergods by Grant Morrison, Super Gods by Grant Morrison, and Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human by Grant Morrison are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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Top triggers

20th anniversary of The Lord(1)comic book influence(1)comic books and morality(1)rise of superhero stories(1)superheroes and comics(1)superheroes and identity(1)superheroes and mythology(1)superheroes and their origins(1)

Mention sentiment

Deep Dive(4)Critical Analysis(2)Passing Reference(2)

Audience signals

Fans of superheroes and comic book cultureFans of superhero narratives and mythologyListeners interested in superhero culture and its philosophical implications.Fans of comic book history and superhero narrativesReaders interested in the history of comic books and cultural criticismFans of Tolkien and literary analysis enthusiasts

Books Mentioned

Supergods

Grant Morrison

Best for Fans of superheroes and comic book cultureOften cited around superheroes and identity

“Grant Morrison ends his book Supergods, a history of superheroes in which he says they represent our enduring thirst for the cosmic and the sacral.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: superheroes and identity

For: Fans of superheroes and comic book culture

Key quote: “And it is also the way that the comic book writer Grant Morrison ends his book Supergods, a history of superheroes in which he says they represent our enduring thirst for the cosmic and the sacral.”

The host mentions 'Supergods' by Grant Morrison to illustrate the connection between superheroes and humanity's quest for meaning and divinity. This reference serves to highlight the cultural significance of superheroes, especially in the context of a new Spider-Man film release.

ASIN: B005E0PPEW

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Super Gods

Grant Morrison

Best for Fans of superhero narratives and mythologyOften cited around rise of superhero stories

“Grant Morrison discusses the concept of superheroes in relation to ancient mythology in his book 'Super Gods'.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: rise of superhero stories

For: Fans of superhero narratives and mythology

Key quote: “Grant Morrison. Putting it in his book, basically.”

The host mentions 'Super Gods' by Grant Morrison to explore the connections between modern superheroes and ancient mythology. This discussion highlights the cultural and technological factors that contributed to the emergence of superhero narratives in the mid-20th century.

ASIN: B005E0PPEW

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Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human

Grant Morrison

Best for Listeners interested in superhero culture and its philosophical implications.Often cited around superheroes and comics

“The mention of Grant Morrison's book discusses the influence of Sherlock Holmes on the creation of Batman, highlighting the athleticism and brainpower attributed to these characters.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: superheroes and comics

For: Listeners interested in superhero culture and its philosophical implications.

Key quote: “I mean, I know a bit because you've told me to read Grant Morrison's book and I realised reading it that occasionally I have stumbled across superheroes.”

The host mentions Grant Morrison's book to highlight the connection between superheroes and humanity's quest for the divine. It serves as a backdrop for discussing the relevance of superheroes in contemporary culture, especially with the release of a new Spider-Man film.

ASIN: B07QXC3JJL

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The Scarlet Pimpernel

Baroness Orksy

Best for Fans of comic book history and superhero narrativesOften cited around superheroes and their origins

“The Scarlet Pimpernel is discussed as a significant character in the culture of the 1910s and 1920s, with a dual identity that influences later superheroes.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: superheroes and their origins

For: Fans of comic book history and superhero narratives

Key quote: “The Scarlet Pimpernel is created initially in a play by Baroness Orksy in 1903 and then the book in 1905.”

The host discusses the influence of the Scarlet Pimpernel on the development of superhero characters, highlighting his dual identity as a key element. This character's swashbuckling nature and masked persona set a precedent for later heroes like Batman and Superman.

ASIN: B092P9NRNV

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The Seduction of the Innocent

Frederick Wertham

Best for Readers interested in the history of comic books and cultural criticismOften cited around comic books and morality

“Frederick Wertham writes a book called The Seduction of the Innocent, published in 1954, which causes this tremendous stir, claiming comic books corrupt youth.”

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Sentiment: Critical Analysis

Trigger: comic books and morality

For: Readers interested in the history of comic books and cultural criticism

Key quote: “He writes a book called The Seduction of the Innocent, published in 1954, which causes this tremendous stir.”

The host discusses Frederick Wertham's book 'The Seduction of the Innocent' in the context of its impact on comic book culture and societal perceptions in the 1950s. They highlight how Wertham's criticisms of comic books, particularly regarding themes of bondage and authority, sparked significant backlash and debate about the influence of media on youth.

ASIN: 159683000X

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The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien

Best for Fans of Tolkien and literary analysis enthusiastsOften cited around 20th anniversary of The Lord

“It's the 20th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings, and the discussion revolves around Tolkien and his inspirations.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: 20th anniversary of The Lord

For: Fans of Tolkien and literary analysis enthusiasts

Key quote: “I always have things to say about Tolkien, as you know.”

The host mentioned 'The Lord of the Rings' in the context of discussing an article about its 20th anniversary. They expressed a deep appreciation for Tolkien's work and the cultural phenomenon surrounding it.

ASIN: B0099SNQYG

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The Dark Knight Returns

Frank Miller

Best for Comic book enthusiasts and those interested in political themes in literature.Often cited around comic book influence

“Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns' features an older Batman in a more aggressive narrative, set in an America under Reagan's presidency.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: comic book influence

For: Comic book enthusiasts and those interested in political themes in literature.

Key quote: “So, there's a guy called Frank Miller, who you all know because of 300.”

The host discusses the evolution of comic book characters and their societal reflections, specifically mentioning Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns' as a significant work from the 80s. This book is highlighted for its aggressive portrayal of an older Batman in a politically charged America, showcasing the ideological leanings of comic book writers.

ASIN: 1401263119

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Watchmen

Alan Moore

Best for Readers interested in comic book history and cultural analysisOften cited around superheroes and mythology

“'Watchmen' is described as an absolutely classic comic book, listed by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best books of the 20th century.”

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Sentiment: Critical Analysis

Trigger: superheroes and mythology

For: Readers interested in comic book history and cultural analysis

Key quote: “they're still not really interested in any of these kind of mythic antecedents.”

The host discusses how superheroes, including those in 'Watchmen', are often superficial representations of deeper mythological themes. He argues that while these characters draw on historical and mythological influences, they primarily reflect American societal issues rather than exploring those myths in depth.

ASIN: 1779501129

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