Marvel, DC and US Security: The Superhero Genre and Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century

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Julian Schmid (Visiting Lecturer, Central European University)

Marvel, DC and US Security

The Superhero Genre and Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century

Julian Schmid (Visiting Lecturer, Central European University)

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Hardback

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English

Edinburgh University Press
31 October 2025

This book considers how the long-standing superhero genre has been reinvigorated in the twenty-first century as an interlocutor of security and surveillance discourses following the events of '9/11'. While superheroes have a long cultural history, Schmid argues that their contemporary representations in Hollywood films and TV shows create and deepen specific discourses on security, terrorism and violence. He shows how the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe, in particular, are important artefacts that can help us to understand how these discourses are popularised and ultimately normalised.

The book offers a rich account of the emergence of superheroes against the backdrop of America's history since its founding in 1776 and their rise to popularity through comic books since the 1930s. Analysing the connections between superheroes, foreign policy and security from '9/11' to the present, it demonstrates the significance of superheroes for the construction of heroism and security in contemporary times.

By: Julian Schmid (Visiting Lecturer Central European University)
Imprint: Edinburgh University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781399526067
ISBN 10: 1399526065
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 31 October 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Julian Schmid is a Visiting Lecturer at the Department of International Relations at Central European University

Reviews for Marvel, DC and US Security: The Superhero Genre and Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century

This gripping book develops an urgent argument: the figure of the superhero in popular culture is at the heart of contemporary security discourse. Researchers and students alike will enjoy a rich theoretical and empirical engagement with key popular culture artefacts as they shape today's political possibilities.--Jack Holland, University of Leeds Marvel, DC and US Security offers a thought-provoking analysis of American security and foreign policy through superhero film franchises. Rigorous yet accessible, it deepens scholarly engagement with popular culture and world politics in the post-9/11 era. A must-read for both superhero film fans and international relations scholars!--Kyle Grayson, University of Newcastle