Flying British Superheroes of World War II and Beyond: The Historical Turn in Britain’s Aviation War in Popular Culture

In this chapter, the rich history of British superheroes is considered. In reflecting on British superheroes, it becomes evident that British political and social history, specifically the events of World War II, including the Battle of Britain and the blitz bombings of London, shaped the development and advancement of British superheroes in terms of narratives and ideology. Also shaping the British superhero was British colonialism, or more precisely the decline of British hegemony in the colonies and the rising up of formerly subjugated nations. Consciously or otherwise, in these spaces, British superheroes played a role in embodying and representing ideas of British heroism (especially that of British war pilots) and British imperialism. American superheroes, with only a couple of exceptions, were not tied to the logics of nation, war, and colonization in the same way as their British counterparts. Adding a further layer of embodiment was the role and place of class in British superhero narratives, again frames not evidenced specifically in American superheroes. Furthermore, the use of satire and parody is also evident in British superheroes, but not so much in American superheroes. While the field of British superheroes is rich, this chapter begins with Biggles as a starting point to consider the narrative and ideological aspects of British superheroes, moving through to examinations of British superheroes Dan Dare, Marvelman, and the Steel Claw. It also includes a discussion of Dr Who and the character’s place in British superhero traditions. This chapter concludes with a comparison of British and American superheroes.