Tony Stark, Odysseus, and the Myths Behind Marvel

A fun and entertaining foray into Ancient Greek mythology through the lens of some of Marvel’s most popular characters—including Iron Man, Black Widow, and Wolverine—and an investigation into why classical stories continue to resonate with modern audiences.

Since its inception, Marvel has created—in comics and on the silver screen—a vast, intricate universe brimming with superheroes and superhumans. Yet Marvel exists in a much larger mythological tradition, one that dates back to the Ancient Greeks and their tales of gods and heroes.

Professor of Classics Peter Meineck traces Marvel’s lineage back to its earliest roots at the dawn of human culture. Using Marvel’s most beloved heroes (and antiheroes), such as Spider-Man and Deadpool, Meineck demonstrates how ancient themes continue to appear in our stories today and reintroduces characters like Achilles and Odysseus from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. He shows the connection between Black Panther and the legend of Atlantis and reveals that disabled heroes like Daredevil have existed since the days of Hercules. What do Scarlet Witch and the sorceress Medea have in common? As grieving mothers outcast from society, quite a lot, actually.

Through it all, Meineck explores why these stories endure and remain so relevant today. He examines how the legends have shifted to reflect society’s changing values and warns of the perils of misinterpreting such stories. Most importantly, he asks the million-dollar question: What do our modern myths say about us?

Tony Stark, Odysseus, and the Myths Behind Marvel is a rollicking journey from legends of old to the pop-culture stories of today.