From his debut in a six-page comic in 1939 and to his most recent portrayal by Christian Bale in the blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, Batman is perhaps the world s most popular superhero. The continued relevance of the caped crusader could be attributed to his complex character, his dual identity, or his commitment to revenge and justice. But, as the contributors to this collection argue, it is the fans who, with the patience of Alfred, the loyalty of Commissioner Gordon, and the unbridled enthusiasm of Robin, have kept Batman at the forefront of popular culture for more than seven...
From his debut in a six-page comic in 1939 and to his most recent portrayal by Christian Bale in the blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, Batman ...
Few could have predicted the enduring affection inspired by Joss Whedon s television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With its origins in a script Whedon wrote for a 1992 feature film of the same name, the series far outpaced its source material, gathering a devoted audience that remains loyal to the show more than a decade after it left the airwaves. Heralded for its use of smart, funny, and emotionally resonant narrative; subversive and feminist characterizations; and unique approaches to television as an art form, the show quickly developed its own unique fan community, who built...
Few could have predicted the enduring affection inspired by Joss Whedon s television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With its origins in a sc...
Since its premiere in November 1963, the classic British television program Doctor Who has been a cornerstone of popular culture for half a century. From the earliest Exterminate to the recent Allons-y , from the white-haired grandfather to the wide-grinned youth, the show has depicted the adventures of a time-traveling, dual-hearted, quick-witted, and multi-faced hero as he battles Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, and all manner of nasties. And, like its main character, who can regenerate his body and change his appearance, Doctor Who fandom has developed and changed significantly...
Since its premiere in November 1963, the classic British television program Doctor Who has been a cornerstone of popular culture for half a cen...
In October 2012, the Walt Disney Company paid more than $4 billion to acquire Lucasfilms, the film and production company responsible for Howard the Duck. But Disney, despite its history and success with duck characters, wasn t after Howard; in buying Lucasfilms, it also bought the rights to the Star Wars franchise. Soon after the purchase, Disney announced a new Star Wars film was in the works and would be released in 2015, nearly four decades after the first movie hit big screens around the world and changed popular culture forever. The continued relevance of Star...
In October 2012, the Walt Disney Company paid more than $4 billion to acquire Lucasfilms, the film and production company responsible for Howard th...
From a decidedly inauspicious start as a low-rated television series in the 1960s that was cancelled after three seasons, Star Trek has grown to a multi-billion dollar industry of spin-off series, feature films, and merchandise. Fueling the ever-expanding franchise are some of the most rabid and loyal fans in the universe, known affectionately as Trekkies.Perhaps no other community so typifies fandom as the devoted aficionados of the Star Trek television series, motion pictures, novels, comic books, and conventions. Indeed, in many respects, Star Trek fans created modern...
From a decidedly inauspicious start as a low-rated television series in the 1960s that was cancelled after three seasons, Star Trek has grown t...
David Lynch and Mark Frost s television series Twin Peaks debuted in April 1990 and by June of 1991 had been cancelled. Yet the impact of this surreal, unsettling show ostensibly about the search for homecoming queen Laura Palmer s killer is far larger than its short run might indicate. A forerunner of the moody, disjointed, cinematic television shows that are commonplace today, Twin Peaks left a lasting impression, and nowhere is that more clear than in the devotion of its legions of loyal fans. Fan Phenomena: Twin Peaks is the first book of its kind to revisit Lynch...
David Lynch and Mark Frost s television series Twin Peaks debuted in April 1990 and by June of 1991 had been cancelled. Yet the impact of this ...
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe was an actress, singer, and sex symbol whose influence far outlasted her short life. Contributors toFan Phenomena: Marilyn Monroesituate the platinum blonde starlet s omnipresent cultural relevance within the zeitgeist of current popular culture and explore the influence she has had on numerous elements of it. Her aesthetics and images have been reappropriated, recreated, imitated, and emulated by such celebrities as Lindsay Lohan, Jayne Mansfield, Drew Barrymore, Anna Nicole Smith, and Madonna. The quintessential American sex symbol, Monroe...
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe was an actress, singer, and sex symbol whose influence far outlasted her short life. Contributors toFan ...
From box office flop to one of the most successful cult films of all time, The Big Lebowskihas spawned a multicity festival, college-level courses, and its own religion. Fans of the Coen brothers' masterful dark comedy (collectively calling themselves Achievers and proud we are of all of them) gather in movie theaters and bowling alleys across the county to quote along with the film, imbibe white russians, and admire the Dude s rug (which really tied the room together). Fan Phenomena: The Big Lebowskiexamines how this quirky movie evolved from its underwhelming debut to...
From box office flop to one of the most successful cult films of all time, The Big Lebowskihas spawned a multicity festival, college-level cour...
Supernaturalpremiered on September 13, 2005, on what was then called the WB Network. Creator Eric Kripke was inspired by Jack Kerouac sOn The Road, putting his heroes, brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, in a big black 67 Impala and sending them in search of the urban legends that fascinated him. The series attracted a passionate fan base from the start and was described as a cultural attractor that tapped into the zeitgeist of the moment, reflecting global fears of terrorism with its themes of fighting unseen evil. The chemistry between the lead actors, Jared Padalecki and Jensen...
Supernaturalpremiered on September 13, 2005, on what was then called the WB Network. Creator Eric Kripke was inspired by Jack Kerouac sOn Th...
An exciting dystopian fantasy thriller series, The Hunger Gamesbegan its life as a trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins, the first released in 2008. An immediate success, the first installment had a first printing of 50,000 hardcover copies, which quickly ballooned to 200,000. Spending one hundred consecutive weeks on theNew York Timesbestseller list, the book was put into development for release on the big screen. The first two films, starring Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, broke box office records, and the final installment is expected to follow suit....
An exciting dystopian fantasy thriller series, The Hunger Gamesbegan its life as a trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins, the first released in 2...