The superhero burst onto the American scene in the late 1930s, offering readers a new kind of champion at a moment of profound national struggle. From Superman’s first appearances during the Great Depression to the patriotic fervor embodied by figures like Captain America and Wonder Woman, these characters helped shape a booming comic book industry and the cultural imagination of a nation on the brink of global conflict.

History professor Brian Puaca explores the origins and evolution of the superhero during the 1930s and early 1940s, spotlighting well-known icons alongside less remembered crusaders such as Minute Man and Liberty Belle. Puaca discusses how Jewish writers and artists played a foundational role in crafting the genre, how comic books urged the United States toward engagement in World War II, and how the medium explained, dramatized, and justified the war effort to millions of young readers.

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