Supersex

Supersex has what no other current title has: a multidisciplinary, multifaceted, and intersectional exploration of superheroes and sexuality across media.

— Carolyn Cocca, author of Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation

This collection of essays is long overdue and very welcome. Well researched and thought-provoking, Supersex provides an enjoyable read and effective observations about gender and sexuality.

— Joan Ormrod, author of Wonder Woman: The Female Body and Popular Culture

Insightful...Peppard’s assemblage shows just how varied and multivalent superhero media is, as well as highlighting the diversity of experiences and interpretations of it. Supersex is a broad cultural survey of superheroes, with insights that are beguiling fuel for the critical imagination.

— Foreword Reviews

Peppard's introduction is a brilliant overview of the history of superhero bodies that perfectly sets the stage for the essays that follow, and the epilogue by Richard Harrison is an inspired piece that provides a satisfying summation for this eclectic collection. Supersex is intelligent and entertaining and, for comics fans, it opens new avenues for thinking about how superheroes affect readers and culture.

— Comic Book Yeti

If the stated task of assembling a volume dedicated to 'unpacking the superhero genre’s complicated relationship with sexuality' does seem not impressive enough, Peppard has also managed to curate a book that is utterly enjoyable to read. In other words, the sexiness of this collection is tied not only to its intellectual contributions, but also to its affective power—at times I felt downright naughty for reveling in Supersex as much as I did...[Supersex is] strong...from cover to cover.

— Inks: The Journal of the Comics Studies Society

This thoughtful, up-to-date collection pursues questions anyone who studies superheroes will want to answer...We can do more—and this volume can help us do more—to spot, to interpret, and sometimes even to champion the exceptions, the comics that work on behalf of the readers who want them, against the now all too familiar hetero-patriarchal rules.

— Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics

Supersex offers an in-depth starting point to examine superhero sexuality and eroticism...The chapters are not just a collection, but a dialogue that allows for a subjective multiplicity that ultimately provides a rich tapestry of insights that are interlinked even (or especially) when they are contradictory...[Supersex] offers a wonderful exploration of the contradictions inherent to supersex.

— Journal of American Studies

From the queering of costume to weapons and war, shapeshifting characters, and buddy systems, Supersex takes the subject to places not usually explored, creating a solid foundation for future scholars and critics...Supersex is a long, rich academic book; however, it’s highly accessible and written with enthusiasm and verve...curious readers seek something a little weightier and will find plenty to ponder.

— Women Write about Comics

[A] fantastic collection...Supersex presents an intriguing and analytical look at a topic that has been taboo for many scholars. The breadth of the chapters makes it an invaluable text for the future of superhero studies, sexuality studies, queer studies, and any intersections between these fields. Furthermore, many of these essays will hopefully become jumping off points for future analytical responses to sexuality within superhero comics.

— ImageTexT