Over the past 80 years, superheroes have flown free of the pulpy pages of their origins to become international pop culture phenomena. The simplicity of their cowls and capes hides an intricate blend of meaning and psychology, of myth, history and shared social perceptions. In this intriguing presentation—part of Deschutes Public Library’s “Know Heroes” series of December programs—local writer and comics connoisseur William Akin pulls back the masks in attempt to reveal how a uniquely American art form gave birth to earth’s mightiest memes.

How did the Great Depression help create a just man of steel and a vengeful caped crusader? How did a swinging ‘60s wall-crawler became a postmillennial star of stage and screen? And, really, what is the deal with that Golden Lasso? These and a multitude of astonishing other questions will be answered in Akin’s presentation.



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