Episode 24: Amazing-Man Comics #5

About this episode

This episode explores the significance of Amazing Man as a typical superhero of the late 1930s and early 1940s.

In this episode I use the superhero Amazing Man, who debuted in Amazing-Man Comics #5 (cover date Sept 1939), to take a look at just what, exactly, constitutes a "typical" superhero of the late 1930s and early 1940s. I conclude that Amazing Man is actually the archetypal 1930s superhero and is both symbolically and semiotically important. I discuss the history of Centaur Comics, the debut of Amazing Man, his success, what happened to him after Centaur went out of business in 1942, who Amazing Man was, what he could do, who his archenemy was, the variety of 1930s elements which Amazing Man embodies, the various phases or periods of superhero comics before America entered WW2, and a lot data-based conclusions, accompanied by long lists of various things. (If you like data you'll love this episode).

People in this episode

Host: Jess Nevins

Topics covered

• superheroes
• history of comics
• Amazing Man
• Centaur Comics
• 1930s comics
• archetypal superheroes

Keywords

• Amazing Man
• Amazing-Man Comics #5
• Centaur Comics
• 1930s superheroes
• comic history
• superhero archetypes
• data analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Centaur Comics

Books & works: Amazing-Man Comics #5

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