Rating: - The human story behind the greatest superhero of them all!
Bruce Scivally has done a masterful job of linking almost 80 years of history into a gripping narrative. This book looks behind the hype and into the stories of Superman's origins and most movingly, into the lives of those who created the Superman myth. We discover how the Man of Steel challenged those who tried to bring him to life on the radio, in movies, on television and the stage--the very media where life was breathed into the simple character from the comics. What unfolds is an amazing story of Hollywood, egos, failures, creative triumphs and even delusional mental illness. There were points in this story where I literally wondered how the character survived in the hands of those who held the rights. I came away understanding quite a bit more about why Superman became and stayed popular even to those who never really read the comics. The book details the subtle and not-so-subtle changes in the character that have allowed him to succeed in numerous incarnations on television and film. This is a very revealing and illuminating look at a character who has survived and prospered for so long because of the way he has been translated to radio, film, television and Broadway. Great details on all the performers who have played Superman and all the key creative forces behind each incarnation. If you are interested in entertainment industry history, this book gives as grand of an overview as you could want by examining one character through virtually every facet of our media-obsessed culture.

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