Reviews
The Avengers and Philosophy: Earth's Mightiest Thinkers by Andrew Zimmerman Jones, Mark D. White
courtneylee87's review
3.0
Mark D. White pulls together an impressive lineup of essayists to take on the Avengers and their philosophies. Consistency is demonstrated by referencing the same characters and themes from essay to essay. The authors also make use of both the original comics and the film franchise in order to ensure the reader, no matter the depth of their knowledge with Marvel, feels comfortable and engaged whilst reading this book. Accessible language, definitions of philosophical terminology, and extensive endnotes allow for scholarly academics and casual readers to meet on common ground. Yes, White did not include essays about all the characters that are part of the Avengers team, but what is included in this book sets up the potential for additional editions in the series.
Despite the excellent work in assembling a collection of essays about the Avengers, there are a few things that might be a turn off for some readers. First, the characters of Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Hank Pym are not necessarily the first that come to mind for most readers now when they think of the Avengers. Yes, these characters hold very important positions and influences in the comics themselves, but with the release of The Avengers (2012), the same year this book was published, there is a high chance the reader is more likely to want to read about Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America.
Second, the repetitive themes in each essay can be exhausting to continue reading after the first three essays. While repetition can provide consistency and a common thread, it can also cause the reader to lose interest as he/she has already read that idea/concept in the previous pages. Finally, as this book is part of an ongoing series, the other collections of essays that are published later — Iron Man and Philosophy and The Virtues of Captain America for example — can be more attractive to readers who are looking for a more singular focus and familiar character. No, it is not necessary to read these books in order, but if one were to read the books about superheroes, that information would simply repeat itself with the same characters and themes, with little chance of offering new perspectives and interpretations.
Overall, I'm giving this book a 3-star rating. I liked it, but I wasn't entirely impressed by it. It may be because I already knew these characters well before picking up this book, or it could be the repetitive nature of some of these essays. If you're brand new to the superhero genre, and like having in-depth conversations about Marvel's characters, I would recommend reading this book.
Despite the excellent work in assembling a collection of essays about the Avengers, there are a few things that might be a turn off for some readers. First, the characters of Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Hank Pym are not necessarily the first that come to mind for most readers now when they think of the Avengers. Yes, these characters hold very important positions and influences in the comics themselves, but with the release of The Avengers (2012), the same year this book was published, there is a high chance the reader is more likely to want to read about Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America.
Second, the repetitive themes in each essay can be exhausting to continue reading after the first three essays. While repetition can provide consistency and a common thread, it can also cause the reader to lose interest as he/she has already read that idea/concept in the previous pages. Finally, as this book is part of an ongoing series, the other collections of essays that are published later — Iron Man and Philosophy and The Virtues of Captain America for example — can be more attractive to readers who are looking for a more singular focus and familiar character. No, it is not necessary to read these books in order, but if one were to read the books about superheroes, that information would simply repeat itself with the same characters and themes, with little chance of offering new perspectives and interpretations.
Overall, I'm giving this book a 3-star rating. I liked it, but I wasn't entirely impressed by it. It may be because I already knew these characters well before picking up this book, or it could be the repetitive nature of some of these essays. If you're brand new to the superhero genre, and like having in-depth conversations about Marvel's characters, I would recommend reading this book.
beholderess's review
4.0
I am not going to pretend that this is a "serious" philosophy, but nevertheless it is an extremely entertaining read for someone both geeky and nerdy
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