Often considered the quintessential comics genre, superhero comics have represented the hero in a modern shape and developed a specific set of genre terms and conventions. Their particular publication and production conditions led to the special case of company-owned, serially published characters, such as Superman, Batman or Spider-Man. These superhero characters have been constantly rewritten and reinvented by different authors over the last seven decades.
Definition and Genre Features
The narratives of superhero comics revolve around a central hero figure who is traditionally defined by his or her double identity, superpowers and special costume. As a hero, the main character has a mission to protect his or her community. When villains threaten the community, be it through organised crime or through outlandish schemes of world-conquest, superheroes defend their community and (usually) vanquish the villains. Superhero...
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Citation: Kukkonen, Karin. "Superhero Comics". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 02 February 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=14898, accessed 15 December 2025.]
