Book Reviews
Book Reviews
"Adapting Superman: Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel"
Published by: McFarland Books (May 21, 2021)Reviewed by: Barry Forshaw
Although Batman comfortably rules the roost of DC superheroes today (particularly in light of the success of the new Matt Reeves/Robert Pattinson movie), the character who held sway for many years was the original, groundbreaking entry in the field: Siegel and Shuster's durable Superman, who has enjoyed a variety of reinventions over the years since his creators dumped their Kryptonian immigrant into a Kansas wheatfield (in fact even the latter fact came rather later in the Superman mythos). And part of the reason for the continuing success of the character in comics, films and television is his protean nature (there is currently a highly successful television series, Superman & Lois, which places the character back in his unexciting home town of Smallville as opposed to the bustling New York substitute, Metropolis), and the variety of reinventions of Siegel and Shuster's creation is forensically examined in the fascinating Adapting Superman, subtitled 'Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel'.
Although there is (inevitably) some repetition among the variety of contributors examining the way in which Clark Kent's alter ego has been treated in a variety of media, there is much that is new and valuable here – particularly an intelligent and sympathetic treatment of the character as seen in the Zack Snyder film sequence that began with Man of Steel, a trilogy that - despite its controversial reception (and relatively underperforming box office - has proved to have a particularly passionate following which continues to grow exponentially.
Whether your interest in Kal-El of Krypton is based on a nostalgic enthusiasm for the character or simply the fashion in which a fertile franchise can be reinterpreted, this is a valuable volume.
Barry Forshaw
"Adapting Superman: Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel" is published by McFarland Books.
Almost immediately after his first appearance in comic books in June 1938, Superman began to be adapted to other media. The subsequent decades have brought even more adaptations of the Man of Steel, his friends, family, and enemies in film, television, comic strip, radio, novels, video games, and even a musical. The rapid adaptation of the Man of Steel occurred before the character and storyworld were fully developed on the comic book page, allowing the adaptations an unprecedented level of freedom and adaptability.
The essays in this collection provide specific insight into the practice of adapting Superman from comic books to other media and cultural contexts through a variety of methods, including social, economic, and political contexts. Authors touch on subjects such as the different international receptions to the characters, the evolution of both Clark Kent's character and Superman's powers, the importance of the radio, how the adaptations interact with issues such as racism and Cold War paranoia, and the role of fan fiction in the franchise. By applying a wide range of critical approaches to adaption and Superman, this collection offers new insights into our popular entertainment and our cultural history.
Adapting Superman: Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel [Paperback]
by John Darowski (Editor)
Publisher: McFarland
(May 21, 2021)
Language: English
Paperback: 287 pages
ISBN-10: 1476677255
Purchase "Adapting Superman: Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel" from Amazon.com has a Paperback or for your Kindle.
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- Superman vs. Hollywood
- Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman
- Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman by Michael J. Hayde
- Our Hero: Superman on Earth by Tom De Haven
- Superman On Earth: Reflections of a Fan by Gary D. Robinson
- DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book by Matthew Reinhart
- The True Adventures of the World's Greatest Stuntman by Vic Armstrong
- The Ages of Superman: Essays on the Man of Steel in Changing Times
- Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero by Larry Tye
- Superman is an Arab by Joumana Haddad
- Superman is Jewish? by Harry Brod
- 100 Things Superman Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Joseph McCabe
- Superman: The Persistence of an American Icon by Ian Gordon
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- Is Superman Circumcised?: The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero by Roy Schwartz
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- Superman: Last Son of Krypton
- Superman: Miracle Monday
- The Further Adventures of Superman
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- DC Universe: Last Sons
- DC Universe: Trail of Time
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- Enemies & Allies by Kevin J. Anderson
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- Dear Justice League by Michael Northrop
- Dear Super-Villains by Michael Northrop
- Fallout (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond
- Double Down (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond
- Triple Threat (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond
- Superman: Dawnbreaker by Matt De La Pena
- Super Sons: Escape to Landis by author Ridley Pearson and illustrator Ileana Gonzales
- House of El - Book One: Shadow Threat by author Claudia Gray and illustrator Eric Zawadzki
- House of El - Book Two: The Enemy Delusion by author Claudia Gray and illustrator Eric Zawadzki
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- Smallville: Hauntings
- Smallville: Whodunnit
- Smallville: Shadows
- Smallville: Silence
- Smallville: Curse
- Smallville: City
- Smallville: Arrival
- Smallville: See No Evil
- Smallville: Flight
- Smallville: Animal Rage
- Smallville: Speed
- Smallville: Buried Secrets
- Smallville: Greed
- Smallville: Temptation
- Smallville: Sparks
- JLA: Batman - The Stone King
- JLA: Wonder Woman - Mythos
- JLA: The Flash - Stop Motion
- JLA: JLA - Exterminators
- JLA: Green Lantern - Hero's Quest
- JLA: Superman - The Never-Ending Battle
- Superman Returns: Strange Visitor
- Superman Returns: Novelization
- Superman Returns: Coming Home
- Superman Returns: Earthquake in Metropolis!
- Superman Returns: I am Superman!
- Superman Returns: Be A Hero!
- Superman Returns: Thank You, Superman!
- Superman Returns: The Movie Storybook
- Superman Returns: The Visual Guide
- Superman Returns: The Official Movie Guide