The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe () von Lilly J. Goren

Foreword, Steve Rogers

Acknowledgments

1. An Introduction to the Politics of the Marvel Cinematic University, Nicholas Carnes and Lilly J. Goren

Part One Origin Stories

2. Building Worlds: Three Paths toward Racial Justice in Black Panther, Allison Rank and Heather Pool

3. Tony Stark and the Classical Heroism of the Marvel Cinema Universe, Ari Kohen

4. Endurance in Marvel Cinema: Letting Go of Compulsory Overcoming in Superhero Stories, Anna Daily

5. Captain America vs. James Madison, Christopher J. Galdieri

6. “Operation: Rebirth” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Origin Stories as Founding Narratives, Ronald J. Schmidt, Jr.

7. Nostalgia, Nationalism, and Marvel Superheroics, Lilly J. Goren

8. Government as the Bad Guy?, Nicholas Carnes

9. Democratic Monstrosity: Marvel’s Avengers and Extraordinary Politics, Elizabeth Barringer

10. Strange Sovereignty: Fantasies of Supremacy and Coloniality in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Matthew Longo

11. Civilian Control of Superheroes: Applying What We Know from Civil-Military Relations, Stephen M. Saideman

12. Environmentalism and the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Spider-Man: Far from Home as a Cautionary Tale, Nancy J. Hirschmann

13. Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains and Social Anxieties, Haoyang Wang and Christina Zhang

Part Three An Expanding Universe

14. Wrestling with Power and Pleasure: Black Widow and the Warrior Women of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Linda Beail

15. From “Grrrl Power” to “She’s Got Help”:: Captain Marvel as the Superhero of Second-Wave Feminism, Kristin Kanthank

16. Vulnerable Heroines: Gendering Violence in Jessica Jones, Menaka Philips

17. “I Know My Value”: Agency in the Prime-Time Network Portrayan of Peggy Carter, Christina Fattore

18. Men and Supermen: Gender and (Over)Compensation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dan Cassino

19. Deep in Marvel’s Closet: Heteronormativity and Hidden LGBTQ+ Narratives in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Patricia C. Rodda

20. Avengers, Assemblage, Danielle Hanley

21. Female Combatants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ora Szekely

22. Who Watches the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Race, Sex, and the Audience for Onscreen Diversity, Bethany Lacina

23. Geopolitical Representations of Africa through the Marvel Cinematic Lens, Meghan S. Sanders

Part Four Conclusion

24. “You’ve Become Part of a Bigger Universe” Plurality, Public Things, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jennifer Forestal

Afterwords

Afterword One: How Marvel Studios Makes a Universe, Carlee Goldberg

Afterword Two: Classical Dramatic Structure: A Primer on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Matthew L. Free

Film List

List of Contributors

References

Index