These worksheets take a look at modern comics and the superheroes that are popular today. We look at the history of famous franchises as well as the concepts that were originated through this medium. We also take some time to reflect back on life before the existence of these pop culture mavericks. Has culture taken a turn for the better or worse as a result? Below you find some great printable reading sheets that look at various types of comics, the setup and creation of superheroes, and many historically favorite superheroes. We cover the stories of both marvel and DC comic studios and some history behind them.
Print Superhero Worksheets
Click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key.
Marvel Comics and Stan Lee Reading Passage
Stan Lee created some of the most popular and well-loved superheroes of all times.
Marvel Comics and Stan Lee - Multiple Choice Questions
Stan felt that the company should rename itself because The Fantastic Four had been so successful that the company was no longer the same as what it had once been.
The New Ms. Marvel
Originally intended to be a female partner for Captain Marvel, the original Ms. Marvel was a character called Carol Danvers.
The New Ms. Marvel - Short Answer Questions
When a planet attacks New York, with results similar to 9/11, Kamala knows that her world has changed forever.
Who Was Doc Savage?
Clark (Doc) Savage, Jr. is a character created by Lester Dent. Originally appearing in novels and pulp magazines.
QUESTIONS: Who Was Doc Savage?
Doc Savage was extremely popular during the Depression and World War II. Though today he is largely forgotten, he has left a permanent mark in the world of superheroes by being the inspiration for both Superman and Batman.
The Origin Story
The origin story is the story of how the superhero came to be a superhero. It explains what motivates the superhero and why we should care about them.
QUESTIONS: The Origin Story
Another variation on the origin story is that the powers can be an aspect of something that was already insider the person who becomes a superhero.
QUESTIONS: Batman
Batman uses a variety of ingenious inventions in his vigilante work. His armored costume protects him from gunfire and from other significant impacts.
How to Create a Superhero: Advice from Stan Lee Reading Passage
What does Stan Lee say should be the relationship between the powers of a superhero and the personality of his or her alter ego?
QUESTIONS: How to Create a Superhero: Advice from Stan Lee
What does Stan Lee say should be the relationship between a superhero and a supervillain?
The Flash
The Flash first appeared in comic books in 1940. At that time he was called the Scarlet Speedster.
The First Female Superhero Reading Worksheet
The first female superhero made her debut in Fiction House’s Jungle Comics #2. Her name was Fantomah.
The First Female Superhero - Short Answer Questions
In her origin story, she was created by her mother, Hippolyta, out of clay and given a soul by six members of the Greek Pantheon.
The Four Ages of Comic Books
The Golden age of comics began when comic strips in newspapers and pulps evolved into comic books.
The Four Ages of Comic Books- Multiple Choice Questions
The Silver Age began with the reintroduction of The Flash by DC comics in 1956, in an attempt to revive a post-WWII waning interest in comics.
Before There Were Superheroes
Before there were comic books, there were inexpensive escapist fiction novels called "pulps."
What Are Superheroes?
Around this time The Lone Ranger radio program made its debut on a Detroit radio broadcast. People began to look for and admire ordinary people that could achieve extraordinary things. This came to life in comic strips through the first superhero in the papers Mandrake the Magician. Mandrake used his powers of hypnosis to create terrifying illusions for criminals. While this was just a comfortable jump from real life to fiction, the world got turned upside down when Superman made his debut and the end of the 1930s. The American 1930s were flush with bad news especially at the time of the Great Depression. People did all they could to escape this reality. Newspapers began publishing comic strips which were a sequence of drawings with written dialogue. These comic strips gave rise to complete paperback magazines of drawings with dialogue called comics. As time passed, this was the medium that was to bring to life the stories of extra-ordinary people known as superheroes.
From our childhood to adulthood, Superheroes remain a constant figure in our lives. Many of us admire them while others stay indifferent to them. However, one way or the other, superheroes impact our lives by being an inspiration or simply a way to unwind after a taxing day.
Superheroes are fictional characters that possess abilities beyond the capacity of an average human being, such as super strength, invisibility, or teleportation. Aside from this, they have solid morals and continuously fight for what is right while facing typical everyday problems of their own.
In this article, I will explain what it takes to be a superhero. I’ll also discuss how heroes gain their superpowers and delve into some of the reasons why we like them.
What Does It Take To Be a Superhero?
Going through the stories of different superheroes, you can see how different they are. They each have unique origins, abilities, reasons for being superheroes, and their signature costumes and catchphrases.
However, certain aspects are similar to all superheroes. These also serve as a criterion for what a superhero should be. These aspects are:
- Superpowers
- Good Morals
- Realism
- Bravery
Superpowers
No superhero could exist without their superpowers. The power they have is what allows them to carry out their duties.
Even though all superheroes must have superpowers, how they gain their abilities can vary.
There are three ways in which superheroes gain their superpowers.
- They are born with superpowers, like the mutants in X-Men and Thor.
- They are involved in an accident that gives them their powers, like Spiderman and the Hulk.
- They gain their skills using the help of technology and drugs like Ironman and the Black Widow.
Good Morals
Superheroes are always on the right side, no matter how gruesome their past might be or how intimidating they may look.
They stand for justice and continuously fight to protect the world from any injustice that may occur.
Regardless of how hard things may be for them or how conflicted they might feel in certain situations, superheroes will always do the right thing at the end of the day.
Realism
A critical aspect that makes superheroes so attractive is how realistic they can be.
Yes, they have abilities and do things beyond the capacity of a normal human being, but they also face injustice and struggle with their flaws and weaknesses as we do.
Mutants face severe racism and hatred because of how they look.
Spiderman faces everyday problems that come with living a normal life aside from being a superhero.
Batman breaks the law to fight crime.
Many superheroes have lost important people in their lives and constantly have to carry the weight of loss on themselves.
Every superhero has demons and issues that they try to overcome repeatedly, just like us. This realistic view allows us to gain a more personal and profound connection with them.
Bravery
When the time comes for them to put everything on the line to fight for what is right and what they believe in, superheroes are always ready to do so.
They are brave, no matter how scared they might feel at the moment. Superheroes face difficult situations head-on and do everything in their capacity to make sure that they protect people and win against evil.
Why Do We Like Superheroes So Much?
In a world filled with so much wrong, it's almost impossible to always do the right thing.
That's why most of us love superheroes. They are a reflection of what we want to be. We want to protect the people we love, do the right thing no matter how difficult it may be, and always be brave in the face of evil.
This way, superheroes also end up inspiring us. They become a standard of what we should be and push us to strive for a better world.
Conclusion
Superheroes are ordinary people who have super-human abilities. These heroes must face the everyday challenges of living that we all confront. However, on top of the stress of their daily lives, they are brave people who will do anything to fight for what is right using their superpowers.