An understanding of current trends in the superhero genre is best served by a brief exploration of a few characters created during the first years of superhero comic popularity. The origins of the genre establish the history of identity representation and progressive values in superhero genre.
The current status of the superhero genre is best expressed through analysis of recent superhero films. Film media is the way that the greatest portion of the American engages with and views superhero media. Therefore, a status of the modern superhero genre in film demonstrates what superhero media is conveyed to and has a chance to influence the public.
These sections are introduced to provide a basis for the claims in the proposition for continued progress. Driving the modern superhero genre further towards progressive value is the goal to be achieved through the methods provided in that proposition.