This insightful collection of essays weighs in on the incredible appeal of the new hit show Heroes and why it has attracted such a diverse and devoted following. Featuring archetypal characters with a twist?including a time traveler, a painter prophet, a schizophrenic stripper, and an evil villain out to steal the others’ powers?the show lures viewers in with its fresh interpretation of classic themes and conspiracy theory plots. By examining the history of comic books in film and television, leading television analysts reveal the show’s multifaceted influences and shed light on how Heroes reflects its comic book ancestors and modern-day kin such as Lost. The creative mastermind behind the show, Tim Kring, and the intense nature of pop culture fandom are also discussed, with brief episode guides serving as a reminder of the complex web the show is weaving.

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Lynnette Porter is the author of several books, including Unsung Heroes of The Lord of the Rings: From the Page to the Screen. She is a tenured associated professor in the humanities and social sciences department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an editorial board member for the Studies of Popular Culture journal. She is a frequent Contributor to the Official Lost Fan Club’s website and Wikia’s Lost website. She lives in Daytona Beach, Florida. David Lavery is a chair in film and television at Brunel University. He is the author of numerous essays and 12 books, the coeditor of Fighting the Forces: What’s at Stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the editor of Full of Secrets: Critical Approaches to Twin Peaks and Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By. He is a cofounder of Critical Studies in Television: Scholarly Studies on Small Screen Fictions. Hillary Robson is a frequent speaker at Popular Culture Association conferences and a Contributor to Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide. She lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.