SuperHeroBooks - The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman (Smart Pop series)

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Manufacturer: Benbella Books

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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN: 9781932100778
ISBN: 1932100776
Label: Benbella Books
Manufacturer: Benbella Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 240
Publication Date: 2006-05-01
Publisher: Benbella Books
Studio: Benbella Books

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Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: A must have for Superman fans
Comment: 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.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Superman is many things to many people.
Comment: 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.

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Editorial Reviews:

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED **

Leading writers discuss, debate, and celebrate the legend of Superman in this anthology, contending that his legend is a truly American myth. Superman was an immigrant with little more than the clothes on his back and raised by simple farmers, absorbing their humble values. He always chose to do the right thing, fighting for truth, justice, and the American way, and represents America at its best. The in-depth analyses of the comics, films and cartoons are at turns funny, philosophical, insightful, and personal, exploring every aspect of the Superman legend.