Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country
220
Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country
220Paperback
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Overview
Military heroes in comic books. Comic book superheroes have been influenced by the true heroes of our armed forces for decades. They frequently recreate the actions of presidents, military leaders, and soldiers. From Captain America punching Hitler in the jaw on his very first cover, to The Punisher surviving the battle of Firebase Valley Forge, there are countless instances when the military has crossed over to the pages of comic books.
Soldiers and superheroes. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, author Jason Inman re-discovered his childhood love of comic books during long days at the Tallil Air Base in southern Iraq. He couldn’t help but ask why so many comic books are filled with service members. Maybe it’s their loyalty to everyday citizens and the never-ending quest for justice. The men and women who lace up their books and sacrifice their lives know that battle can change a person. What kinds of soldiers were these fictional characters, and how were they changed by war?
Perfect military enlistment gift or gift for veterans. Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country looks at the intersection between war and pop culture to understand these questions and more. Each chapter revisits military comic book characters and compares them to personal stories from Inman’s military career; describing superhero soldiers from DC comics and Marvel comics, including lesser-known characters lost to time. Super Soldiers is a perfect gift for soldiers and fans of military science fiction or non-fiction heroes, and everyone who wants to know the stories behind their favorite comic books.
You’ll love Super Soldiers if you enjoyed DC Comics Encyclopedia All-New Edition, The Secret History of Wonder Woman, The League of Regrettable Superheroes, The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains or non-fiction books such as Alone at Dawn, Saving Bravo, or Across The Fence.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781633539945 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Mango |
| Publication date: | 06/18/2019 |
| Pages: | 220 |
| Sales rank: | 478,383 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d) |
About the Author
He has also written for several websites and internet shows including Good Mythical Morning and Honest Trailers. Jason is a frequent guest on Collider Movie Talk and hosted DC All Access for over 3 years. When not posting weekly content on his Youtube channel, Jawiin or hosting his podcast geek History Lesson, Jason can be found hiking the hills of Los Angeles.
Table of Contents
Introduction 16
Chapter 1 Captain America 23
Chapter 2 Gravedigger 33
Chapter 3 Captain Marvel 43
Chapter 4 War Machine 55
Chapter 5 Green Lantern (John Stewart) 67
Chapter 6 Captain Atom 79
Chapter 7 Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) 91
Chapter 8 Flash Thompson 107
Chapter 9 Isaiah Bradley 123
Chapter 10 Sgt. Rock 133
Chapter 11 Batwoman 145
Chapter 12 Beetle Bailey 155
Chapter 13 Nuke 163
Chapter 14 The Punisher 173
Chapter 15 Deathstroke 185
Chapter 16 Nick Fury 197
Honorable Mentions 203
Acknowledgments 211
Further Reading by Subject 213
About the Author 218
What People are Saying About This
“Jason Inman provides a manual which utilizes and analyzes subtext to offer psychological profiles of our favorite superheroes viewed in the context of their fictional experiences as warriors and veterans in the US Armed Forces. He demonstrates vividly and entertainingly how the superhero pantheon is firmly rooted in the disciplines, lore, and traditions of American combatants throughout history. The creators of all these characters took a good look at real-life military heroes for their inspirations and now Mr. Inman makes this link clear.”
—Dan Aykroyd, actor/writer of Ghostbusters and The Blues Brothers
“Finally, someone takes a deep dive into two of our best American institutions. From Captain America to the rest of this elite unit, get ready to salute.”
—Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The First Conspiracy
“Super Soldiers is a hell of a fun book and with it Jason Inman has written a love story to soldiers, to comic book heroes, and to his country. Witty, fast-paced, and nerdy (I mean learned) on his subject, Inman is a perfect guide for a deep dive into the interwoven historiographies and mythologies of American warriors and pop culture. Every American must ask: will I wear tights today or will I wear digi camo? Inman lets us have it both ways.”
—Anthony Swofford, former US Marine and author of Jarhead
“Not all heroes wear capes...but some do. Jason Inman’s Super Soldiers is a brilliant examination of fictional service enlisted in very real wars. A topic near and dear to my heart and one chapter in you’ll realize that Inman’s words are ALL heart.”
—Mitch Gerads, Coauthor of Mister Miracle and The Sheriff of Babylon
“Jason Inman’s military experience and pure, unfiltered comics fandom gives the lucky readers of Super Soldiers a chance to view comics’ greatest veterans through a different lens. Comparing the actions of fictional heroes who serve like Steve Rogers to what real soldiers have to face provides us a new understanding of what it means to ‘serve with honor.’ And what a lineup we get—From the obvious ones, like Sgt. Rock, Nick Fury and Green Lantern (both Hal Jordan and John Stewart), to deep cuts like Flash Thompson, Isaiah Bradley, Batwoman, and even Beetle Bailey! Thank you for your service, and for this illuminating book.”
—Mike Avila, Host of SYFY WIRE’s Behind the Panel and author of The Art and Making of Aquaman
“Inman brings more insight to the superhero genre than any writer, fan, or critic ever before. A truly thoughtful look at the tradition of heroism in the face of war.”
—Joshua Hale Fialkov, writer of The Bunker, Tumor, I, Vampire, and The Ultimates
“Super Soldiers is a fascinating book written by a soldier (who happens to be a comic book expert) about soldiers (who happen to be comic book superheroes). Jason Inman delves deep into the lives and legends of these beloved military heroes, shining a light on how and why they became the superheroes they are.”
—Lisa Yee, author of DC Super Hero Girls novel series
“Having worked with military charities for a decade now, I know how real the connection is between costumed heroes and the everyday heroes of our country are. In this informative, and funny book, Jason Inman highlights that connection for people who may have never known of its existence. We have our vets to thank for the Marvel Universe (both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby served), and we have Jason to thank for this book that acts as a love letter to the patriot comic book characters of the past and present.”
—B.J. Mendelson, comic book writer and author of Social Media Is Bullshit
“A wide-ranging mix of comic book history and autobiography, Jason Inman's Super Soldiers intelligently examines the lives of superheroes through the lens of their own military service. Inman's personal experiences in the US Army lend a fresh and unique take on several major heroes, and his comic book commentaries are full of razor-sharp wit. Super Soldiers provides a wonderful overview of the uniformed men and women who have dedicated their lives in service to our country...even if only in the pages of a comic book!”
—Sterling Gates, screenwriter, producer, and comic book writer
“Jason's unique perspective helps us tell the difference between comic books and real life and where that line blurs—from a soldier's perspective. Great read!”
—Tom Merritt, author of Pilot X
“Jason’s experiences as both a dedicated soldier and serious comic book geek make this an unforgettable read. As informative as it is entertaining, Super Soldiers gave me a deeper appreciation for the heroes that I love and the values they inspire. It should be required reading for every comic fan.”
—Samm Levine, actor in Freaks and Geeks and professional nerd
“Jason Inman, I salute you. This is a heroic, inspiring, smartly researched, deeply personal and historically relevant book that manages to be as thrilling as it is thoughtful.”
—Benjamin Percy, writer of Wolverine, Green Arrow, Teen Titans, and Nightwing and author of The Dark Net
“The relationship between America’s super-heroes and service members has existed almost as long as the comics medium itself. The connective tissue between the two have changed and morphed over the years, as have our perceptions regarding America’s role in global conflicts. Jason Inman’s in-depth examination of this fascinating topic is a remarkable study of our country’s heroes, both real and imagined, and their compelling links through the ever-changing course of our nation’s military history.”
—Dan Jurgens, writer/artist of Superman and Captain America and creator of Booster Gold
“Drawing from his own military experience and his clear love of comic books, Jason Inman crafts a heartfelt and humorous (though no less gloriously nerdy) overview of superheroes who have served their country.”
—Joseph Mallozzi, writer/executive producer of Dark Matter, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe
"What I love most about Super Soldiers—and there's a lot to love—is Jason Inman’s thorough joy and passion. Both burst onto the page, making for one compelling, and important, read.”
—Michael Moreci writer of Wasted Space and Star Wars and author of Black Star Renegades
“Jason does what few can—he takes his own stories of service and weaves them into complex looks at the heroes we’ve all grown up reading and continue to enjoy to this day. Comparing his guard duty with Captain America’s? Explaining how the US Air Force values are intrinsic to Captain Marvel’s ethos? Demonstrating how John Stewart being a Marine makes him a better Green Lantern? These are enthralling character studies that no one else can pen, and it’s why I loved Super Soldiers.”
—Greg Miller, cofounder of KindaFunny.com
“During my childhood, my world revolved around superheroes. Countless hours were spent reading, watching and drawing any and everything related to the world of capes and tights. Of course it was easy to get lost in all of those various tales of cosmic rays, radioactive spiders and speeding faster than bullets, but I believe it was their common thread that resonated most deeply. All of those heroes used their extraordinary abilities to defend the defenseless against those who would do them harm. They put their lives on the line to oppose evil, not for thanks, but because it was the right thing to do.
“Growing up as the son of Master Sergeant John H. Sands, I learned early on that there was a commonality between those who wore costumes in comics and those men and women I saw everyday in uniform. I came to know that the same people that we passed in the commissary actually possessed a superpower: bravery. If called upon, they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to uphold those self-evident truths that our country was founded upon.
“Super Soldiers shines a spotlight on several beloved comic book superheroes (and a few villains) who were once counted among the ranks of the U.S. Armed Forces. Jason’s prose informs who these characters are to a great degree and in many cases, why they’ve endured for decades.”
—Ryan Sands, artist/actor on Marvel’s Runaways