Origin Stories

Contributions by José Alaniz, Michelle Bumatay, Sika Dagbovie-Mullins, Michael Kobre, Samantha Langsdale, Sheng-mei Ma, John Edward Martin, Peter Nagy, Anna F. Peppard, and Alison Wellford

Origin Stories: Fans, Scholars, and the Superhero Comics That Shaped Their Identities brings together a diverse group of scholars, writers, and comics fans to explore how superhero comics intersect with questions of identity, belonging, and difference. Blending personal narrative with critical analysis, these essays reveal how readers—especially those marginalized by race, gender, sexuality, or class—have found themselves reflected in the transformative, shape-shifting world of comics.

From Spider-Man and the Hulk to the sexually fluid cast of Strangers in Paradise, the contributors examine how comic book characters and stories have helped them navigate family dynamics, societal expectations, and personal desires. Bold, accessible, and deeply researched, the essays highlight how superhero comics offer a space where even the most rigid cultural norms can be disrupted and reimagined.

Featuring both established voices and emerging writers, including one essay in comics form, Origin Stories will resonate with scholars, fans, and readers of creative nonfiction alike. Drawing on the work of such leading theorists as Frederick Luis Aldama, Ramzi Fawaz, Darieck Scott, and Scott McCloud, this collection charts a new path in comics studies—one grounded in lived experience, critical insight, and the transformative power of the superhero form.