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The Superhero Handbook
Presents advice on unlocking the superhuman within by creating an alter ego, hiring a sidekick, choosing a superhero lair, finding an evil nemesis, and saving the world over lunch.
- GenresSuperheroesHumor
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2005
35 people want to read
About the author
Michael Powell
235 books24 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 19, 2008
Any book that features a paragraph disclaimer, before the first page, advising readers to ignore all of the advice found within requires a second look. When that book is called The Superhero Handbook it also requires a thorough reading.
I don't read comic books, but I do know my fair share of superhero facts. I also enjoy a masked crusader as much as the next person and, let's face it. that's probably a lot. Doesn't everyone want to be a superhero at least a little bit?
Even if you don't, Michael Powell's how-to guide to being a hero (and saving the world!) is really funny. Earlier this month I managed to read a total of three melancholy/sad books in a row. The Superhero Handbook not only offered excellent advice should I decide to consider a crime fighting career in the future, it also got me laughing and decidedly out of my sad book funk.
The book is broken into small chapters with titles like "Denting the Sidewalk" and subdivided into smaller sections like "Dealing with Your Superiority Complex and Starting to Become Really Cool." The text also features a lot of lists and a couple of interactive sections (how else can you pick your Strapline and Catchphrase?). For that reason, this book could be great for a reluctant (older since it is a YA title) reader. I imagine most comic fans might also enjoy it.
The book starts with helpful advice on how to break news of your superheroism to family as well as ways to recognize your fledgling powers. My personal favorites:
[8] You are walking in the mall with your pet tiger, when you are both transformed into super strong versions of yourselves
Superpower: Looks like you've finally found a use for that Sword of Power.
Perfectly innocent explanation: There isn't one, dude. You are He-Man.
[9] You are two years old. A truck falls on your father, and you lift it off him with ease and save his life.
Superpower: You have superhuman strength.
Perfectly innocent explanation: It is a toy truck.
As that excerpt suggests, the tone of this book is humorous and conversational. While clearly a homage to the entire superhero genre, the handbook is also not afraid to poke fun. The obvious reason the avoid using your powers for evil is because the good guys always wind (duh). If a super is ever tied up with rope, they will inevitably be located near a sharp nail or other edge with which they can break free (again, obviously). Particularly useful advice can be found on picking the right sidekick and designing a costume.
The book spans advice for the entire arc of a superhero's career from their early beginnings, finding a mentor, creating a persona, dealing with a fatal flaw and even how to decide if it's time to hang up that cape. Each section is accompanied with a number of attractive illustrations reminiscent of traditional comic book art.
Yes, this book is silly. There aren't really superheros, and they certainly wouldn't use how-to manuals, but wouldn't it be neat if they did?
I don't read comic books, but I do know my fair share of superhero facts. I also enjoy a masked crusader as much as the next person and, let's face it. that's probably a lot. Doesn't everyone want to be a superhero at least a little bit?
Even if you don't, Michael Powell's how-to guide to being a hero (and saving the world!) is really funny. Earlier this month I managed to read a total of three melancholy/sad books in a row. The Superhero Handbook not only offered excellent advice should I decide to consider a crime fighting career in the future, it also got me laughing and decidedly out of my sad book funk.
The book is broken into small chapters with titles like "Denting the Sidewalk" and subdivided into smaller sections like "Dealing with Your Superiority Complex and Starting to Become Really Cool." The text also features a lot of lists and a couple of interactive sections (how else can you pick your Strapline and Catchphrase?). For that reason, this book could be great for a reluctant (older since it is a YA title) reader. I imagine most comic fans might also enjoy it.
The book starts with helpful advice on how to break news of your superheroism to family as well as ways to recognize your fledgling powers. My personal favorites:
[8] You are walking in the mall with your pet tiger, when you are both transformed into super strong versions of yourselves
Superpower: Looks like you've finally found a use for that Sword of Power.
Perfectly innocent explanation: There isn't one, dude. You are He-Man.
[9] You are two years old. A truck falls on your father, and you lift it off him with ease and save his life.
Superpower: You have superhuman strength.
Perfectly innocent explanation: It is a toy truck.
As that excerpt suggests, the tone of this book is humorous and conversational. While clearly a homage to the entire superhero genre, the handbook is also not afraid to poke fun. The obvious reason the avoid using your powers for evil is because the good guys always wind (duh). If a super is ever tied up with rope, they will inevitably be located near a sharp nail or other edge with which they can break free (again, obviously). Particularly useful advice can be found on picking the right sidekick and designing a costume.
The book spans advice for the entire arc of a superhero's career from their early beginnings, finding a mentor, creating a persona, dealing with a fatal flaw and even how to decide if it's time to hang up that cape. Each section is accompanied with a number of attractive illustrations reminiscent of traditional comic book art.
Yes, this book is silly. There aren't really superheros, and they certainly wouldn't use how-to manuals, but wouldn't it be neat if they did?
December 31, 2015
A mildly humorous take on the superhero. It has a few moments of actually saying something about the superhero mythos, but generally is just random jokes that are trying to hard.
If you are a huge fan of superheroes you may get something out of this, but otherwise....
If you are a huge fan of superheroes you may get something out of this, but otherwise....
August 21, 2007
A humorous "how to" for anyone who has even the slightest inkling of thought that they may possess super powers.
January 8, 2008
Not that funny. Boo.
January 16, 2008
Cute little handbook on how to be a superhero.
February 10, 2011
A cute little (literally too) tongue in cheek book about being a 'super hero'.
August 1, 2016
Lightweight and entertaining.
January 10, 2017
Eh. It's just boring. Don't waste your time.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews