How to Be a Superhero

by Mark Leigh, Mike Lepine, Steve Dillon (Illustrator)

By the authors of "How to be a Complete Bastard" with Ade Edmundson and "How to be a Complete Bitch" with Pamela Stephenson, this is a spoof how-to book on being a superhero, from choosing your name, powers and costume, to getting the right accident insurance and pension scheme.

Genres: Humor, Comics, Comedy, Fiction, Superheroes

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

A Surrey-based author, by day I work in a marketing agency but by night (and on weekends and religious holidays) I write, having had 49 humour and trivia books published to date, most with my co-author Mike Lepine.

I’ve written for the Great & The Good including Jeremy Beadle, Julian Clary, Chris Tarrant, Ade Edmondson, Des Lynam and Roy Chubby Brown.

TV projects have included writing for Joe Pasquale, Hale & Pace, Brian Conley and even Noel Edmonds (a dark period in my life of which I am deeply ashamed.)

Projects in search of placement include two novels: a crime thriller Dead Beat and a comedy, Dick Longg Saves The World! (soon to be an eBook) and two completed full-length film scripts, Kakia Vice and School of The Living Dead.

- excerpted from his website

Reviews

[Dan Hoagland · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest books ever. Pass this book around the car to be read aloud on a long road trip for best results.
"Beaten up by Midgets!!"
"Blubber On!!"

[Proditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever thought Superheros were cool, but never understood the whole underwear on the outside bit, do I have a book for you! I've been meaning to post about this for a while, but since I just reread it, the memory is sufficiently jogged for once.

"How to be a Superhero"
by Mark Leigh and Mike Lepine
ISBN 1-56163-051-9

A very funny look at the hows and whys of being a Superhero. It's a little older (Published in 1992) but it still always brings a smile to my lips.

A brief exerpt from the "Going into Battle" chapter:

Every Superhero needs a battle cry - an exclamation that makes his adrenalin kick in and inspires him to great acts of bravery and heroism. A good battle cry should be slightly aggressive, show that you are ready for action and, most important of all, inspire fear in the hearts of your enemies...

Good Battle Cries:
I strike for Justice!
You're cruisin' for a bruisin'!
Crime never pays!
Injustice shall never prevail as long as I draw breath!
Evildoers look to your laurels!
Where's the beef!

Bad Battle Cries:
To the subway!
Come quietly or I'll punch myself in the mouth!
Sperm On!
Rotate on this dirtbag!
You eat boogers! You eat boogers!
Prepare for a total eclipse of the nuts!
Tits out for Captain Power!

A fun book that seems to stay fresh even after multiple reads.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest books I have ever read. Irreverent, sometimes filthy, this book goes over every aspect of the super-hero genre and mines it for great comedic material that both thrives on how silly super hero tropes can be while appealing to everything that you love about the genre.

Any book that advises that being hit by an alien beam from space is not the most proactive way to get super powers and instead advises trying to get your parents killed by criminals to inspire you into becoming a dark avenger, and then illustrates the best ways to get criminals angry at your parents, is a comedic keeper.

Not for children, unless you want them to inquire what all the sex jokes are about. The violence is done in an over-the top manor, such as illustrations of a person wearing a necklace of dismembered testicles.

Some humor in the book has not aged well and could be considered insensitive. Particularly a couple gay panic jokes in the book.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest books ever written. Tears ran down my face before taking this to the checkout counter at Barnes and Noble.

[Dan Lurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut wrenchingly funny. If you're not a comic book fan, it might not come off as so humorous.

Almost every page had me in tears. Out of print, but well worth tracking down.

[David Leemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit crude, and they practically ignore the fact that many superheroes are women, but the illustrations are great (they are reminiscent of the illustrations in the Villains and Vigilantes RPG), and the scene where one of the superheroes take on a secret identity as "the State of Iowa" is hilarious.

That's the kind of thing that happens in that book.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go back to foiling the evil plots of Dominatrix Damsel.

[Doom70 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some funny bits about comics and superheroes. I recalled reading this 25 years ago and wondered why it's no longer in print. Now I know, what was considered appropriate 25 years ago is not now. It's not evil, just tone deaf, like how the book assumes any reader would be male. Anyway, some funny jokes and silliness.

[Colin Parfitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny guide on How To Be A Superhero.

Although some of the humour has dated.

[James M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funniest and best book I have ever read.

[Christopher Gadomski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even tell you how many times I've read this book because I loved it so much.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read. Sometimes it tries too hard, but it's a lot of fun.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long out of print, but worth tracking down if you can. It's a really, really silly book that explores some of the challenges you'll face as a superhero, such as the hassle of acquiring your own boy wonder, the dangers of being able to hear the thoughts of others, and the downside of having to wear spandex.

[Benamon Tame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of print but well worth chasing down if you ever read comic books and loved superheroes. A hilarious guide to becoming a superhero covering everything from choosing your name and costume to getting your own comic sponsorship and joining a team. Full of one liners, you will want to read out the entire book between tears of laughter

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funniest book ever. It's out of print, but worth paying up to twenty bucks on E-Bay. Wear diapers while reading.

"Tits out for Captain Power!!!"

[Gautam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take the superhero cliches and conventions and turn them into a hilarious how to book. Add Steve Dillion's politically incorrect art work for flavor.

[Randy Lander · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most hilarious superhero spoof books I've read. I think it's out of print, which is a shame.

[Liz Thackeray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite as effective as using the Spider man and Batman Handbooks, but it can work as a good model to look at organization of how-tow pieces.

[Ed Nemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun fun fun book...and not for the kids. If you buy this looking for anything close to serious, please take another look at the cover, then sit back and enjoy some hilarious silly fun.

[Buzz Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny!

[David Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this back in high school. Very very funny. Illustration is by the same guy who drew all of Garth Ennis' "Preacher."

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Enough said.

[Dudley Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious