Abstract

BEIRAS, Adriano et al. Gender and superheroes: the masculine body traced by the norm. Psicol. Soc. [online]. 2007, vol.19, n.3, pp. 62-67. ISSN 1807-0310.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-71822007000300010.

Superhero comic books gain life in the reader's imagination, establishing strong connections to their daily life. A muscular and virile body has historically become the reference for male corporeality, while bodies that deviate from this are commonly satirized or excluded from the media. This essay intends to discuss the forms of representation of the male body in DC comic books, specifically Superman and Batman, according to the portrayal of characters as 'heroes', 'villains' or 'supporting characters'. Our premise is that these roles relate to distinct tendencies for the depiction of bodies, (re)producing social norms and aesthetic values upon corporealities.

Keywords : Comic books; masculinities; corporeality; media.