Our Hero: Superman on EarthSince his first appearance in Action Comics Number One, published in late spring of 1938, Superman has represented the essence of American heroism. “Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound,” the Man of Steel has thrilled audiences across the globe, yet as life-long “Superman Guy” Tom De Haven argues in this highly entertaining book, his story is uniquely American.Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the midst of the Great Depression, Superman is both a transcendent figure and, when posing as his alter-ego, reporter Clark Kent, a humble working-class citizen. An orphan and an immigrant, he shares a personal history with the many Americans who came to this country in search of a better life, and his amazing feats represent the wildest realization of the American dream. As De Haven reveals through behind-the-scenes vignettes, personal anecdotes, and lively interpretations of more than 70 years of comic books, radio programs, TV shows, and Hollywood films, Superman’s legacy seems, like the Man of Steel himself, to be utterly invincible. |
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User Review - Seanzilla - LibraryThingA kind of extended love letter to one of popular culture's finest creations; lovely! Read full review
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Bibliographic information
| Title | Our Hero: Superman on Earth Icons of America |
| Author | Tom De Haven |
| Edition | unabridged |
| Publisher | Yale University Press, 2010 |
| ISBN | 0300163002, 9780300163001 |
| Length | 224 pages |
| Subjects | › › Biography & Autobiography / Literary Figures Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes History / United States / 20th Century Literary Criticism / American / General Social Science / Popular Culture |
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