- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: BenBella Books (6 April 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1932100776
- ISBN-13: 978-1932100778
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,157,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Faster than a speeding bullet: an insightful celebration of everyone's favourite hero. The ultimate American superhero is dissected, discussed, debated and celebrated by leading comic book artists, writers and critics in this fantastic tribute to the Man of Steel. A god humbled by his need to be a man. He is an all-American farm boy espousing the doctrines of honest work and clean living; the inner hero of every working Joe made flesh; the archetype of human decency; an alien superpower; a weapon; a Nietzschean impossibility; a determinist puppet unquestioningly obeying the orders of power-hungry Presidents; The Ultimate Good; and, a man in blue tights and kinky boots who wears his pants over his trousers. Superman was created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, introduced into a world reeling at the prospect of another war in the pages of Action Comics No. 1. A colourful giant from outer space with the everyday appearance of the average working stiff, he was the matchless force of pure good that countered the evil threatening to poison everything Westerners held dear about their lifestyles. Since then he has appeared in films, TV shows, animated cartoons, comic books and radio programmes. His blue and red uniform adorns wallpaper and bedclothes from Birmingham to Beijing. But what is Superman? He is indestructible, flawed with a secret weakness, incapable of evil but unable to step outside the law. The ultimate American myth representing the ultimate American ideal, fighting for the syndicated American brand of truth and justice in the face of insuperable odds and extraordinary quantities of red Kryptonite. "The Man from Krypton" deconstructs the most famous superhero that ever donned a cape and lied about his identity, delving into his history, his multiple incarnations and the array of things he has signified in his 65-year career. Humorous, philosophical, insightful and personal, this is the ultimate guide to the ultimate hero.
About the Author
Glenn Yeffeth is the author of Navigating the Golden Compass, Farscape Forever! And War of the Worlds (all available from Turnaround). He lives in Chicago.
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First Sentence
FASTER THAN A speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive-Superman is undeniably a symbol of power. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
FASTER THAN A speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive-Superman is undeniably a symbol of power. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Very interesting takes by different people of my favorite character of DC comics. There was a chapter that referred to the absurdities of the character and there was one big one that was missed out; How can a powerful being such as Superman be vulnerable to Kryptonite and yet it has little or no affect on human beings? Surely Lex Luther and other villains less powerful than Superman would feel it even more and suffer a quicker demise, thus making impossible for anyone mortal or ordinary to get grasp of it. If Kryptonians suffered from Kryptonite poisoning due to exposure how can the Man of Steel only become frail from the substance that supposedly should kill him yet still have his powers and gain his full strength immediately after gaining distance from it.
I am still a big Superman fan as I was when I was a kid but even then no one could explain this biggest absurdity to me. I think that even though Clark Kent and Superman have never been deduced as one by Lois Lane may sound silly there is still a logic to it like Poe's classic Purloined Letter, in the sense that it is so obvious that people overlook it and never think of it. Plus Christopher Reeve made this plausible with his outstanding performances of the two characters and alteration of body language.
I am still a big Superman fan as I was when I was a kid but even then no one could explain this biggest absurdity to me. I think that even though Clark Kent and Superman have never been deduced as one by Lois Lane may sound silly there is still a logic to it like Poe's classic Purloined Letter, in the sense that it is so obvious that people overlook it and never think of it. Plus Christopher Reeve made this plausible with his outstanding performances of the two characters and alteration of body language.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Superman is many things to many people.
25 July 2006
Format:Paperback
It is very clear that to each of us Superman is a different person and the same goes for his alter ego Clark Kent and the rest of the characters in the DC Universe. As a Superman reader and collector for 65 years and as one who used Superman in the classroom for 40 years, I start reading any book like this with a prejudiced viewpoint. I know Superman, I was born in his birth city or rather the city his creators lived in.
I wish I could give this book five stars, some of the selections are sensational. Others kind of go against everything I personally believe about The Man of Steel. In some cases I can't believe the authors really read the comics or saw the films and TV shows. This is just my perception. I won't cite examples one way or another as this is a matter of personal opinion.
Over all I love the book and especially enjoyed reading plotlines and quotes from various comic books that took me back to when I first read them. You are bound to forget a great deal in 65 years and in that context this was a trip down memory lane. However, you can over analyse and I am reminded of college English teachers who destroyed more than one person's interest in reading by being picky over every little line in a story.
Most of the writers were careful in their analysis, using logic and good sense while showing a love for the Superman legend. Others over killed by trying to intellectualize everything said or done by Superman, Clark Kent, Lois and others no matter how trite. My favorite current reading about Superman is Steve Skelton's, "The Gospel According To The World's Greatest Super Hero". That I have read twice since receiving it a month ago.
I am glad that after the documentation section at the end of each article there is mention of other works by the authors that the reader may want to check out. Some I will.
I wish I could give this book five stars, some of the selections are sensational. Others kind of go against everything I personally believe about The Man of Steel. In some cases I can't believe the authors really read the comics or saw the films and TV shows. This is just my perception. I won't cite examples one way or another as this is a matter of personal opinion.
Over all I love the book and especially enjoyed reading plotlines and quotes from various comic books that took me back to when I first read them. You are bound to forget a great deal in 65 years and in that context this was a trip down memory lane. However, you can over analyse and I am reminded of college English teachers who destroyed more than one person's interest in reading by being picky over every little line in a story.
Most of the writers were careful in their analysis, using logic and good sense while showing a love for the Superman legend. Others over killed by trying to intellectualize everything said or done by Superman, Clark Kent, Lois and others no matter how trite. My favorite current reading about Superman is Steve Skelton's, "The Gospel According To The World's Greatest Super Hero". That I have read twice since receiving it a month ago.
I am glad that after the documentation section at the end of each article there is mention of other works by the authors that the reader may want to check out. Some I will.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A must have for Superman fans
4 Aug 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a great read! Most of the essays I agreed with and some I did not, but I enjoyed reading everyone of them. What a fun and intellectual way to look at, who I believe is the greatest character in the history of popular culture.
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