Boys of Steel
The Creators of Superman
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two high school misfits in Depression-era Cleveland, were more like Clark Kent--meek, mild, and myopic--than his secret identity, Superman. Both boys escaped into the worlds of science fiction and pulp magazine adventure tales. Jerry wrote his own original stories and Joe illustrated them. In 1934, the summer they graduated from high school, they created a superhero who was everything they were not. It was four more years before they convinced a publisher to take a chance on their Man of Steel in a new format--the comic book. The author includes a provocative afterword about the long struggle Jerry and Joe had with DC Comics when the boys realized they had made a mistake in selling all rights to Superman for a mere $130.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Catering to comics junkies, this vibrant and well-researched picture book biography introduces the youthful inventors of Superman, who this year celebrates his 70th anniversary. Writer Jerry Siegel and illustrator Joe Shuster are mild-mannered everymen whose reflective glasses conceal their eyes and their potential. In a crowded high school hallway, Jerry wishes he could be with his "friends," and a turn of the page reveals Tarzan, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. Joe, "lousy at sports and mousy around girls," draws sci-fi heroes with a passion. In 1934, when both are 20, Jerry dreams up the Superman concept and Joe draws prototypes labeled "S" for " 'super.' And for 'Siegel' and 'Shuster.' " In June 1938, their creation launches in Action Comics. Nobleman details this achievement with a zest amplified by MacDonald's (Another Perfect Day) punchy illustrations, done in a classic litho palette of brassy gold, antique blue and fireplug red. MacDonald's Depression-era vignettes picture Siegel pondering his superhero's powers and the friends casting a single, caped shadow. A cautionary afterword chronicles their protracted financial struggles with DC Comics when Siegel and Shuster sold their first Superman story, they also sold all rights to the character, for $130. Ages 10 up.
Customer Reviews
It's a bird, it's a plane…
It's SUPERMAN! This is the story of how Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the iconic character, Superman. The interesting thing, though, is that it is written in the style of a comic book. Even the illustrations have that 1930s-1940s feel to them. It's interesting and entertaining for both children and adults. But the greatest and most special thing about this book is that it teaches a few very valuable lessons for children: (1) never give up on your dreams, (2) the importance of imagination, creativity and hard work, and (3) do what you love to do. I plan to read it to my daughter's 1st grade class when I'm the "Mystery Reader" in 2 weeks. I have a feeling the children will love it!