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An examination of the art in superhero comics and how style influences comic narratives. For many, the idea of comic book art implies simplistic four-color renderings of stiff characters slugging it out. In fact, modern superhero comic books showcase a range of complex artistic styles, with diverse connotations. Leading comics scholar Jeffrey A. Brown assesses six distinct approaches to superhero illustration-idealism, realism, cute, retro, grotesque, and noir-examining how each visually represents the superhero as a symbolic construct freighted with meaning. Whereas comic book studies tend to focus on text and narrative, Super Bodies gives overdue credit to the artwork, which is not only a principal source of the appeal of comic books but also central to the values these works embody. Brown argues that superheroes are to be taken not as representations of people but as iconic types, and the art conveys this. Even the most realistic comic illustrations are designed to suggest not persons but ideas-ideas about bodies and societies. Thus the appearance of superheroes both directly and indirectly influences the story being told as well as the opinions readers form concerning justice, authority, gender, puberty, sexuality, ethnicity, violence, and other concepts central to political and cultural life.

Scarlet Rue returns at a time when corruption and revolution parallel ongoing real-world relevance.

While stories about heroes becoming villains are nothing new, a character like Victor Von Doom requires a certain level of refinement.

Bendis, Brian Michael (text) & Alex Maleev (illus.). Daredevil. Vol. 7: Hardcore. Marvel Knights: Marvel. 2003. 128p. ISBN 0-7851-1168-9. pap. $13.99. F

Lando Calrissian just needs one good job to pay off his debts and set himself up. But he's the only one of his crew who thinks that his latest heist-stealing a ship filled with valuable art and artifacts-will actually succeed. [Charles Soule] dives into the background of the roguish charmer Lando, friend of Han Solo, before he became the suave manager of Cloud City.

DAREDEVIL VOLUME 7: Hardcore BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS AND ALEX MALEEV. Marvel Comics, $13.99 paper (128p) ISBN 0-7851-1168-9

Three graphic novels are reviewed: Stephen King's N by Marc Guggenheim and Alex Maleev; The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 1 by Kairi Yura and Sai Yukino; and Return of the Dappermen by Jim McCann and Janet Lee.

DAREDEVIL: King of Hell's Kitchen BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS AND ALEX MALEEV. Marvel, $13.99 paper (120p) ISBN 0-78511337-1