Up in the Sky: Literary Typology and "All-Star Superman"

Abstract

<p>Using the discussion of Biblical typology from Northrop Frye’s <em>The Great Code</em> as a starting point, this paper proposes a typological lineage of fiction growing from the foundational <em>kerygmatic</em> stories of Western culture. After briefly proposing canonical texts that would fit into this lineage, there is an analysis of the graphic novel <em>All-Star Superman</em> which demonstrates this contemporary text’s place in the typological line and its status as a prime example of the sorts of texts that would fit this lineage. Specific characteristics of the graphic novel and of superhero fiction are discussed that demonstrate <em>All-Star Superman</em>’s place in the typological line, and this placement also argues for the consideration of superhero narratives as worthy parts of the American literary canon. The final chapter discusses some of the ramifications arising from the analysis of both the form and the text, pointing to ways in which critical frameworks for both the typological lineage and the critical elucidation of the graphic novel format can move forward.</p>