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ABSTRACT
People view animals through a framework of a negative to positive scale, with these views having wide-ranging implications including conservation programmeinvestment and success. Media can change public perception, and one media form that has largely been ignored in this regard is comic books. Within superhero comic books, characters are defined by use of animal monikers, traits, or resemblance. Superhero comic books are a unique medium due to characters existing on a hero to villain dichotomy. Examining animal representation on this hero/villain dichotomy can reveal public perceptions of various taxa. For this study, a total of 558 characters were categorised as heroes, villains, or morally ambiguous. Findings indicate vertebrate-themed characters outnumbered invertebrate-themed characters despite invertebrates making up the majority of fauna biodiversity. Additionally, male comic book characters outnumbered female comic book characters. Amphibians, fish, snakes, and lizards were more frequently portrayed as villains, while mammals, birds, butterflies, and beetles were more frequently portrayed as heroes. Exceptions to heroic mammals were even-toed ungulates and Primates which were more villainous than heroic in their depictions. Investigating animal depictions in media, such as superhero comic books, can help reveal where public perceptions originate and add further context to existing species bias research.
Acknowledgments
We wish to acknowledge Andrew Marcella, Jennifer Kayser, and Laura Bretsnyder for comments on earlier versions of this paper.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Emily A. Geest
Ms. Emily A. Geest is a doctoral student in the Department of Integrative Biology. Geest earned a B.A. in Biology from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (2014) and a M.S. in Biology from the University of Nebraska Omaha (2018). She uses applied landscape ecology to understand how anthropogenic land-use change and land management influence invertebrates, specifically grassland butterflies.
Ashley R. Knoch
Ms. Ashley R. Knoch is a doctoral student in the Department of Integrative Biology. Knoch earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Albright College (2009) and a M.S. in Zoology from Oklahoma State University (2014). She studies human dimensions of wildlife management and the effects of land management practices on native bees.
Andrine A. Shufran
Dr. Andrine A. Shufran is an Associate Extension Specialist with the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Shufran earned a B.S. in Horticulture and Entomology from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in Agricultural Biology from New Mexico State University where she was recognised with the Dean’s Award for Excellence (2000) and Distinguished Departmental Alumnus (2013), and a Ph.D. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University (OSU) in 2008. She is currently Coordinator of the OSU Insect Adventure.