NeMLA 2026 Roundtable - Villains Reborn: Redemption and (Re)Generation of Comic Book Antagonists
deadline for submissions:
September 30, 2025
full name / name of organization:
Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA) | Sydney Nelson and Josie Kochendorfer
contact email:
lvfx@iup.edu
source: https://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/cfp/2025/06/17/nemla-2026-roundtable-villains-reborn-redemption-and-regeneration-of-comic-book
From brainwashed assassins to complicated anti-heroes to villains on a redemption arc, comic books, films, television, and novels frequently present readers with complicated antagonists-turned-superheroes, many of which become beloved characters. Through varied processes of regeneration, former antagonists remake themselves into superheroes in fascinating and often unexpected ways.
This roundtable seeks to engage with comic antagonists-turned-superheroes, exploring how such characters are regenerated, what regeneration reveals that a ‘traditional’ superhero origin story may not, and why we find these characters or stories so compelling. We also welcome scholarship on characters who eventually revert to villainy, are disingenuous heroes, or otherwise act in ‘non-heroic’ ways after becoming a hero.
Proposals might engage with or go beyond the following questions: Why do former antagonists turn to heroism? Is heroism and villainy a binary? How do antagonists-turned-heroes comment on our past history or present reality? How might this regeneration offer opportunities for positive or negative representation around race, disability, mental illness, etc.? How does the regenerative process absolve or fail to absolve characters of past transgressions? And who decides their absolution?
Proposals should focus on superhero comics, television, and/or films and might consider individual characters, teams, story arcs, and/or historical references.
This roundtable will be held during the 2026 NeMLA Conference taking place March 5-8, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA and will be in-person only. This roundtable format will be somewhat informal 5-10 minute presentations with time for discussion and debate.
Submit abstracts of no more than 300 words and a short biography via the NeMLA site at https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/S/21763 no later than September 30, 2025.
Please contact Sydney Nelson (lvfx@iup.edu) or Josie Kochendorfer (bpsdc@iup.edu) with any questions.
Last updated June 18, 2025
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