Superhero fiction
| Superhero fiction | |
|---|---|
Captain
Marvel, an iconic and influential example of the genre | |
| Stylistic origins | Early 20th century, United States, Japan |
| Cultural origins | Golden Age of Comic Books (America) Kamishibai (Japan) |
| Features | Focus on adventures of heroic figures usually possessing superhuman powers and/or other abilities |
| Speculative fiction |
|---|
| Portal |
Superhero fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction examining the adventures, personalities and ethics of costumed crime fighters known as superheroes, who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals known as supervillains. The genre primarily falls between hard fantasy and soft science fiction in the spectrum of scientific realism, often merging into science fantasy. It is most commonly associated with American comic books, though it has expanded into other media through adaptations and original works.