PBS will air their their Three part series, “Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle“, on October 15th. All three hour long episodes will air back to back to back. The first episode will start at 8 pm ET/7 PM CT. The original plan for this series was to air over the course of three weeks starting on October 8th but PBS changed the plan to air all three the same night and to make the DVD available on the same day.
SUPERHEROES: A NEVER-ENDING BATTLE is the first documentary to examine the dawn of the comic book genre and its powerful legacy, as well as the evolution of the characters who leapt from the pages over the last 75 years and their ongoing worldwide cultural impact. It chronicles how these “disposable diversions” were subject to intense government scrutiny for their influence on American children and how they were created, in large part, by the children of immigrants whose fierce loyalty to a new homeland laid the foundation for a multi-billion-dollar industry that is now an influential part of our national identity. (PBS)
You can expect a ton of guests and interviews from the greats in comic books. Just about anyone you would desire to see at a convention will be featured in this special. They will have classic creators like Neal Adams, Gerry Conway, the late Joe Kubert, Denny O’Neil in this special. Awesome creators from the 80’s and 90’s like Chris Claremont, Todd McFarlane, and Marv Wolfman will be interviewed. You will hear from today’s big names like Phil Jiminez, Jim Lee, Grant Morrison, Joe Quesada, Zack Snyder, and Mark Waid. There are more names than we can list here.
Below is the synopsis of each episode.
PART ONE, 8 PM: “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” (1938-1958)
During the Depression, the popularity of dozens of superhero characters opens the door for a new generation of artists and writers. World War II creates a patriotic fervor for star-spangled adventurers to represent the American spirit at war and on the home front, but in the 1950s, superheroes are caught in the fire of government scrutiny and regulation. When the thrilling “Adventures of Superman” is broadcast on the new medium of television, America’s first and greatest superhero leads the entire comic book industry to renewed strength.
PART TWO, 9 PM: “Great Power, Great Responsibility” (1959-1977)
In the 1960s, a new breed of superhero emerges in the pages of Marvel Comics, inspired by the age of atomic energy and space travel and, in turn, inspiring the pop culture and pop artists of the time. Spider-Man, the Hulk and others are the first to have “problems” with which an adult audience can identify, and contemporary social issues make their way into comic books. Black powerhouses such as the Black Panther and Luke Cage appear on the scene, and the pages of “Green Lantern/Green Arrow” explode with relevant storylines as comic books are forced to confront the reality of an increasingly complex world.PART THREE, 10 PM “A Hero Can Be Anyone” (1978-Present)
Modern enthusiasm for superheroes has been embraced in all forms of media and by all demographics, beginning with the historic Superman movie featuring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. In 1986, Batman is overhauled as The Dark Knight to reflect the nocturnal underside of his character, and Watchmen bring new sophistication to comic book narratives, illuminating a violent and politicized world. In the burgeoning new millennium, superheroes have taken over popular culture with feature films, television shows and video games complementing a new generation of web-based comics that bring superhero adventures to every corner of the world.
Stay Geeky My Friends!
