"Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle" PBS Documentary
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television BY FRANK LOVECE Special to Newsday T he hero may have a thousand faces, but the face of the superhero is American. “I was interviewing Gerard Jones” — author of “Men of Tomorrow,” about the early days of the comic-book industry — “and he handed me his book and said, ‘You make these docu- mentaries about uniquely Ameri- can art forms; you should think about this,’ ” recalls Michael Kantor, producer and co-writer of the PBS documentary “Super- heroes: A Never-Ending Battle,” airing tomorrow at 8 p.m. on WNET/13. “I took it home, read it and thought, ‘There aren’t so many stories of American culture as important as this one is.’ ” Even accounting for a produc- er’s understandable hyperbole, Kantor — whose documentaries include “Broadway: The Ameri- can Musical” and “Make ’Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” — has a point. Like jazz, rap, Appalachian clog dancing and precious few other forms, the superhero is a dis- tinctly American creation. There are antecedents, of course, as the three-hour, three- part documentary mentions in passing and the Crown / Random House companion book “Super- heroes!” describes in more detail. Historian and legendary comic- book writer-artist Jim Steranko, who consulted on the series, says superheroes, like ancient mytho- logical entities, “represent the kind of aesthetic or bravura ideal that is easily embraced by the human psyche because of their essential good and evil qualifica- tions.” The documentary’s co- writer, Laurence Maslon, talks about such meta-human American folklore characters as Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan. The 1903 play and subsequent novel “The Scarlet Pimpernel” popularized the idea of a masked avenger. Soon, pulp- fiction and comic-strip heroes like Zorro and the Phantom were donning costumes. Along a separate track, the non- costumed Popeye and Hugo Danner, protagonist of Philip Wylie’s 1930 novel, “Gladiator,” developed super strength. The arrival of Superman in 1938 solidified the archetype. And as archetypes do, he embodied what the public needed to believe in at the time: a Depression-era hero who could confront true-to- life villains like crooked politi- cians and bullying wife-beaters and give them what-for. “Culture inevitably reflects the prevailing society, and comic- book heroes are no different,” notes Steranko. As society changed, so superheroes changed to reflect it. “Superman is domes- ticated in the 1950s,” Kantor says. “Spider-Man grapples with drug issues in the 1970s.” “Today,” Steranko observes, “that issue has been clouded by the domination of the antihero on the contemporary narrative. What was once black-and-white is now 50 shades of gray.” The documentary, narrated by Liev Schreiber, covers such recent developments in its third hour, “A Hero Can Be Anyone.” The initial hour trac- es the superhero’s origins as an outsider fantasy created by first-generation Americans eager to assimilate. The second hour, “Great Power, Great Responsibility,” describes the superhero’s reinvention in the 1960s and ’70s. “Our series is devoted to super- heroes, and not devoted to com- ics per se in all their different forms,” notes Kantor, so don’t expect Archie and Jughead, Richie Rich and Harvey Pekar. Do expect interviews with Marvel Comics impresario Stan Lee; departed legends like Joe Kubert (“Hawkman”), Joe Simon (“Captain America”), Jerry Robinson (“Batman”) and Carmine Infantino (“The Flash”) and a parade of present-day creators, historians and others. “For so long, the creators and those associated with super- heroes were just looked down on and demeaned and were paid poorly,” Kantor says of the days before royalty statements, block- buster films and mega-crowded conventions. “Finally, our cul- ture has come around to give them the respect they deserve.” DAYTIME CBS THIS MORNING (7 a.m., CBS/2) — Film critic A.O. Scott TODAY (7 a.m., NBC/4) — James Franco, Cee Lo Green, William Shatner KELLY & MICHAEL (9 a.m., WABC/7) — Julianne Hough, Matt Bomer, John Legend QUEEN LATIFAH (9 a.m., WCBS/2, 7 p.m., WLNY/10/55) — Christina Aguilera WENDY WILLIAMS (10 a.m., WNYW/5, 4 p.m., WWOR/9, mid- night, BET) — Ja Rule BETHENNY (11 a.m., WNYW/5) — Andy Cohen DR. PHIL (3 p.m., WCBS/2; 6 p.m., WLNY/10/55) — Torn between mother and boyfriend STEVE HARVEY (3 p.m., NBC/4) — Three best places to find a man KATIE COURIC (3 p.m., ABC/7) — Cyberbullied to death ELLEN DEGENERES (4 p.m., WNBC/4) — Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs NIGHT CONAN (11 p.m., TBS) — Steven Yeun, Eric Andre ARSENIO (11 p.m., WPIX/11) — Tom Arnold, Laura Prepon LENO (11:35 p.m., NBC/4) — Sandra Bullock (repeat) LETTERMAN (11:35 p.m., CBS/2) — Ray Romano, James Franco KIMMEL (11:35 p.m., ABC/7) — Woody Harrelson, Ke$ha FALLON (12:35 a.m., NBC/4) — Ben Affleck, Mindy Kaling (repeat) FERGUSON (12:35 a.m., CBS/2) — Malin Akerman GETTY IMAGES PHOTO POV: 56 UP (10 p.m., WNET/13) — In the latest install- ment of his documentary series, Michael Apted speaks with mem- bers of a group he first interviewed as 7-year- olds, 49 years ago, who are now settling into middle age. THE VOICE (8 p.m., NBC/4) — The battle rounds begin: advisers Cher, Ed Sheeran, Miguel and Ryan Tedder help the coaches decide which artists to keep. SLEEPY HOLLOW (9 p.m., Fox/5) — An unidentified boy is found in town. BIG BIOS Cable’s incessant encores are suddenly welcome when programs premiere at the same time. Witness to- night’s duel of pop-culture portraits — “Pure Evel: American Legend” (10 p.m., Discovery), about cycle- riding daredevil Evel Knievel, and “True Hollywood Story: Paula Deen” (10 p.m., E!), updating the sweet Southern cook turned sorry racial slur user. — DIANE WERTS newsday.com/tv Ray Romano visits Letterman. Truth, heroes, the American way Reading comics in 1952 in PBS’ documentary “Superheroes” Video: Lynda (Wonder Woman) Carter Peter Davies, at age 56 in 2012, with his band, The Good Intentions, in “56 Up” today’s picks ITV STUDIOS PHOTO tv talk off the wall B28 NEWSDAY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 exploreLI.com Explore LI
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Newsday (October 14, 2013). By Frank Lovece. Includes interviews with Jim Steranko and producer Michael Kantor.
Transcript of "Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle" PBS Documentary
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television
BY FRANK LOVECESpecial to Newsday
The hero may have athousand faces, but theface of the superherois American.Iwas interviewing
Gerard Jones author of MenofTomorrow, about the earlydays of the comic-book industry and he handedme his bookand said, Youmake these docu-mentaries about uniquelyAmeri-can art forms; you should thinkabout this, recallsMichaelKantor, producer and co-writerof the PBS documentary Super-heroes: ANever-Ending Battle,airing tomorrow at 8 p.m. onWNET/13. I took it home, read itand thought, There arent somany stories of American cultureas important as this one is. Even accounting for a produc-
ers understandable hyperbole,Kantor whose documentariesinclude Broadway: The Ameri-can Musical and Make EmLaugh: The Funny Business ofAmerica has a point. Likejazz, rap, Appalachian clogdancing and precious few otherforms, the superhero is a dis-tinctly American creation.There are antecedents, of
course, as the three-hour, three-part documentarymentions inpassing and theCrown / RandomHouse companion book Super-heroes! describes inmore detail.Historian and legendary comic-bookwriter-artist Jim Steranko,
who consulted on the series, sayssuperheroes, like ancientmytho-logical entities, represent thekind of aesthetic or bravura idealthat is easily embraced by thehumanpsyche because of theiressential good and evil qualifica-tions. The documentarys co-writer, LaurenceMaslon, talksabout suchmeta-humanAmerican folklore characters asPecos Bill and Paul Bunyan.The 1903 play and subsequent
novel The Scarlet Pimpernelpopularized the idea of amasked avenger. Soon, pulp-fiction and comic-strip heroeslike Zorro and the Phantomwere donning costumes. Alonga separate track, the non-costumed Popeye and HugoDanner, protagonist of PhilipWylies 1930 novel, Gladiator,developed super strength.The arrival of Superman in
1938 solidified the archetype. Andas archetypes do, he embodiedwhat the public needed to believein at the time: aDepression-eraherowho could confront true-to-life villains like crooked politi-cians and bullyingwife-beatersand give themwhat-for.Culture inevitably reflects the
prevailing society, and comic-book heroes are no different,notes Steranko. As societychanged, so superheroes changedto reflect it. Superman is domes-ticated in the 1950s, Kantor says.Spider-Man grapples with drugissues in the 1970s.Today, Steranko observes,
that issue has been clouded bythe domination of the antiheroon the contemporary narrative.What was once black-and-whiteis now 50 shades of gray.The documentary, narrated
by Liev Schreiber, covers suchrecent developments in itsthird hour, A Hero Can BeAnyone. The initial hour trac-es the superheros origins as anoutsider fantasy created byfirst-generation Americanseager to assimilate. The secondhour, Great Power, GreatResponsibility, describes thesuperheros reinvention in the1960s and 70s.Our series is devoted to super-
heroes, and not devoted to com-ics per se in all their differentforms, notes Kantor, so dontexpect Archie and Jughead,Richie Rich andHarvey Pekar.Do expect interviewswithMarvel Comics impresario StanLee; departed legends like JoeKubert (Hawkman), Joe Simon(CaptainAmerica), JerryRobinson (Batman) andCarmine Infantino (The Flash)and a parade of present-daycreators, historians and others.For so long, the creators and
those associated with super-heroes were just looked downon and demeaned and were paidpoorly, Kantor says of the daysbefore royalty statements, block-buster films andmega-crowdedconventions. Finally, our cul-ture has come around to givethem the respect they deserve.
DAYTIMECBS THIS MORNING (7 a.m.,CBS/2) Film critic A.O. ScottTODAY (7 a.m., NBC/4) JamesFranco, Cee Lo Green,William ShatnerKELLY &MICHAEL (9 a.m.,WABC/7) Julianne Hough, MattBomer, John LegendQUEEN LATIFAH (9 a.m., WCBS/2,7 p.m., WLNY/10/55) ChristinaAguileraWENDYWILLIAMS (10 a.m.,WNYW/5, 4 p.m., WWOR/9, mid-night, BET) Ja RuleBETHENNY (11 a.m., WNYW/5) Andy CohenDR. PHIL (3 p.m., WCBS/2; 6 p.m., WLNY/10/55) Torn between mother and boyfriendSTEVE HARVEY (3 p.m., NBC/4) Three best places tofind a manKATIE COURIC (3 p.m., ABC/7) Cyberbullied to deathELLEN DEGENERES (4 p.m., WNBC/4) Kat Dennings,Beth Behrs
NIGHTCONAN (11 p.m., TBS) Steven Yeun, Eric AndreARSENIO (11 p.m., WPIX/11) Tom Arnold, Laura PreponLENO (11:35 p.m., NBC/4) Sandra Bullock (repeat)LETTERMAN (11:35 p.m., CBS/2) Ray Romano, JamesFrancoKIMMEL (11:35 p.m., ABC/7) Woody Harrelson, Ke$haFALLON (12:35 a.m., NBC/4) Ben Affleck,Mindy Kaling (repeat)FERGUSON (12:35 a.m., CBS/2) Malin Akerman
GET
TYIM
AGES
PHOTO
POV: 56 UP(10 p.m.,WNET/13) In thelatest install-ment of hisdocumentaryseries,MichaelApted speakswith mem-bers of agroup he firstinterviewedas 7-year-olds, 49 years ago, who are now settling into middle age.
]THE VOICE (8 p.m., NBC/4) The battle rounds begin:advisers Cher, Ed Sheeran, Miguel and Ryan Tedder helpthe coaches decide which artists to keep.SLEEPY HOLLOW (9 p.m., Fox/5) An unidentifiedboy is found in town.
BIG BIOS Cables incessant encores are suddenly welcomewhen programs premiere at the same time. Witness to-nights duel of pop-culture portraits Pure Evel:American Legend (10 p.m., Discovery), about cycle-riding daredevil Evel Knievel, and True Hollywood Story:Paula Deen (10 p.m., E!), updating the sweet Southerncook turned sorry racial slur user.
DIANE WERTS
newsday.com/tv
Ray Romanovisits Letterman.
Truth,heroes,theAmericanwayReading comics in 1952 in PBS documentary Superheroes ] Video: Lynda (Wonder Woman) Carter
Peter Davies, at age 56 in 2012, with hisband, The Good Intentions, in 56 Up
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