PodParley PodParley
PodParley
Incredible! The unstoppable rise of the comic book superhero episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 27, 2017 · 28 MIN

Incredible! The unstoppable rise of the comic book superhero

from Front Row · host BBC Radio 4

The surprise success of this year's Wonder Woman film emphasized the current dominance of superhero movies at the box office. Stig Abell investigates the comic book origins of these characters and explores why they have become such a presence in our culture. Dave Gibbons, the comic book writer and artist most famous for his collaboration with Alan Moore on The Watchman, shows Stig around his studio. Gibbons, who has also worked on Superman, Green Lantern, and Frank Miller's Give Me Liberty, talks about his 40 year career in comics and whether today is truly a 'Golden Age' for the form. Stig visits Orbital comics shop and is guided around the superhero universes by comic critic Adam Karenina Sherif and journalist Louise Blain. Plus he gets a lowdown on the changing film industry from Den of Geek editor Simon Brew.Author Nikesh Shukla and critic Gavia Baker-Whitelaw join comic book writer Kieron Gillen to examine what is it about superhero characters and their stories that is so appealing. Presenter: Stig Abell Producer: Kate BullivantImage: Gal Gadot as Diana in Warner Bros film Wonder Woman Image credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment and Ratpac Entertainment LLC.

What this episode covers

The surprise success of this year's Wonder Woman film emphasized the current dominance of superhero movies at the box office. Stig Abell investigates the comic book origins of these characters and explores why they have become such a presence in our culture. Dave Gibbons, the comic book writer and artist most famous for his collaboration with Alan Moore on The Watchman, shows Stig around his studio. Gibbons, who has also worked on Superman, Green Lantern, and Frank Miller's Give Me Liberty, talks about his 40 year career in comics and whether today is truly a 'Golden Age' for the form. Stig visits Orbital comics shop and is guided around the superhero universes by comic critic Adam Karenina Sherif and journalist Louise Blain. Plus he gets a lowdown on the changing film industry from Den of Geek editor Simon Brew.Author Nikesh Shukla and critic Gavia Baker-Whitelaw join comic book writer Kieron Gillen to examine what is it about superhero characters and their stories that is so appealing. Presenter: Stig Abell Producer: Kate BullivantImage: Gal Gadot as Diana in Warner Bros film Wonder Woman Image credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment and Ratpac Entertainment LLC.

NOW PLAYING

Incredible! The unstoppable rise of the comic book superhero

0:00 28:46

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

One Man Went To Row PepperDawesMedia Follow the journey, from training to finish line, of a man from Derby, UK who is going from having only ever rowed on a machine to rowing 3000 miles solo across the Atlantic...just after his 70th birthday! Guardians Of Innocence Guardians Of Innocence Guardians of Innocence is a powerful and informative podcast designed to equip parents, teachers, and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to protect children from the growing threat of trafficking. Each episode dives deep into the tactics traffickers use to target vulnerable children—both online and in real life—and provides actionable advice on how to recognize the warning signs.Through expert interviews with cyber safety professionals, law enforcement, and survivors, we uncover the latest grooming methods, share real-world stories, and empower listeners to become vigilant guardians of innocence in their own families and communities.Guardians of Innocence is more than just a podcast; it’s a call to action to safeguard our children, raise awareness, and foster a united front against trafficking.Listen. Learn. Protect. Song Against Songs, The by G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936) LibriVox LibriVox volunteers bring you 9 recordings of The Song Against Songs by G. K. Chesterton. This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for October 16, 2011.Chesterton was a large man, standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing around 21 stone (130 kg; 290 lb). His girth gave rise to a famous anecdote. During World War I a lady in London asked why he was not 'out at the Front'; he replied, 'If you go round to the side, you will see that I am.' On another occasion he remarked to his friend George Bernard Shaw: "To look at you, anyone would think a famine had struck England". Shaw retorted, "To look at you, anyone would think you have caused it". P. G. Wodehouse once described a very loud crash as "a sound like Chesterton falling onto a sheet of tin."( Summary from Wikipedia ) Tim May on Ohio State Football Lettermen Row Tim May brings decades of experience to his work covering Ohio State football. The award-winning journalist retired from his post at the Columbus Dispatch after the 2018 season but remains a fixture around the Buckeyes and continues to loom as an authority on the program. Each week, Tim interviews interesting guests on the topic of Ohio State and College football.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Front Row?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this Front Row episode published?

This episode was published on December 27, 2017.

What is this episode about?

The surprise success of this year's Wonder Woman film emphasized the current dominance of superhero movies at the box office. Stig Abell investigates the comic book origins of these characters and explores why they have become such a presence in our...

Can I download this Front Row episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!