_joy_'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
The last quarter is references to the content of the first three quarters of the book.
lazy0718's review against another edition
4.0
Larry Tye’s new book is a comprehensive history of Superman, from his creation by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster to the ongoing legal battle by his heirs over the rights of the beloved hero. This is a history of the Superman franchise, but not a history of the Superman comic book character. Tye isn’t interested in explaining/detailing the twists and turns in the comic books (except for the Death of Superman storyline, which affected his public image and DC Comics’ profits).
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and informative. The most interesting part for me was the sordid history of the early history of the character, from how he was created to how DC Comics made him into the big star he would become. This isn’t a whitewashed version of the history. Jerry and Joe don’t come off as saints, DC Comics gets its history laid bare, and by the end I was left with mixed feelings over who I supported in the ongoing litigation surrounding the character.
I wish there was more information on the upcoming movie. There is just about a page on that new film, which unfortunately is going to make this feel dated by the end of the year. Perhaps Tye can re-release an updated version next year.
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and informative. The most interesting part for me was the sordid history of the early history of the character, from how he was created to how DC Comics made him into the big star he would become. This isn’t a whitewashed version of the history. Jerry and Joe don’t come off as saints, DC Comics gets its history laid bare, and by the end I was left with mixed feelings over who I supported in the ongoing litigation surrounding the character.
I wish there was more information on the upcoming movie. There is just about a page on that new film, which unfortunately is going to make this feel dated by the end of the year. Perhaps Tye can re-release an updated version next year.
jmanchester0's review against another edition
3.0
Not having read any histories of the Superman comics, it seemed like this one provided a nice overview. It was interesting, if a bit dry (but I think that's how I tend to view histories and biographies). Some of the readability is weird, as the timestream jumps around. For example, in the chapter about the 70s Superman movie, Tye starts talking about the awards it has won, then goes back to the beginning, walking through the making of the movie, then discusses what one of the creators did before the movie.
One thing that I learned from this book is that big business hasn't changed in the last 70 years. In the early 40's, Superman borrowed from several previous characters, but his lawyers went after anyone who appeared to have borrowed from him. And he started out as a social avenger, more of a Robin Hood - until his editors made his creators reign in his anti-rich sentiment.
Tye writes,
Wow - if FOXNews had been around, they'd have been up in arms about Superman and his liberal agenda.
There definitely were some interesting tidbits, too - stuff you don't realize you didn't know. Although I wasn't familiar with the anti-KKK radio episodes, I had heard of the book ([b:Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate|11407829|Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate|Rick Bowers|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333580201s/11407829.jpg|16340608]). Plus radio was where kryptonite and his ability to fly came from. As well as a few of the characters who are now regulars.
I know the 60s were a time of silliness in the comics - I have a few that have possible futures, but didn't know that there were specific Elseworlds-like stories. (What would have happened if Superman grew up like Tarzan? If the Kents raised both Clark and Bruce Wayne?) Those stories would be cool in a collected Silver Age Elseworlds TPB.
Did you know that Mario Puzo got 5% of the gross of Superman: The Movie for writing a crappy script they didn't even use? Crazy.
Also, there's a decent set of notes, a bibliography, and an index in the back.
Overall, an interesting history if you're interested in reading more about the Man of Steel.
One thing that I learned from this book is that big business hasn't changed in the last 70 years. In the early 40's, Superman borrowed from several previous characters, but his lawyers went after anyone who appeared to have borrowed from him. And he started out as a social avenger, more of a Robin Hood - until his editors made his creators reign in his anti-rich sentiment.
Tye writes,
"His messages were simple and direct: Power corrupts. The average Joe deserves a super-powered friend and rich SOBs deserve a boot in the rear."
Wow - if FOXNews had been around, they'd have been up in arms about Superman and his liberal agenda.
There definitely were some interesting tidbits, too - stuff you don't realize you didn't know. Although I wasn't familiar with the anti-KKK radio episodes, I had heard of the book ([b:Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate|11407829|Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate|Rick Bowers|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333580201s/11407829.jpg|16340608]). Plus radio was where kryptonite and his ability to fly came from. As well as a few of the characters who are now regulars.
I know the 60s were a time of silliness in the comics - I have a few that have possible futures, but didn't know that there were specific Elseworlds-like stories. (What would have happened if Superman grew up like Tarzan? If the Kents raised both Clark and Bruce Wayne?) Those stories would be cool in a collected Silver Age Elseworlds TPB.
Did you know that Mario Puzo got 5% of the gross of Superman: The Movie for writing a crappy script they didn't even use? Crazy.
Also, there's a decent set of notes, a bibliography, and an index in the back.
Overall, an interesting history if you're interested in reading more about the Man of Steel.
loonyboi's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Larry Tye's book covers the complete history of Superman, starting in the earliest days with Siegel and Shuster, and going all the way up to last year's New 52 reboot. It's good that it doesn't attempt to cover just the early days, because that material is well covered by Gerard Jones' [b:Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book|105398|Men of Tomorrow Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book|Gerard Jones|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348555871s/105398.jpg|101610]. Instead we get lots of great anecdotes about the radio, television and film versions of Superman, plus of course, all the various comic book incarnations. It doesn't skip over any major event in Superman's history, not even easily forgotten epochs like when Curt Swan retired (in the process creating the greatest single Superman comic of all-time, with writer Alan Moore), the Superboy TV series or Shaquille O'Neil's ill-fated Steel movie.
Ultimately this serves as an excellent biography of Superman across every conceivable medium. Some of the anecdotes are presented as fact, when there is questionable evidence, which irked me a little bit, but in general, this is a well-researched book.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a decent history of the character.
Ultimately this serves as an excellent biography of Superman across every conceivable medium. Some of the anecdotes are presented as fact, when there is questionable evidence, which irked me a little bit, but in general, this is a well-researched book.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a decent history of the character.
sfian's review
4.0
Not so much a history of Superman as that of his creators in all forms - comics, radio and TV series and films and focusing on the original creators and publishers as well as the various actors who have played the Man of Steel and his co-stars.
Covering the period from before his inception to just after 2011's New 52 reboot and just before the Man Of Steel film, if anything it proves that not too much happened in the comics between the first few years and John Byrne's re-imagining, and that a lot happened afterwards - death, resurrection, marriage along with additions and amendments to the mythos. Pretty much the only things covered in any detail are Superman's contribution (or lack thereof) to World War 2 and the imaginary stories of Mort Weisinger's era
The "curse" of those associated with the character is dealt with (sometimes a bit ham-fistedly - after a section about Christopher Reeve's accident and slight recuperation we are told he has died by mention of his widow, the actual fact of his death, a few months earlier than the story being told, almost seeming an afterthought.) There are other places when the "narrative" jumps around in time - John Byrne's post-Crisis reboot is talked about before the Crisis itself, then revisited before jumping back a few years to talk about the movies.
Factually, though, there was a lot I didn't know - and a fair bit I did, mainly about the publishers themselves, if only through reading another comic "history" book recently - but I think I would have liked to know more about the comics themselves than the detail of the various lawsuits brought against DC/Warner by Siegel, Shuster and their families, or how much revenue was generated by merchandise and the media. Still, a fascinating read, if one bulked out slightly with a hundred pages of notes and bibliography.
Covering the period from before his inception to just after 2011's New 52 reboot and just before the Man Of Steel film, if anything it proves that not too much happened in the comics between the first few years and John Byrne's re-imagining, and that a lot happened afterwards - death, resurrection, marriage along with additions and amendments to the mythos. Pretty much the only things covered in any detail are Superman's contribution (or lack thereof) to World War 2 and the imaginary stories of Mort Weisinger's era
The "curse" of those associated with the character is dealt with (sometimes a bit ham-fistedly - after a section about Christopher Reeve's accident and slight recuperation we are told he has died by mention of his widow, the actual fact of his death, a few months earlier than the story being told, almost seeming an afterthought.) There are other places when the "narrative" jumps around in time - John Byrne's post-Crisis reboot is talked about before the Crisis itself, then revisited before jumping back a few years to talk about the movies.
Factually, though, there was a lot I didn't know - and a fair bit I did, mainly about the publishers themselves, if only through reading another comic "history" book recently - but I think I would have liked to know more about the comics themselves than the detail of the various lawsuits brought against DC/Warner by Siegel, Shuster and their families, or how much revenue was generated by merchandise and the media. Still, a fascinating read, if one bulked out slightly with a hundred pages of notes and bibliography.
macshibby's review
2.0
Exhaustive, informative, and ultimately entertaining.
The things I never knew about the Man of Steel...
The things I never knew about the Man of Steel...
erinelizabeth's review
4.0
4 1/2 stars. I'm not even much of a Superman fan and I found the content interesting and was able to relate it to the whole comic industry.
wc4's review
4.0
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! Okay, I know Superman is a fictional character but I enjoy reading abut his "life" and his "deaths". The author traced the evolution of the Man of Steel from his origins to its present incarnation. Superman has changed a lot over the years but fundamentally still remained the same. For anyone who enjoyed watching the TV shows, reading the comics, or watching the movies, this book would be an interesting read.
librarydino's review
4.0
Excellent read! I learned all manner of awesome info about the creators and behind the scenes weirdness of a comic book hero. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for more in such a history.