The current spate of Hollywood blockbusters based on superheroes has drawn increased scrutiny of their comic-book origins. Comic books have created an American mythology of super-powered beings “with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.“ This presentation will address how the public perception of science, in particular chemistry, has steered the development of the popular (and lucrative) comic-book medium. Examples drawn from the comics themselves will demonstrate how comic books have both reveled in and exploited public misconceptions of science since Superman’s arrival in 1938.

Periodic table of comic books

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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