lantern city and the politics of steampunk literature
Steampunk literature is a snarky criticism of the dark, corrupted undercurrent to technological “progress.” Intentionally, the graphic novel series Lantern City positions the protagonist, Sander Jorve, as a hero born into subjugation—a hero who must act from within that status to survive and protect his precious family. The series demonizes class stratification, shows the laboring class as capable and deserving heroes, and frames heroism in the language of duty, survival, and transformation. Daley and Jenkins’s graphic novel series Lantern City (2015–2016) delivers a political message about the survival and empowerment of working-class heroes. To start, “Steampunk” is a term used to describe a retro-futuristic subgenre of science fiction that combines elements of Victorian-era aesthetics with steam-powered technology. It is often visually depicted with engines, gears, and old manufacturing equipment that were prevalent during this historical period. Steampunk appears in art and...