The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and Adaptations

The superhero genre is thriving, as can be seen by the success of the DC Extended Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, among others. Although essentially a product of the American comic book industry of the twentieth century, superhero characters continue to have a universal appeal and, as Al...

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Main Author: Emma Oki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Association for American Studies 2019-01-01
Series:European Journal of American Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/13678
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author Emma Oki
author_facet Emma Oki
author_sort Emma Oki
collection DOAJ
description The superhero genre is thriving, as can be seen by the success of the DC Extended Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, among others. Although essentially a product of the American comic book industry of the twentieth century, superhero characters continue to have a universal appeal and, as Alex S. Romagnoli and ‎Gian S. Pagnucci write, “have become entrenched in the collective consciousness” (2). Oftentimes simple and predictable to contemporary readers and moviegoers, superhero stories attract new generations of fans both in the United States and internationally. They have also inspired non-American creators to produce their own costumed characters with superpowers. This article discusses the popularity of superhero narratives and their adaptations, including Maciej and Adam Kmiołeks’ Polski Superbohater Biały Orzeł (PSBO). The Kmiołek brothers borrow from and adapt the conventions of the American superhero genre, while simultaneously infusing their stories with Polish cultural elements, which makes PSBO one of the first contemporary affirmative Polish superhero comic book series.
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spelling doaj-art-1ee46b728e02496f9bd3534bb4c53c7f2025-01-06T09:08:54ZengEuropean Association for American StudiesEuropean Journal of American Studies1991-93362019-01-0113310.4000/ejas.13678The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and AdaptationsEmma OkiThe superhero genre is thriving, as can be seen by the success of the DC Extended Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, among others. Although essentially a product of the American comic book industry of the twentieth century, superhero characters continue to have a universal appeal and, as Alex S. Romagnoli and ‎Gian S. Pagnucci write, “have become entrenched in the collective consciousness” (2). Oftentimes simple and predictable to contemporary readers and moviegoers, superhero stories attract new generations of fans both in the United States and internationally. They have also inspired non-American creators to produce their own costumed characters with superpowers. This article discusses the popularity of superhero narratives and their adaptations, including Maciej and Adam Kmiołeks’ Polski Superbohater Biały Orzeł (PSBO). The Kmiołek brothers borrow from and adapt the conventions of the American superhero genre, while simultaneously infusing their stories with Polish cultural elements, which makes PSBO one of the first contemporary affirmative Polish superhero comic book series.https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/13678adaptationcomicssuperheroesPolish superheroesBiały Orzeł
spellingShingle Emma Oki
The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and Adaptations
European Journal of American Studies
adaptation
comics
superheroes
Polish superheroes
Biały Orzeł
title The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and Adaptations
title_full The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and Adaptations
title_fullStr The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and Adaptations
title_full_unstemmed The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and Adaptations
title_short The Polish Superheroes Have Arrived!: On the Popularity of Superhero Stories and Adaptations
title_sort polish superheroes have arrived on the popularity of superhero stories and adaptations
topic adaptation
comics
superheroes
Polish superheroes
Biały Orzeł
url https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/13678
work_keys_str_mv AT emmaoki thepolishsuperheroeshavearrivedonthepopularityofsuperherostoriesandadaptations
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