The Jewish–Comics Connection Reconsidered

Abstract

This chapter presents some historical developments that underlie the invention of the “Jewish–comics connection,” and shows how much the historical context in which the original Superman comics were created differs from the one commonly presented in the literature. It presents a capsule history of the changing role of Jewish American participation and representation in US superhero comics. It then presents a brief review of relevant Jewish American assimilation strategies. Next, whiteness as a ground for American identity is discussed. Finally, the late 1960s shift toward celebration of “ethnic whiteness” is introduced. Together, these discussions show how different from today the place of Jewish Americans in the USA was when Superman was first created. This context is crucial to understanding both his creation and recent re-figuration.