Book Review of "Super Boys" By Brad Ricca

Book Overview (amazon.com)

In time for the 75th anniversary of the Man of Steel, comes the first comprehensive literary biography of Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, creators of the DC Comics superhero Superman and the inspiration for Michael Chabon's Kavalier and Clay

Drawing on ten years of research in the trenches of Cleveland libraries, boarded-up high schools, and secret, private collections, and a love of comic books, Brad Ricca's Super Boys is the first ever full biography about Superman’s creators. Among scores of new discoveries, the book reveals the first stories and pictures ever published by the two, where the first Superman story really came from, the real inspiration for Lois Lane, the template for Superman’s costume, and much, much more. Super Boys also tracks the boys’ unknown, often mysterious lives after they left Superman, including Siegel's secret work during World War II and never-before-seen work from Shuster.

Super Boys explains, finally, what exactly happened with the infamous check for $130 that pulled Superman away from his creators—and gave control of the character to the publisher. Ricca also uncovers the true nature of Jerry’s father’s death, a crime that has always remained a mystery. Super Boys is the story of a long friendship between boys who grew to be men and the standard that would be impossible for both of them to live up to.

Author Introduction

Brad Ricca is a SAGES Fellow at Case Western Reserve University. He reads comics and has spoken about them at various schools and museums, and he has been interviewed about them by The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, and All Things Considered on NPR, among others. His film Last Son won a 2010 Silver Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival. His book of poetry, "American Mastodon," won the St. Lawrence Book Award and was featured on "A Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor." He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Book Endorsements

"The title Super Boys says it all . . . the truly amazing biography of two of the most important names in popular fiction." —Stan Lee

“An American icon drawn with compassion and verve.  A must read for heroes everywhere.” —Jeph Loeb, author of Superman For All Seasons and writer/producer of Smallville

"No square panels or word balloons can contain Ricca's gripping effervescence:  it's headier than a bird or a plane or a speeding bullet." —Tracy Daugherty, author of Just One Catch

"Beautiful and heartbreaking." —Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author

"As a citizen of the modern world, you need to read this book." —Neal Adams

Analysis

This is a biography that tells the story behind the story of the iconic superhero: Superman. Brad Ricca leaves no stone unturned in his research for this book. The end notes document original source material used such as newspapers, books, magazines, comic books, web sites, letters, original art work and personal interviews. Ricca does an excellent job in bringing Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster alive for a new generation of readers. One does not need to be a comic book reader or fan to appreciate this book.

I found the book enjoyable, a fast read and very interesting. It piqued my interest in comic books in general, and Superman in particular. Also, I found myself interested in the issue of intellectual property rights. The original creators of Superman were certainly given the short end of the stick in terms of the money they would have earned. Artists today are probably much more savvy when it comes to their rights. Jerry  and Joe eventually began to fight back, but in the end what they and their heirs received was a pittance in comparison to what the publishers made (Action Comics, National and later DC comics).

Here is a quote that pretty well encapsulates their feelings on the matter (pg. 278):

The publishers of SUPERMAN comic books, National Periodical Publications, Inc., killed my days, murdered my nights, choked my happiness, strangled my career. I consider National's executives economic murderers, money-mad monsters. If they, and the executives of Warner Communications which owns National, had consciences, they would right the wrongs they inflicted on Joe Shuster and me.

I believe Brad Ricca has done a masterful job in evoking sympathy in the mind of the reader for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in particular and artists in general.

Recommendation

I would certainly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good biography. If you have an interest in comics (especially Superman), this book will be that much more enjoyable. It is well-researched, well-written and captures the reader's attention with its emphasis on the humanity of the artists who created Superman. In a broader sense, it captures the humanity embodied in Superman: his struggles against evil become ours; his struggles to become human become ours as well. Superman is the ideal for which we strive. He knows his limitations, but does his best to fight for justice.