Super Boys

April 8, 2013
English professor Ricca nimbly narrates the adventures of two creative Cleveland, Ohio, teenagers who, in the 1930s, combined their youthful passions to create the story of the world’s greatest superhero. Siegel spent his early years reading pulp magazines and writing his own fantastical imitations; Shuster learned to draw by tracing funnies in the paper. When Shuster moved into Siegel’s neighborhood, they discovered a common love of comics, detective fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, and started working together on various projects. After high school, Siegel launched his own local magazine, Science Fiction. In an unassuming 1932 story, the pair featured a depression-hardened character who discovers he has “strange mental powers” like telepathy and acute vision after ingesting a “fragment of a meteor.” Ricca’s compulsively readable tale reveals the real-life model for Lois Lane, the elements on which Superman’s costume are based, and the model for Superman himself (Johnny Weissmuller, who played Tarzan). At the center of the story, of course, is Siegel and Shuster’s decision to sell the Superman rights to Action Comics for a pittance—a choice they lamented the rest of their lives. The pair endured poverty, bad marriages, bad health, and a lack of recognition for their work. Ricca’s comprehensive biography reveals the turmoil and creative genius that led to our most enduring superhero, the Man of Steel. Agent: Scott Mendel, Mendel Media Group.

Starred review from April 15, 2013
Spanning nearly a century, this is the story of a would-be sf writer and tireless self-promoter (Siegel) and his more subdued but very talented schoolmate (Shuster), who created a superhero and, quite by accident, kick-started the immature comic-book industry and revolutionized sf. Then, thanks to one ill-considered decision made before anybody knew how popular or profitable Superman was going to be, they nearly lost all connection to the hero they'd created. Ricca reveals the true story of Superman's creation (the Man of Steel was the product of roughly equal parts imagination and clever repurposing of preexisting ideas) and goes into great detail about Siegel and Shuster's protracted, often heartbreaking legal battle to reclaim ownership of their character. After the pair's contract to produce Superman stories expired, Shuster faded into relative obscurity, but Siegel kept his hand in the comics industry, even returning to the Superman character in the late 1950s as an uncredited scripter. Ricca tells their post-Superman stories with compassion and just a hint of righteous indignation. How dare Superman's publishers, who were making millions of dollars, cast aside his creators? At the end of this account, when Siegel's and Shuster's names are finally restored to the character, four decades after his creation, readers might find themselves leaping out of their chairs and cheering. A wonderful book, as exciting as Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000), which was, of course, inspired by Siegel and Shuster, and as gripping as Sean Howe's excellent Marvel Comics: The Untold Story (2012).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013

Case Western Reserve professor Ricca, who speaks frequently on comics, dug through both Cleveland libraries and private collections to offer this definitive account of the creators of Superman. Just in time for the Man of Steel movie scheduled to open in 2013.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2013

In this thoroughly researched biography, Ricca (English, Case Western Reserve Univ.) documents the lives of Superman creators, Siegal and Shuster. A detailed account chronicles the writers' childhoods, their early collaborations at Glenville High in Cleveland, the events that led to signing away the rights to Superman for $130, and their lifelong struggle to obtain a share in the profits. Ricca places the story of Superman within a broader historical context to reflect the nation's concerns with immigration, crime, the Depression, World War II, and the cultural shifts between the 1950s and 1960s. He sheds light on the partners' personal lives including their friendship, artistic endeavors, family relationships, financial struggles, and incremental victories in winning back their creative rights. He also highlights the role of Joanne Kovacs, Siegal's second wife and the model for Lois Lane, who continued to press her husband's case after his death. VERDICT This book speaks to the treatment of artists by corporate America and its relationship to truth and justice. Written in a breezy, accessible style, this title will have wide appeal, especially to those whose views on the American way were shaped by comics, television shows, and movies featuring the Man of Steel. [See Prepub Alert, 12/7/12.]--William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.