How has the Big Blue Boy Scout stayed so popular for so long? How has he changed with the times, and what essential aspects of him have remained constant? This fascinating biography examines Superman as a cultural phenomenon through 75 years of action-packed adventures, from his early years as a social activist in circus tights to his growth into the internationally renowned demigod he is today.
GLEN WELDON" "is a freelance writer who for the past five years has served as NPR's go-to comic book guy, reviewing all things funnybook-related for their "Monkey See" blog, main website, "Pop Culture Happy Hour" podcast, and national shows. His writing has appeared in the" New York Times Book Review," " "the" New Republic," "Slate, " "Story," "Washington City Paper," " "the "American Literary Review," and many other publications. He has received an NEA Arts Journalism Fellowship, a Ragdale Writing Fellowship, and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts for Fiction. You can find him at glenweldon.tumblr.com.
"Weldon's years as a lifelong Superman fan give him superb insight into the character's central truths.... A reliable, witty, and informative guide." --NPR Books
"Breezily written and compulsively readable." --A/V Club
"An excellent portrait of the Man of Steel, managing to be fan-crazed and critical at the same time." --Publishers Weekly
"[Gathers] the sprawling, complex, and occasionally contradictory history of Superman into a rich and deeply textured story." --New York Journal of Books