A review by lazy0718
Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero by Larry Tye
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.