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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
Super Boys is the culmination of 10 years research by Brad Ricca. The result is an excellent biography about the creators of Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The book includes rare early artwork and stories from their days in high school. Through these, you can see the evolution of Superman.
Jerry just tried wanted to fit in. He wrote for the school newspaper under aliases. He wrote stories about the girls he liked. He wrote letters to the early science fiction magazines and he schemed to get rich writing. When he met Joe Shuster, he found someone who could illustrate his stories. The result, eventually, was Superman. It seems like the ultimate rags to riches story, and it was. Just not for Jerry and Joe. They gave away the creation through errors and spent years trying to get it back.
The book covers the hard years, with Joe working drawing less than admirable things, and Jerry working as a non-credited writer in comics. Towards the end of their lives they began to receive the recognition they so desperately wanted, but the money never rolled in like they dreamed. As the book closes, the family is still in the process of getting some of the rights back.
It's a great story about 2 guys living in Cleveland who create something so beyond them. Something that was breathed out of their fantasies and into ours. Very enjoyable and melancholy.
I received a review copy from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.
Jerry just tried wanted to fit in. He wrote for the school newspaper under aliases. He wrote stories about the girls he liked. He wrote letters to the early science fiction magazines and he schemed to get rich writing. When he met Joe Shuster, he found someone who could illustrate his stories. The result, eventually, was Superman. It seems like the ultimate rags to riches story, and it was. Just not for Jerry and Joe. They gave away the creation through errors and spent years trying to get it back.
The book covers the hard years, with Joe working drawing less than admirable things, and Jerry working as a non-credited writer in comics. Towards the end of their lives they began to receive the recognition they so desperately wanted, but the money never rolled in like they dreamed. As the book closes, the family is still in the process of getting some of the rights back.
It's a great story about 2 guys living in Cleveland who create something so beyond them. Something that was breathed out of their fantasies and into ours. Very enjoyable and melancholy.
I received a review copy from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
I can remember watching the original Superman movies with Christopher Reeves. Mr. Reeves played a good superman. I don’t remember much about the comic book version of superman. I was not much of a comic book fan.
To be honest this book would not be one of my first choices to read but nonetheless, I am intrigued to learn about the men behind the superhero. I learned a lot about who Jerry and Joe are as people. It was nice to learn where they came from and how they met. Mr. Ricca does a great job of telling their stories. Joe showed amazing talent as an artist at a young age and a wonderful imagination. I give it up to people like Joe who can draw “free hand”. When it comes to drawing likes just say that I am your gal for “hangman”.
I liked reading about how Jerry came up with the idea of superman. Jerry and Joe make an excellent team as evident in their work and all that they have accomplished. Fans alike will enjoy reading this book. Super Boys is a collectable!
To be honest this book would not be one of my first choices to read but nonetheless, I am intrigued to learn about the men behind the superhero. I learned a lot about who Jerry and Joe are as people. It was nice to learn where they came from and how they met. Mr. Ricca does a great job of telling their stories. Joe showed amazing talent as an artist at a young age and a wonderful imagination. I give it up to people like Joe who can draw “free hand”. When it comes to drawing likes just say that I am your gal for “hangman”.
I liked reading about how Jerry came up with the idea of superman. Jerry and Joe make an excellent team as evident in their work and all that they have accomplished. Fans alike will enjoy reading this book. Super Boys is a collectable!
jackphoenix's review against another edition
5.0
The reader will feel a distinct and cruel irony that the creators of Superman, the most American of heroes, would fall victim to the evils of American capitalism. Nevertheless, Ricca never ceases to inject an element of affection and awe for "the boys" throughout, giving the reader plenty of sweet with the sour.
bobholt's review against another edition
3.0
An incredible amount of research went into this, and for that I am appreciative. This is a story that could stand on the merits of its own facts, but the author padded it with innuendo, supposition, and especially in the final chapter about the posthumous lawsuits by the Siegel and Shuster families, presented events out of order (sometimes by five years or more) in order to create a more engaging narrative. I would have preferred a chronological run-down of events.
whatmattersmost's review
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let me just say to start - that this was a very thorough book. VERY thorough. I am a fan of the Superman saga but you need to be a serious fan of Superman and even just of comic books in general to really appreciate this biography. Brad Ricca fished out every detail of the journey of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and I mean every.single.possible.detail. I found myself skimming a lot of parts - much of the early correspondence was just too detailed for the casual reader.
Many parts, however, I found fascinating. Seeing the creative process behind a creation as big as the Superfranchise as well as the behind the scenes deals that could line the pockets of executives while leaving the talent behind were very interesting. Just too much detail for me.
Let me just say to start - that this was a very thorough book. VERY thorough. I am a fan of the Superman saga but you need to be a serious fan of Superman and even just of comic books in general to really appreciate this biography. Brad Ricca fished out every detail of the journey of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and I mean every.single.possible.detail. I found myself skimming a lot of parts - much of the early correspondence was just too detailed for the casual reader.
Many parts, however, I found fascinating. Seeing the creative process behind a creation as big as the Superfranchise as well as the behind the scenes deals that could line the pockets of executives while leaving the talent behind were very interesting. Just too much detail for me.
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