Superman: The Unauthorized Biography

by Glen Weldon

Overview

A celebration of Superman's life and history—in time for his 75th birthday

How has the Big Blue Boy Scout stayed so popular for so long? How has he changed with the times, and what essential aspects of him have remained constant? This fascinating biography examines Superman as a cultural phenomenon through 75 years of action-packed adventures, from his early years as a social activist in circus tights to his growth into the internationally renowned demigod he is today.

• Chronicles the ever-evolving Man of Steel and his world—not just the men and women behind the comics, movies and shows, but his continually shifting origin story, burgeoning powers, and the colorful cast of trusted friends and deadly villains that surround him
• Places every iteration of the Man of Steel into the character's greater, decades-long story: From Bud Collyer to Henry Cavill, World War II propagandist to peanut butter pitchman, Super Pup to Super Friends, comic strip to Broadway musical, Lori Lemaris to Lois & Clark—it's all here
• Affectionate, in-depth analyses of the hero's most beloved adventures, in and out of the comics—his most iconic Golden Age tales, goofiest Silver Age exploits, and the contemporary film, television, and comics stories that keep him alive today
• Written by NPR book critic, blogger, and resident comic book expert, Glen Weldon

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781118341841
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	04/01/2013
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	537,379
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

GLEN WELDON is a freelance writer who for the past fi ve years has served as NPR’s go-to comic book guy, reviewing all things funnybook-related for their Monkey See blog, main website, Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, and national shows. His writing has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, the New Republic, Slate, Story, Washington City Paper, the American Literary Review, and many other publications. He has received an NEA Arts Journalism Fellowship, a Ragdale Writing Fellowship, and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts for Fiction. You can find him at glenweldon.tumblr.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1. “And So Begins . . . ” 5

2. Truth, Justice . . . (1938–1941) 26

3. . . . And the American Way (1942–1945) 53

4. “Strange . . . I . . . I Feel All the Strength Draining Out of Me . . . ” (1946–1949) 70

5. Powers and Abilities Far beyond Those of Mortal Men (1950–1959) 89

6. Not a Dream! Not a Hoax! Not an Imaginary Story! (1960–1969) 115

7. Kryptonite Nevermore! Briefl y! (1970–1977) 145

8. The Year of Superman (1978) 171

9. Superman Agonistes (1979–1986) 193

10. The Never-Ending Battle . . . Ends. For a While. (1986–1993) 223

11. Faster Than a Speeding Mullet (1994–2001) 255

12. Secret Origin, Re-Redux (2001–2005) 278

13. All-Star (2006–2012) 294

Epilogue: Man of Tomorrow (2013 and Beyond) 327

Acknowledgments 331

Bibliography 333

Index 341

Editorial Reviews

Weldon, who reviews comics for NPR, has penned an excellent portrait of the Man of Steel, managing to be fan-crazed and critical at the same time. Starting with a look at Superman’s goody-two-shoes reputation, Weldon dares to ask, “Why has a schmuck like that endured for seventy-five years?” His answer is Superman’s motivation—he “puts the needs of others over those of himself” and he “never gives up.” Weldon wonderfully details the many twists and turns in Superman’s career, beginning with a look at how the comic’s creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster borrowed many traits from other comic figures in the 1930s, from Popeye to The Shadow. Weldon analyzes the shift from going after “petty crooks, crooked politicians, and those who exploited the working class” in the 1930s and 1940s to a trend towards “increasingly kid-oriented” stories after the Comic Code was instituted in the 1950s. Weldon is excellent at showing how, in the 1960s, “when Superman’s writers gave themselves license to dream up anything they could, they invariably dreamed the American dream of the fifties.” (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Weldon's years as a lifelong Superman fan give him superb insight into the character's central truths.... A reliable, witty, and informative guide." —NPR Books

"Breezily written and compulsively readable." —A/V Club

"An excellent portrait of the Man of Steel, managing to be fan-crazed and critical at the same time." —Publishers Weekly

"[Gathers] the sprawling, complex, and occasionally contradictory history of Superman into a rich and deeply textured story." —New York Journal of Books

From the Publisher