Reading "The uncanny X-Men" : gender, race, and the mutant metaphor in a popular narrative

The first superhero comic book was published in 1938 and since that time the genre has become a staple of American popular culture. While superhero stories have been adapted into every popular storytelling medium, the genre is most closely associated with the comic book industry. This dissertation examines the first 500 issues of The Uncanny X-Men, one of the most popular series to be published in America. In particular, the portrayals of race and gender will be analyzed by performing a close reading of the stories published as well as a numerical analysis of the ethnicity, nationality, and gender of the heroes, villains, and guest stars who appear in the series. The X-Men comic book franchise has a reputation among fans, creators, and scholars as one of the most diverse and progressive superhero comic book titles. The core conceit of the series, that there are people called mutants who are born with powers and abilities that separate them from normal humans, has allowed the themes of societal prejudice and hatred to be explored in a metaphorical fashion, though looking closely at the race and gender of the characters in the series reveals a different reality than the common perception of the series.

Author dc:creator

• Darowski, Joseph J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hoppenstand, Gary
• Seaton, James
• Contreras, Sheila
• Bruno, Maria

• Comic books, strips, etc.
• Race in literature
• Superheroes
• X-Men (Fictitious characters)

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

etd:1030
isbn:9781124643090
isbn:1124643095
oclc:931842546
umi:3454555
local:Darowski_grad.msu_0128D_10327

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:d.lib.msu.edu:etd_1030