Being a superhero is amazing, everyone should try it: Relationality and masculinity in superhero narratives

Since the superhero genre emerged it has been a contentious area of discourse, particularly concerning its gender politics. The genre's critics suggest it represents a male power fantasy. This thesis argues that relationality - an understanding of subjectivity emphasising interpersonal relationships as essential to subject formation - is a core feature of superhero narratives, which modifies its masculinist tendencies. The thesis argues that the superhero genre is a space where dialogues on masculinity and relational thinking occurs. This thesis adds to superhero studies by examining the relationality of superheroes and the possibility that they can model an inclusive masculine ideal.