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Incredible! The unstoppable rise of the comic book superhero

As superheroes, including Wonder Woman, take over the box office, we ask why we keep turning to comics for our heroes. With Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons.

The surprise success of this year's Wonder Woman film emphasized the current dominance of superhero movies at the box office. Stig Abell investigates the comic book origins of these characters and explores why they have become such a presence in our culture.

Dave Gibbons, the comic book writer and artist most famous for his collaboration with Alan Moore on The Watchman, shows Stig around his studio. Gibbons, who has also worked on Superman, Green Lantern, and Frank Miller's Give Me Liberty, talks about his 40 year career in comics and whether today is truly a 'Golden Age' for the form.

Stig visits Orbital comics shop and is guided around the superhero universes by comic critic Adam Karenina Sherif and journalist Louise Blain. Plus he gets a lowdown on the changing film industry from Den of Geek editor Simon Brew.

Author Nikesh Shukla and critic Gavia Baker-Whitelaw join comic book writer Kieron Gillen to examine what is it about superhero characters and their stories that is so appealing.

Presenter: Stig Abell
Producer: Kate Bullivant

Image: Gal Gadot as Diana in Warner Bros film Wonder Woman
Image credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment and Ratpac Entertainment LLC.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 27 Dec 2017 19:15

Dave Gibbons

Dave Gibbons

How Comics Work by Dave Gibbons and Tim Pilcher is out now.

Dave Gibbons is currently working on an autobiography, which will be out in 2018.聽

Orbital Comics

Orbital Comics

Stig spoke to聽Louise Blain and聽Adam Karenina Sherif inside聽, in London聽

Simon Brew

Simon Brew

Simon Brew is founder and editor of . His book Movie Geek is out now.

The Big Bang Theory

Season 11 of The Big Bang Theory is currently airing on E4 on Thursdays at 8.30pm聽

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Stig Abell
Interviewed Guest Dave Gibbons
Interviewed Guest Adam Karenina Sherif
Interviewed Guest Louise Blain
Interviewed Guest Simon Brew
Interviewed Guest Nikesh Shukla
Interviewed Guest Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
Interviewed Guest Kieron Gillen
Producer Kate Bullivant

Broadcast

  • Wed 27 Dec 2017 19:15

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