True Believer

by Jeff Kass

In True Believer, Jeff Kass intertwines fiction with reality as he delves into the origins of the Marvel superheroes, explores how the Marvel saga informed his own worldview, and implores us all to continue to believe in the forces of good

Through lyric and narrative poems, formal and informal verse, and even a trio of limericks, Kass’s poems both retell classic comic book tales and recall his personal experiences being a True Believer—attending New York City Comic-Con with his childhood friends, wishing he could control the weather while coaching his son’s baseball team, and growing up reading about the Jewishness of The Thing, the Golem-like member of The Fantastic Four, which impacted Kass’s understanding of his own identity.

An ode to what Stan Lee called his devoted readers, True Believer is a call to arms and an invitation to discover the heroic in ourselves. If we can’t be super-powered heroes, we can endeavor to be what those heroes perseverance despite personal doubt, determination in the face of calamitous odds, and faith in the notion that humanity is worth saving.

Genres: Poetry

95 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Dzanc Books for this opportunity!

True Believer by Jeff Kass is a collection of poems about the comics and movies that make up the Marvel expanded universe. It is equally about how they influenced the author as both a fan and an individual as he grew up. You see, True Believer is also about becoming, and continuing to be, a good person in a dark world.

For me, the main theme in the collection is being a good person versus being a superhero with powerful abilities. "Friday Afternoons" is an example of this question. In this poem, the author recalls his time reading comics with his friends in college. They search the comics for an escape as well as for the answers on how to become good men and good people. Their search is set against the backdrop of social unrest, discrimination, and harassment. They don’t have powerful abilities, but the author wishes they had stood stronger against hatred and injustice.

Kass’ poems do not flinch when describing the world, and he does not shy away from talking about genocide, environmental destruction, and terrorism. "The Hour of Thanos" is all the more terrifying because it describes the world in the same breath as it talks about the death of superheroes.

Rhythm and rhyme are prominent throughout the collection. Kass uses forms, including ghazals, villanelles, and limericks, to break up some of the more serious moments. Limericks were an unexpected bit of fun for me, as they are not something I have encountered in poetry for a while. For example, the limerick about Red Skull takes the villain and mocks his failure to defeat Captain America. It even goes so far as to suggest that the only result of his evilness is his appearance.

True Believer is a fun, thought-provoking collection that looks out at the world and forces us to ask ourselves: what makes one a good person? Can we, as ordinary people, stand among the superheroes that we admire? I highly recommend reading it to find out (and to have fun along the way)!

[Clint Hannah-Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this! As a big comics geek, there were little references throughout that added a smile, but the poetry focusing on the authors youth--the power of comics to inspire and unite--really hit home. They were exceptional.

[Caleb Michael Sarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always game for a concept-driven collection such as this one, especially since poetry is not my go-to.

For the concept to be Marvel comics, there are some absolute gems in here (though a few that were two cutesy for my taste).

I had a really great time with it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Made me remember that poetry can be equal parts fun and thought-provoking. Highly recommend for any Marvel or poetry fan.