Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way

Table of contents

• Superheroes and Philosophy i
• Title Page iii
• Contents v
• Men in Bright Tights and Wild Fights, Often at Great Heights, And, of Course, Some Amazing Women, Too! ix
• Part One - The Image of the Superhero 1
• 1: The Real Truth About Superman 3
• 2: Heroes and Superheroes 11
• 3: The Crimson Viper Versus the Maniacal Morphing Meme 21
• 4: Superhero Revisionism in Watchmen and the Dark Knight Returns 29
• Part Two - The Existential World of the Superhero 43
• 5: God, the Devil, and Matt Murdock 45
• 6: The Power and the Glory 62
• 7: Myth, Morality, and the Women of the X-Men 75
• 8: Barbara Gordon and Moral Perfectionism 89
• 9: Batman and Friends 102
• 10: The Fantastic Four as a Family 118
• 11: Comic-Book Wisdom 130
• Part Three - Superheroes and Moral Duty 145
• 12: Why Are Superheroes Good? Comics and the Ring of Gyges 147
• 13: Why Should Superheroes Be Good? Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Kierkegaard's Double Danger 161
• 14: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility 177
• 15: Why Be a Superhero? Why Be Moral? 194
• 16: Superman and Kingdom Come 207
• Part Four - Identity and Superhero Metaphysics 221
• 17: Questions of Identity 223
• 18: Identity Crisis 237
• 19: What's Behind the Mask? the Secret of Secret Identities 250
• Wow! It Could Be the Greatest Gathering of Minds in Comic-Book History! Hold on to Your Hats and Get Ready for the BIOS of Your Life! 267
• Index 275

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