- Hardcover: 128 pages
- Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd (1 Aug 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0751320668
- ISBN-13: 978-0751320664
- Product Dimensions: 30.8 x 26 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 892,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Product Description
For over 60 years the world-famous Superman has used his powers to fight for truth, justice and fair play against the forces of evil and chaos. For this book, DK has been permitted access to the archives of DC Comics, shapers of the Superman legend. Specially commissioned artworks reveal key locations, such as the Planet Krypton, as they have never been shown before. The secret workings of installations such as Superman's Fortress of Solitude are also displayed. Crucial events and characters are exclusively illustrated with drawings from the original comic books.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Superman:The Ultimate Guide To The Man Of Steel is the perfect book for anyone who is a fan of the Big Red 'S'. I have been a fan of Superman for more years than I can remember but I still learnt something new from reading this book.
This book is basically an encyclopedia of Superman. We learn about The Man of Steel himself, his peers, his enemies, all the geography from the DC Universe plus a timeline about Superman himself. I have been a fan of Superman for a long time but I was amazed at the facts I learnt. It has everything a Superman fan needs. It's also a great reference tool so next time you need to check out the real name of that pesky villain who keeps bothering Superman, then this is the place to go. This book condenses everything you need to know into one package. Without this book, you would have to browse the internet for hours but you've got everything you need in this book.
Fans of Superman will not be disappointed.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I recently read this hardcover guide in the US and I have to admit, I was amazaed as well as updated on what's goin on with Superman. I've been following the Superman comics since Dec 1999, and I haven't stopped yet!!!! However, I was always curious of what went on with Supes before I started collecting comics. I bought as many trade paperbacks as possbile on the subject of Supes adventures and found loads, and while I did expand my knowledge and understanding of what makes up Superman, I didn't have all the pieces. For example, regarding the Superman Red/Blue thing and the demise of the Cyborg in the Phantom Zone...how did that all happen?
Well, this ultimate guide explaines it all....in a colourful, well illustrated and organized way. It gives in depth profiles of even the small things like how Superman's cape-gets-damages-but-not-the-rest-of-the-costume phenomenon...and many other things e.g. Villians, Powers, Weaknesses, Changes and even a Career overview!!
I recommend this guide to anyone out there even remotely interested in Superman, since most people think he died and has been for a LONG time.
Enjoy!!!
Well, this ultimate guide explaines it all....in a colourful, well illustrated and organized way. It gives in depth profiles of even the small things like how Superman's cape-gets-damages-but-not-the-rest-of-the-costume phenomenon...and many other things e.g. Villians, Powers, Weaknesses, Changes and even a Career overview!!
I recommend this guide to anyone out there even remotely interested in Superman, since most people think he died and has been for a LONG time.
Enjoy!!!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
26 reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Best Suited for Younger Readers
15 Sep 2002
Format:Hardcover
I'd like to start off by saying this book deserves a 3 1/2 star rating.
The Ultimate Guide hardly lives up to its title. I am a serious Superman fan and was rather disapointed. Although richly illustrated and explained, this book was really full of information I already knew. It's very evident that Scott Beatty went to great lengths to research this, but I was rather underwhelmed.
However, this book is PERFECT for younger fans. Children will love the rich illustrations and, although some explanations for storylines will go over their heads, it will stil be a home run for any littler ones.
One thing I did like about this book is the timeline of Superman's career, located in the back of the book. Year by year, it gives a synopsis of key storylines in events, all the way from 1938 until now. That's useful for any Superfan.
So, if you're a parents looking for a wonderful book for your young Superfan, this is the one for you. But if you're already a serious collector, this book doesn't offer much. Try "Superman: The Complete History" by Les Daniels instead.
The Ultimate Guide hardly lives up to its title. I am a serious Superman fan and was rather disapointed. Although richly illustrated and explained, this book was really full of information I already knew. It's very evident that Scott Beatty went to great lengths to research this, but I was rather underwhelmed.
However, this book is PERFECT for younger fans. Children will love the rich illustrations and, although some explanations for storylines will go over their heads, it will stil be a home run for any littler ones.
One thing I did like about this book is the timeline of Superman's career, located in the back of the book. Year by year, it gives a synopsis of key storylines in events, all the way from 1938 until now. That's useful for any Superfan.
So, if you're a parents looking for a wonderful book for your young Superfan, this is the one for you. But if you're already a serious collector, this book doesn't offer much. Try "Superman: The Complete History" by Les Daniels instead.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A Picturial View of the Man of Steel
27 July 2002
Format:Hardcover
DK's series on the DC universe shows its strengths in this text on our favorite Man from Krypton. As usual, the people involved have done their homework and research well. The hours put into this text show. The pictures are fun visually, but I am concerned that a few of the photos might be intense for the under twelve set. Remember, a great many of these books will be sold at Costco, Sam's Club and a few other general outlets where some parents may not check out the books. Still, it is a vast improvement over the Batman book, which was slightly more intense.
For the fans of the comic since 1986 (when the fictional character was overhauled), this book is all comprehensive and forgetting little that has happened in the comic since then. I would have liked to have seen Superman from the different interpretations given a few pages apiece (Superman in the live action the Adventures of Superman, Superman in the Superfriends, Superman in the Superboy show, Superman in Lois and Clark, etc. .)
I also found myself wishing for a few pages of the pre-Crisis history. Like a page on the five types of Kryptonite (green, red, white, blue, and jewel), and other nostaligic trivia of the past.
I loved the illustrations for Krypton and various other detailed graphic pages. And I especially enjoyed the six pages on the back which gave a good breakdown over the past fifty years and gave an excellent overview for those of us older fans.
I look forward to the next book on the Justice League coming in November.
Sincerely,
JThree
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
UPDATED THROUGH 2005!
25 July 2006
Format:Hardcover
Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel has been out for a few years now, but with the latest Superman film, "Superman Returns" just hitting theaters, DK has revised their fantastic guide to the first and greatest superhero of all! This 144 page, oversized hardcover book contains just about everything you ever wanted to know about Superman. Written by comic industry pro Scott Beatty this is a fun and informative walk through Superman's long history as we meet friend and foe alike.
The book begins with a long look at the history of Superman's home world of Krypton and its long history which incorporates many of the modern concepts devised by both John Byrne and Dan Jurgens during their runs as the writer of Superman's adventures. This includes a large map of Krypton, one of several two page maps in the book. From there the book moves to Superman's early life in Smallville after being taken in as an infant by the Kents. Included here is a complete rundown of all of Superman's powers from his laser vision to his super hearing. There is another great two page map of Metropolis with important buildings such as the Daily Planet, Lexcorp Towers, and S.T.A.R. Labs noted for the reader.
Next up we have lengthy chapters that highlight Superman's major foes such as Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Brainiac, Metallo, Darkseid, Mongul, Imperiex, The Cyborg, and many more. These give a brief history of the villain along with their powers and some of their previous plots. The issue with their first appearance is also noted. Next we get the same for Superman's friends and allies like Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl, Steel, and the Eradicator.
The last chapter is actually my favorite and takes a look at Superman's career from the Golden Age right up through the present. This chapter shows how the character has evolved over his nearly 70 years of existence. Complementing this chapter is 16 page timeline spanning his first appearance in Action comics #1 in 1938, right up through the end of 2005. This year-by-year rundown notes important events and issues in Superman's career and is invaluable for both fans and comic book collectors.
As with all DK's Ultimate Guides, the Superman book is a visual treat with stunning art and an eye for detail. A welcome addition to the library of any Superman fan!
Reviewed by Tim Janson
The book begins with a long look at the history of Superman's home world of Krypton and its long history which incorporates many of the modern concepts devised by both John Byrne and Dan Jurgens during their runs as the writer of Superman's adventures. This includes a large map of Krypton, one of several two page maps in the book. From there the book moves to Superman's early life in Smallville after being taken in as an infant by the Kents. Included here is a complete rundown of all of Superman's powers from his laser vision to his super hearing. There is another great two page map of Metropolis with important buildings such as the Daily Planet, Lexcorp Towers, and S.T.A.R. Labs noted for the reader.
Next up we have lengthy chapters that highlight Superman's major foes such as Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Brainiac, Metallo, Darkseid, Mongul, Imperiex, The Cyborg, and many more. These give a brief history of the villain along with their powers and some of their previous plots. The issue with their first appearance is also noted. Next we get the same for Superman's friends and allies like Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl, Steel, and the Eradicator.
The last chapter is actually my favorite and takes a look at Superman's career from the Golden Age right up through the present. This chapter shows how the character has evolved over his nearly 70 years of existence. Complementing this chapter is 16 page timeline spanning his first appearance in Action comics #1 in 1938, right up through the end of 2005. This year-by-year rundown notes important events and issues in Superman's career and is invaluable for both fans and comic book collectors.
As with all DK's Ultimate Guides, the Superman book is a visual treat with stunning art and an eye for detail. A welcome addition to the library of any Superman fan!
Reviewed by Tim Janson
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