Scan barcode
kathrynkao's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a Pop Culture Happy Hour fan who has a tall bookcase filled entirely with comic books, but I also am not a big Superman reader, so I'm pretty close to an ideal reader for this book. I already thought Glen Weldon was hilarious and insightful, and I love comics enough to find specifics fascinating but still was able to learn a lot about Superman and his history. I also got into comics about 8 years ago, so there's a lot I haven't read.
I'm more of a Batfamily girl (very excited to read [b:The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture|27276413|The Caped Crusade Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture|Glen Weldon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458692562s/27276413.jpg|47328268]), but I've read some Superman books, though mostly I know the character from the '90s Justice League and Superman animated series. The most interesting thing about him to me has always been the relationship between the Clark Kent and Superman identities. Is Superman the mask? Or is Clark Kent? Or is it not that simple? Weldon, in his comprehensive survey and analysis of how Superman has changed over time, shows how different writers, artists, editors, and directors have answered that question. Learning about the different interpretations of the character--as well as what fundamentally makes Superman Superman--has given me a greater appreciation for Superman, both as a character and as a cultural icon. I'm now adding to my to-read list a bunch of the books that were mentioned, and I kind of want to check out Smallville and Lois and Clark. Just for, you know, comic book nerdery.
The title of the book includes the word "biography," and that's what this is. It's not an academic look at the impact Superman has on society, although the book does touch on how Superman has affected pop culture throughout his existence. Instead, this is a very full, very detailed biography of Superman--his creation, his major storylines, his various incarnations in radio, TV, and film. The book is written more as a narrative than as a textbook, which makes it extremely readable, and which also lets Weldon's obvious love of the subject, as well as his personality, shine through. I absolutely got the impression that if someone were to walk up to Glen Weldon and ask him about the history of Superman, this is what you'd get; it feels like he's talking to you. As a result, the book was really a joy to read, especially for me, since I don't have comic book friends to geek out to. And I finished the book really, really wanting to buy a stack of Superman comics.
I'm more of a Batfamily girl (very excited to read [b:The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture|27276413|The Caped Crusade Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture|Glen Weldon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458692562s/27276413.jpg|47328268]), but I've read some Superman books, though mostly I know the character from the '90s Justice League and Superman animated series. The most interesting thing about him to me has always been the relationship between the Clark Kent and Superman identities. Is Superman the mask? Or is Clark Kent? Or is it not that simple? Weldon, in his comprehensive survey and analysis of how Superman has changed over time, shows how different writers, artists, editors, and directors have answered that question. Learning about the different interpretations of the character--as well as what fundamentally makes Superman Superman--has given me a greater appreciation for Superman, both as a character and as a cultural icon. I'm now adding to my to-read list a bunch of the books that were mentioned, and I kind of want to check out Smallville and Lois and Clark. Just for, you know, comic book nerdery.
The title of the book includes the word "biography," and that's what this is. It's not an academic look at the impact Superman has on society, although the book does touch on how Superman has affected pop culture throughout his existence. Instead, this is a very full, very detailed biography of Superman--his creation, his major storylines, his various incarnations in radio, TV, and film. The book is written more as a narrative than as a textbook, which makes it extremely readable, and which also lets Weldon's obvious love of the subject, as well as his personality, shine through. I absolutely got the impression that if someone were to walk up to Glen Weldon and ask him about the history of Superman, this is what you'd get; it feels like he's talking to you. As a result, the book was really a joy to read, especially for me, since I don't have comic book friends to geek out to. And I finished the book really, really wanting to buy a stack of Superman comics.
lckrgr's review against another edition
4.0
I have never had strong feelings on Superman, but I did know that after listening to multiple episodes of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour I liked Glen Weldon, so I thought it only right I should read this book.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun and humor-filled look at "the big blue boy scout." In fact after reading it, I immediately went and added "All-Star Superman" to my reading list because it sounded so intriguing. A big deal as I've never read any Superman comics.
My only complaint about the book is the "unauthorized" aspect of it. While it's completely understandable why the publishers would choose to go this route, there were so many outfits and panels described that I wished I could have seen them for myself. As it was I just had to Google.
Regardless of the lack of pictures/photos, this was a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in comics and how popular culture fits into the bigger picture.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun and humor-filled look at "the big blue boy scout." In fact after reading it, I immediately went and added "All-Star Superman" to my reading list because it sounded so intriguing. A big deal as I've never read any Superman comics.
My only complaint about the book is the "unauthorized" aspect of it. While it's completely understandable why the publishers would choose to go this route, there were so many outfits and panels described that I wished I could have seen them for myself. As it was I just had to Google.
Regardless of the lack of pictures/photos, this was a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in comics and how popular culture fits into the bigger picture.
thematinee's review against another edition
3.0
It's been an eventful three-quarter-century for The Man of Tomorrow, and this book is out to detail damned near every moment of it.
All told though, I'd gladly give up chronicles for comprehension...facts for philosophy.
Now where'd I leave that copy of Birthright?
All told though, I'd gladly give up chronicles for comprehension...facts for philosophy.
Now where'd I leave that copy of Birthright?
tasharobinson's review against another edition
4.0
I was never particularly interested in Superman as a character, but I love the author, Glen Weldon, who I know from his acid wit on the NPR podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour. (Essential listening for fans of pop-culture, podcasts, insightful criticism, and general good humor.) So I read this, his first book, largely out of a sense of loyalty. And it's unsurprisingly hugely interesting, even for a non-Superman fan. Weldon tracks how Superman has changed over the decades: visually, under a wide variety of artists; narratively, under a wide variety of writers; and culturally, in response to what was going on in comics as a whole during various eras. He also tracks the character's changes through radio, TV, films, and merchandising, and ties it all into a sort of Unified Field Theory of the various cultural purposes of Superman. I grew up with some of the comics he describes; a lot more of this history happened during my lifetime as I wasn't paying attention to comics. So it's terrific to have it all summarized and brought together, with humor and insight. I do wish there was more of Weldon's distinctive "voice" in the material — he comes through in little sardonic moments, often in tiny parentheticals—sometimes just a simple "(heh)"—but overall, he seems to be working for a gentle authority rather than the full-on sardonicism he's so capable of. Still, he lets his inner comic-book geek out and goes into a lot of close detail about fan response and continuity changes, while still keeping the material accessible for non-comics fans who are just interested in a cultural phenomenon. This was a fascinating book.
rosarachel's review against another edition
4.0
An entertaining and informative read on the history of Superman, both as a character/property and a symbol. Less concerned with the behind-the-scenes hijinks than many comic histories, it traces how the man of steel has changed with the culture around him and what he's meant to different people at different times. It's also extremely funny.
hidingzeus's review against another edition
4.0
I love Superman. I have loved him every since I read re-prints of old comics in a massive library book when was 9 or 10 and I love him still. This book reminded me why I love Superman so much- when the writers and artists change him around to suit the time and whatever trend DC wants to jump on, Superman the character endures and delights even all these years later.
tarmstrong112's review against another edition
5.0
This was really good. Basically a long publishing history of Superman, detailing his adventures in comics, radio, movies and TV. Very interesting to see how Superman has evolved over 75 years of publishing and other media history.