Superheroes &Superheroes &the Great Depressionthe Great Depression

““The difference between a hero The difference between a hero and a coward is one step and a coward is one step

sideways.” ~ Gene Hackmansideways.” ~ Gene Hackman

Superheroes & the DepressionSuperheroes & the Depression

Stock Market Crash of 1929Stock Market Crash of 1929

10/24/1929 = Crash 10/24/1929 = Crash begins…banks do begins…banks do nothingnothing

10/28/1929 = Fallout 10/28/1929 = Fallout continues as prices continues as prices continue to dropcontinue to drop

10/29/1929 = The 10/29/1929 = The market fell 43%...it is market fell 43%...it is known as BLACK known as BLACK TUESDAYTUESDAY

Four Factors of the Four Factors of the Great DepressionGreat Depression

1)1) OVER-EXPANSION…farmers produced too OVER-EXPANSION…farmers produced too much…farmers would use the new equipment much…farmers would use the new equipment to grow better and more food without thinking to grow better and more food without thinking of what over-production would do overallof what over-production would do overall

2)2) DECLINING FOREIGN TRADE…America had DECLINING FOREIGN TRADE…America had high tariffs because they were trying to protect high tariffs because they were trying to protect farmers and give them a market overseas for farmers and give them a market overseas for their goodstheir goods

Four Factors of the Four Factors of the Great DepressionGreat Depression

1)1) OVER-EXPANSION OVER-EXPANSION

2)2) DECLINING FOREIGN TRADEDECLINING FOREIGN TRADE

3)3) AUTOMATION…America was becoming more AUTOMATION…America was becoming more and more efficient…business turned from and more efficient…business turned from people to machines…they could produce more people to machines…they could produce more goods more cheaply with a machinegoods more cheaply with a machine

4)4) MALDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH…1% of the MALDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH…1% of the country had 90% of the wealth…there was a country had 90% of the wealth…there was a small group of wealthy people, a larger middle small group of wealthy people, a larger middle class, and a vast majority were pitifully poorclass, and a vast majority were pitifully poor

Creating the First HeroesCreating the First Heroes

SupermanSuperman An influence on early An influence on early

Superman stories is the Superman stories is the context of the Great context of the Great DepressionDepression

The liberal perspective The liberal perspective of creators Shuster and of creators Shuster and Siegel is reflected in Siegel is reflected in early storylinesearly storylines

Superman took on the Superman took on the role of social activist, role of social activist, fighting crooked fighting crooked businessmen and businessmen and politicians and politicians and demolishing run-down demolishing run-down tenementstenements

BatmanBatmanThe first Batman The first Batman

story, “The Case of story, “The Case of the Chemical the Chemical Syndicate,” was Syndicate,” was originally written in originally written in the style of the pulpsthe style of the pulps

This influence was This influence was evident with Batman evident with Batman showing little showing little remorse over killing remorse over killing or maiming criminalsor maiming criminals

Black WidowBlack Widow Madame Claire Voyant is Madame Claire Voyant is

a spirit medium who a spirit medium who communicates with the communicates with the dead through dead through supernatural meanssupernatural means

Satan gives her power to Satan gives her power to kill with a single touch of kill with a single touch of her fingers to the headher fingers to the head

She later kills corrupt She later kills corrupt arms manufacturers and arms manufacturers and aids governments aids governments against the Nazisagainst the Nazis

Captain AmericaCaptain America Captain America was Captain America was

the alter ego of Steve the alter ego of Steve RogersRogers

An intentionally patriotic An intentionally patriotic creation who was often creation who was often depicted fighting the depicted fighting the Axis powersAxis powers

Captain America was Captain America was Timely Comics' most Timely Comics' most popular character during popular character during World War IIWorld War II

Green ArrowGreen Arrow His secret identity is His secret identity is

Oliver "Ollie" Queen, Oliver "Ollie" Queen, billionairebillionaire

In the late 1960s, In the late 1960s, however, writers chose however, writers chose to have him lose his to have him lose his fortune, giving him the fortune, giving him the then-unique role of then-unique role of streetwise crusaderstreetwise crusader

Friends with Friends with the the enigmatic female enigmatic female Japanese archer, ShadoJapanese archer, Shado

Wonder WomanWonder Woman Created during World Created during World

War II, the character War II, the character was initially depicted was initially depicted fighting the Axis military fighting the Axis military forcesforces

Some writers updated Some writers updated the series to reflect an the series to reflect an ongoing "present day“ongoing "present day“

Steve Trevor is re-Steve Trevor is re-introduced as a Vietnam introduced as a Vietnam War veteranWar veteran

SpidermanSpiderman The Spider-Man series The Spider-Man series

broke ground by broke ground by featuring Peter Parker, a featuring Peter Parker, a teenage high school teenage high school studentstudent

His "self-obsessions His "self-obsessions with rejection, with rejection, inadequacy, and inadequacy, and loneliness" young loneliness" young readers could relatereaders could relate

Marvel used Spiderman Marvel used Spiderman to issue a story dealing to issue a story dealing with the aftermath of the with the aftermath of the September 11th, 2001 September 11th, 2001 attacksattacks

Iron ManIron Man

Anthony Edward "Tony" Anthony Edward "Tony" StarkStark is a wealthy is a wealthy industrialist and genius industrialist and genius inventor who created inventor who created military weaponsmilitary weapons

His metal suit is laden His metal suit is laden with technological with technological devices that enable him devices that enable him to fight crimeto fight crime

Iron Man was a vehicle Iron Man was a vehicle for Stan Lee to explore for Stan Lee to explore Cold War themesCold War themes

White TigerWhite Tiger Created as a kung-fu Created as a kung-fu

master, White Tiger master, White Tiger is is the first Puerto Rican the first Puerto Rican superhero in the history superhero in the history of comicsof comics

Discovered the tiger Discovered the tiger amulets that were amulets that were formerly worn by the formerly worn by the Sons of the TigerSons of the Tiger

In his alter-ego, Ayala In his alter-ego, Ayala fought foes such as the fought foes such as the Corporation crime cartelCorporation crime cartel

GravediggerGravedigger Ulysses Hazard suffered Ulysses Hazard suffered

from polio as a child, but from polio as a child, but was able to condition his was able to condition his body to an optimum with body to an optimum with a regimen of exercisea regimen of exercise

Ulysses joined the army Ulysses joined the army but found himself in a but found himself in a segregated military, in segregated military, in which all Black soldiers which all Black soldiers were put to work in were put to work in menial units: burying menial units: burying bodies, supply delivery, bodies, supply delivery, or kitchen workor kitchen work

After the White House…After the White House… 25 years of service to 25 years of service to

the Boys’ Clubthe Boys’ Club Fed 300,000 children Fed 300,000 children

through the Polish through the Polish Relief CommissionRelief Commission

Traveled 35,000 Traveled 35,000 miles through 38 miles through 38 countries in 57 days countries in 57 days for Trumanfor Truman

Gave over 50 years Gave over 50 years of his life to public of his life to public serviceservice