Book Reviews
Book Reviews - Reference Books
Our Hero: Superman on Earth
Author: Tom De HavenPublished by: Yale University Press (March 2, 2010)
Reviewed by: Steve Younis
"Our Hero: Superman on Earth" is not Tom De Haven's first book about the Man of Steel. However it is his first non-fiction book about Superman.
De Haven wrote the widely acclaimed novel "It's Superman!", and returns to the subject material with "Our Hero", but this time from a historical stand point.
Where "It's Superman!" was set inside the fictional world of Superman, "Our Hero" examines the creation and continued growth of the Man of Steel in the real world. De Haven takes a 'no holds barred' approach to examining the stories behind the stories.
The book looks at every aspect of the Superman franchise from the character's creation at the hands of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the early comic book days, the radio series, "The Adventures of Superman" on TV, "Super Friends", the ever changing comic books, the Christopher Reeve "Superman" movies, "Lois & Clark" on TV, "Smallville", "Superman Returns", merchandising, and legal battles.
De Haven gives his unflinching opinion on all aspects, examining each era/medium in just enough detail while sighting a vast array of external reading material to whet your appetite for more, yet finishing the book feeling satisfied that he'd covered pretty much every aspect of the character's 70 year history without leaving anything out.
If you're looking for a book that delves into the history behind Superman over the years, but aren't into reading hefty tomes or encyclopedia-type reference books, "Our Hero: Superman on Earth" is the book for you. It's well worth the read and is an easy book to get through. The book is one long narrative, rather than being broken up into specific chapters, yet it is easy and enjoyable reading.
Book Reviews
Comic Book Novelizations: Movie Novelizations: Non-Fiction/Reference Books:- The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero
- The Man From Krypton
- The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes - Volume 3: Superman
- Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway
- Beyond Lois Lane
- The DC Comics Action Figure Archive
- 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
- DC: Women of Action by Shea Fontana
- Is Superman Circumcised?: The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero by Roy Schwartz
- Adapting Superman: Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel by John Darowski (Editor)
- Superman: Last Son of Krypton
- Superman: Miracle Monday
- The Further Adventures of Superman
- It's Superman! by Tom De Haven
- DC Universe: Last Sons
- DC Universe: Trail of Time
- Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson
- Enemies & Allies by Kevin J. Anderson
- DC Super-Pets! by Picture Window Books
- 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
- Smallville: Strange Visitors
- Smallville: Dragon
- 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