Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked

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Starring: Stan Lee
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Type: DVD
Studio: A&E Home Video
Release Date: 2005-09-27
Running Time: 100 minutes
Comic books--serious or escapist fantasy? This feature-length special shows how comic book superheroes reflect their times--from the 1930s to the 21st century--and how these wish-fulfillment figures became role models for generations of children. Following the most representative cartoon crusaders and villains, as well as the industry that formed them, we see how they mirrored society--from the Depression, WWII, the Cold War, and the turbulent '60s to today--and how they proved adaptable to other media.

best video
if your looking for a histoy of caomic books this video is the best and up to date i've come accros

A homage to an Art form
This DVD from the History Channel shows how how the superhero evolved from a two-dimensional character intended for kids reading the "funny papers" to character with real depth and problems, showing both resilience and relevance in the modern world. Comics are no longer for just kids anymore and this video reflects that point. Great for history buffs and comic lovers alike. The comic is a legitimate form of art. Buy this DVD and see for yourself.

Paradigm Shift
I have a newfound respect for Superheroes! I had no idea there was such a historical/cultural connection. I will always look at an action figure differently now as a result of this well done documentary. Bravo!

An insighful approach to Superheroes Comics
This documentary is a most for comics fans and for everyone who wants to know about the evolution of the concept of the superhero.

An excellent documentary
I have to disagree with the last reviewer. I found this to be a superb overview. The authors have an obvious love for the comic genre, and the result is a very consciencious and thorough review.

It proceeds at a fair pace but never feels rushed. Tons of archival material are presented, as well as as some very interesting and unique input from Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Will Eisner, Jim Steranko, Frank Miller ("I find my work kind of...jolly"), as well as execs from Marvel and DC.

The presentation is lavished with a variety of source-material, and it proceeds chronologically, giving a great deal of attention to the formative years of Superman, the role of comics during WWII, both on and off the page, and the mid-50s crisis engendered by Wertham and the Comics Code. It covers up to about 2002, stopping to examine the industry slump of the 1990s as well as the reactions to the September 11th attacks (though this part gets a bit self-important and heavy-handed).

There are a few omissions. The Watchmen gets a great deal of attention ("something like a bar-fight in the industry" opines a DC executive), but nothing else on Alan Moore's work is discussed. There's no mention of Grant Morrison's work, and it would have been interesting to see the industry's reactions to films that have appropriated comic book conventions, such as the Matrix.

Still, these are small concerns given the high quality of the DVD as a whole. A must for even casual fans of the genre.