The last survivor’s tale of a global catastrophe, after scientists build god-like (and uncontrollable) superheroes. Praying to be saved by a man who can fly will get you killed! From the mind of Warren Ellis, the creator of TRANSMETROPOLITAN and PLANETARY, comes the most horrifying superhero graphic novel you will ever read! What if the arms race of global superpowers did not yield nuclear stockpiles, but rather messianic beings capable of wondrous miracles and – when needed – the ability to unleash the wrath of gods? But the scientists, generals, and politicians built super-humans to save the planet, no one ever imagined how their heroes would do it – or even if they’d want to. Behold the apocalyptic tomorrow, when supermen kill us all and end the world just because we wanted to be rescued by human-shaped things from beyond Science itself!

Beginning with Schuster and Seigel's adolescent creation of Superman in 1938, Grant Morrison charts the history of the superheroes to their modern, multiplex incarnations.

The ancient Mayan people predicted that the world will end in 2012 and believed that we are living in the fifth, and final, age of the Sun. These mysterious beliefs are now being backed up by modern scientific findings. But where did this "super-knowledge" come from? Cotterell has journeyed to Palenque, to the tomb of the Mayan priest-king Lord Pacal, to discover the answer. 50 color plates. 91 line drawings.

"Account of how comic book heroes have helped their creators and fans alike explore and express a wealth of paranormal experiences ignored by mainstream science. Delving deeply into the work of major figures in the field - from Jack Kirby's cosmic superhero sagas and Philip K. Dick's futuristic head-trips to Alan Moore's sex magic and Whitley Strieber's communion with visitors - Kripal shows how creators turned to science fiction to convey the reality of the inexplicable and the paranormal they experienced in their lives. Expanded consciousness found its language in the metaphors of sci-fi - incredible powers, unprecedented mutations, time-loops and vast intergalactic intelligences - and the deeper influences of mythology and religion that these in turn drew from ; the wildly creative work that followed caught the imaginations of millions. Moving deftly from Cold War science and Fredric Wertham's anticomics crusade to gnostic revelation and alien abduction, Kripal spins out a hidden history of American culture, rich with mythical themes and shot through with an awareness that there are other realities far beyond our everyday understanding."--Jacket.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, and the X-Men—the list of names as familiar as our own. They are on our movie and television screens, in our videogames and in our dreams. But what are they trying to tell us? For Grant Morrison, one of the most acclaimed writers in the world of comics, these heroes are powerful archetypes who reflect and predict the course of human existence: Through them we tell the story of ourselves. In this exhilarating work of a lifetime, Morrison draws on art, archetypes, and their own astonishing journeys through this shadow universe to provide the first true history of our great modern myth: the superhero. Now with a new Afterword

In this acclaimed collaboration, iconic comic book creators Grant Morrison (MULTIVERSITY) and Mark Millar (THE AUTHORITY) conspire to put the Scarlet Speedster through the most grueling and life-changing challenges they can conjure up! First, the Flash must battle against every heroÕs nightmareÑa sentient super-costume that consumes the life force of anyone who wears it. Then, the Fastest Man Alive must find a way to counter his old foe the Mirror Master before everyone he cares about is reverse-aged out of existence. After that, Wally West barely has time to breathe before heÕs forced to enter a race spanning all of time and space against an unbeatable opponentÑwith the loserÕs world to be erased from existence! Of course, with friends like Jay Garrick, Max Mercury, and Jesse Quick by his side, the Keystone Comet can face down nearly any threat imaginableÑbut not even an entire team of speedsters can outrun death itself. And when the Black Flash comes for him, Wally will have to go deeper into the Speed Force than heÕs ever daredÑor lose everything he holds dear! Morrison and Millar are joined by artists Paul Ryan, John Nyberg, Ron Wagner, Pop Mhan and many more for a celebrated run with comicsÕ most celebrated runner in THE FLASH BY GRANT MORRISON & MARK MILLARÑcollecting THE FLASH #130-141, GREEN LANTERN #96 and GREEN ARROW #130.

Explore the philosophical depths of Batman, Superman, Captain America, and your other favorite superheroes Behind the cool costumes, special powers, and unflagging determination to fight evil you’ll find fascinating philosophical questions and concerns deep in the hearts and minds of your favorite comic book heroes. Why doesn't Batman just kill the Joker and end everyone's misery? Does Peter Parker have a good life? What can Iron Man teach us about the role of technology in society? Bringing together key chapters from books in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, this free superhero sampler engages the intellectual might of big thinkers like Aristotle and Kant to answer these questions and many others, giving you new insights on everything from whether Superman is truly an American icon to whether Wolverine is the same person when he loses his memory. Features exclusive bonus content: all-new chapters on Captain America and Thor Gives you a sneak peek at upcoming books: Avengers and Philosophy, Spider-Man and Philosophy, and Superman and Philosophy Includes superheroes from both the DC and Marvel universes: the Avengers, Batman, Captain America, Green Lantern, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Superman, Thor, Watchmen, and the X-Men Gives you a perfect introduction to the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series (learn more at www.andphilosophy.com) FOR FREE! Whether you're looking for answers or looking for fun, this classic compilation will save the day by helping you gain a deeper appreciation of your favorite comics with an introduction to basic philosophical principles.