Spending power over superpower: an investigation of increasing diversity in the superhero genre

Superhero narratives mediate what the socio-political climate presents within our cultural history. This thesis aims to analyse the change of diversity in superhero narratives, predominantly the period of transition from comic-books to film and television properties. The major argument presented by this thesis is that the comic-book and film and television industries are compelled to be more diverse, not by developing a sense of morality, but rather through financial incentives provided by the companies growing and increasingly diverse audience. This thesis adopts a thematic approach and is divided into three sub-sections (industry, representation and diversity), each of which discusses an important aspect of the comic-book industries.

The characters and themes discussed within representation and diversity are discussed within the context of the industry. Superheroes and characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman and Black Panther are prominently analysed due to their longevity and their relation to the industries’ motives.

Through the use of primary and secondary source material, this thesis engages with an examination of comic-book, film and television narratives, in addition to the support and occasionally questioned discussion of scholarly viewpoints.