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Mad Presents: A 100% Unauthorized Parody
Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the WORST DAY EVER! It's the 100% UNauthorized children's book parody as only Mad Magazine can do it in SUPERMAN AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY!
It's a day so terrible that only The Man of Steel could possibly hope to survive it! On this miserable, terrible, no fun, very bad day, Superman will face rampaging super villains, angry editors, boring chores, a cranky Justice League, and, worst of all, bad pizza. Superman's home planet, Krypton, exploded--so he's no stranger to bad days--but even so, this is one for the record books!
In this all-new story from The Usual Gang of Idiots at MAD Magazine and the same crew that brought you GOODNIGHT BATCAVE, the best-selling children's book ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY is parodied with the heroes and villains from the world of DC Comics' Superman!
It's a day so terrible that only The Man of Steel could possibly hope to survive it! On this miserable, terrible, no fun, very bad day, Superman will face rampaging super villains, angry editors, boring chores, a cranky Justice League, and, worst of all, bad pizza. Superman's home planet, Krypton, exploded--so he's no stranger to bad days--but even so, this is one for the record books!
In this all-new story from The Usual Gang of Idiots at MAD Magazine and the same crew that brought you GOODNIGHT BATCAVE, the best-selling children's book ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY is parodied with the heroes and villains from the world of DC Comics' Superman!
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 17, 2017
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618 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 9, 2017
I would like to thank Edelweiss and Mad Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I remembered I used to watch Mad TV when I was little and I was a bit curious about this new parody book involving Superman that Mad Books had created and I managed to request it from Edelweiss. Since I was familiar with Mad TV, I was wondering if this was going to be a vulgar parody of Superman. BUT, I WAS WRONG! “Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day” which is written by Dave Croatto along with artwork by Tom Richmond is a clever and hilarious parody on the popular children’s classic “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” and it is definitely one parody that will have you rolling on the floor laughing!
The story starts off with Superman having trouble getting up in the morning as he accidentally stepped on his glasses and also realized at that moment that he may have sleep walked during the night. It was then that Superman found out that he was going to have a very bad day and man was he right! When Superman was on his way to work, he had to fight Doomsday, but in doing so, he ended up coming to work late and his boss Perry ended up yelling at him in front of everyone. Then, when Superman went to the Justice League, he was forced to do monitor duty, which was a job he really hated doing. Superman then thinks about moving to the Fortress of Solitude.
Will Superman’s day get even worse from here?
Read this book to find out!
Wow! This…was…so…amazing!!! I have always loved parodies of my favorite franchises (provided that they are done right) and this was one parody that I felt was done right! Dave Croatto has done a fantastic job at writing this book as it not only greatly parodies “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” but it also sticks closely to the Superman mythos such as mentioning characters like Lois Lane, Jimmy and Perry White, the Fortress of Solitude and Superman’s time in the Justice League. I also loved the way that Dave Croatto weaved these two worlds together and manages to create a unique and hilarious take on the everyday life of Superman. Probably, some of my favorite parts in this book was the part where Superman busted up his shampoo bottle when he let loose his heat vision by accident and the part where Superman did not get the chance to ride in Wonder Woman’s invisible jet! Tom Richmond’s artwork was truly creative and greatly captures the feel of the artwork in “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” I especially loved the fact that Superman is the only character in color while all the other characters are in black and white as it shows that Superman is the main focus of this story and it shows how he views each bad situation he gets into.
Overall, “Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day” is a truly fantastic read for children who enjoyed reading “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” and who enjoyed reading “Superman” comics! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
October 11, 2017
I think the title explains it all. It was witty and funny seeing Superman have a bad day.
Received an advance copy from Edelweiss and Mad Books in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from Edelweiss and Mad Books in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2023
Superman whines for the whole book about his string of bad luck on this really bad day. This parody lacks the nuance Judith Viorst worked into Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to keep that from being nothing but a dreary rant, and "Fortress of Solitude" just doesn't flow off the tongue or amuse as much as saying "Australia" again and again.
Nice try, but it just didn't work for me.
Nice try, but it just didn't work for me.
February 5, 2018
A pitch-perfect takeoff on an awesome book we all remember (or should) from our childhoods. This one is a lot of fun, and will amuse even non-superhero fans.
May 26, 2017
This was a fun parody of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. If you enjoy your super heroes, then you will like this one even more. It is quite humorous. Alexander had kid problems but Superman, has super problems. He sleep walks through the wall to his house, his X-Ray vision explodes his shampoo and he has to listen to kids on the bus argue about who is the best super hero, he was not one being considered and more. This is a great book for anyone to have a laugh. I can see this being used as a mentor text in a middle grades classroom while teaching about parodies, fractured fairy tales etc. The illustrations are well done. Superman is in colour, but the rest is black and white so his situations and expressions are really highlighted. A great addition to a school and community library as well as in any home where they like to laugh and especially if they like Super Heroes. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
June 18, 2017
My students and I laughed aloud at the text and the accompanying illustrations.
October 22, 2017
Hilarious! Along the same line as the earlier MAD parody of "Goodnight Moon" with Batman. This time, Superman is the star of a retelling of Judith Viorst's children's book of a similar name. Written for all ages, though aimed at adults, this book takes a look at the grown-up day-in-the-life of Superman/Clark Kent having a rotten day while following the literary style of Viorst's book. There's no reason children won't enjoy the book as well, as there is no adult content but it helps to be familiar with the original and optimally to understand parody. The art is typical of what one would expect from MAD magazine and I loved the illustration device of drawing black and white sketches with only Superman in full colour. A fun book!
May 31, 2017
This was super cute and funny, I really felt bad for him!
May 10, 2017
This is perfect for kids, fans of Superman and those who grew up with the original Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Dave Croatto did a wonderful job adapting the story for Superman and the other Superheroes hanging out in the Hall of Justice not to mention Jimmy, Lois and Perry. With the popularity of Flash and Batman thanks to the movies and TV Show I thought it was cute the way Croatto played off that in the story since they've gotten more love from fans and press time than Superman's character lately. I too think anchovies don't belong on pizza lol!
As great as this story is, what cements it as a MUST have are the illustrations which do a wonderful job of bringing it to life. It's not just what you see right away in the foreground but if you allow yourself the time to really examine the details in the background as well it ups the wow factor at how much was included.
Between the story and the illustrations you'll find something to laugh about on every page to make this a quick favorite.
Since the Justice League movie comes out a month after the publication of this book I see some great marketing tie-ins and giveaways in the future....
Dave Croatto did a wonderful job adapting the story for Superman and the other Superheroes hanging out in the Hall of Justice not to mention Jimmy, Lois and Perry. With the popularity of Flash and Batman thanks to the movies and TV Show I thought it was cute the way Croatto played off that in the story since they've gotten more love from fans and press time than Superman's character lately. I too think anchovies don't belong on pizza lol!
As great as this story is, what cements it as a MUST have are the illustrations which do a wonderful job of bringing it to life. It's not just what you see right away in the foreground but if you allow yourself the time to really examine the details in the background as well it ups the wow factor at how much was included.
Between the story and the illustrations you'll find something to laugh about on every page to make this a quick favorite.
Since the Justice League movie comes out a month after the publication of this book I see some great marketing tie-ins and giveaways in the future....
December 17, 2017
MAD Magazine presents Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day, and that is about the biggest laugh in the book.
This is a great concept. It is a great idea to parody of a book that in the original is itself mocking in tone. Parents may be able to gentle a grumpy child with the humorous notion that even Superman has bad days.
Otherwise it is a relatively flat read. The illustrations defiantly make the book and are extreme enough to keep to the original audience thereby keeping the parody true, but otherwise they are not that great.
Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day is what is looks like it should be, but it lacks the sparkle and snap of real comic inspiration.
This is a great concept. It is a great idea to parody of a book that in the original is itself mocking in tone. Parents may be able to gentle a grumpy child with the humorous notion that even Superman has bad days.
Otherwise it is a relatively flat read. The illustrations defiantly make the book and are extreme enough to keep to the original audience thereby keeping the parody true, but otherwise they are not that great.
Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day is what is looks like it should be, but it lacks the sparkle and snap of real comic inspiration.
May 24, 2017
This was a fun and amazingly clean parody of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and it was so funny. Because this time it’s not a little kid having a bad day, but Superman. He puts his suit on backwards, walks through his wall, explodes his shampoo, and even had to cover the flower show. But some days are like that. MAD did a good job. Might have to add this one to my collection.
October 17, 2017
Works As Parody and As A Standalone
I'm a sucker for anything from The Usual Gang of Idiots at MAD, but that probably doesn't tell you much about how this book might appeal to its target kid audience. I liked the premise for this book and for its companion volume, "Goodnight Batcave", and I'm happy to conclude that the book seemed to me to work on both of its intended levels.
As to the parody, well, I've never been a huge fan of the "Alexander..." original, so I was wide open to a parody. This gets the feel of the original book, and since it's funnier and more clever than the original it works well as a parody.
But the important part is that it's fine as a standalone. Any kid who likes Superman, or any of the Justice League characters, will get the basic joke, and most of the funny bits and throwaways. We fool around with the cape, villains, doing Super-chores, the Clark Kent disguise, quick-changing into costume. This is all classic Superman and straight up fun. Sometimes books like this can get too subtle or obscure, but here each of the elements of Superman's bad day is classic and obvious Superman-ish.
It's all sold, though, by the illustrations. A sketchier or more manic and exaggerated approach probably wouldn't have carried the joke. But here Tom Richmond has done a wonderful job of giving us a very expressive and understandable Superman. There is a lot of energy in the drawing, but it's always clear what's happening to Superman and how he feels about it. Even a very early reader will get what's going on, and the drawings would help any reader to follow the tale. For older readers, there are a lot of clever and witty bits of business drawn into each page, and some of the funniest stuff is hidden in the margins and backgrounds of the drawings. This makes the book more engaging and much more rereadable than usual.
So, I was happy with this as a fun and funny addition to any kid's superhero shelf, and appreciated the good-humored goof on the genre. A nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
I'm a sucker for anything from The Usual Gang of Idiots at MAD, but that probably doesn't tell you much about how this book might appeal to its target kid audience. I liked the premise for this book and for its companion volume, "Goodnight Batcave", and I'm happy to conclude that the book seemed to me to work on both of its intended levels.
As to the parody, well, I've never been a huge fan of the "Alexander..." original, so I was wide open to a parody. This gets the feel of the original book, and since it's funnier and more clever than the original it works well as a parody.
But the important part is that it's fine as a standalone. Any kid who likes Superman, or any of the Justice League characters, will get the basic joke, and most of the funny bits and throwaways. We fool around with the cape, villains, doing Super-chores, the Clark Kent disguise, quick-changing into costume. This is all classic Superman and straight up fun. Sometimes books like this can get too subtle or obscure, but here each of the elements of Superman's bad day is classic and obvious Superman-ish.
It's all sold, though, by the illustrations. A sketchier or more manic and exaggerated approach probably wouldn't have carried the joke. But here Tom Richmond has done a wonderful job of giving us a very expressive and understandable Superman. There is a lot of energy in the drawing, but it's always clear what's happening to Superman and how he feels about it. Even a very early reader will get what's going on, and the drawings would help any reader to follow the tale. For older readers, there are a lot of clever and witty bits of business drawn into each page, and some of the funniest stuff is hidden in the margins and backgrounds of the drawings. This makes the book more engaging and much more rereadable than usual.
So, I was happy with this as a fun and funny addition to any kid's superhero shelf, and appreciated the good-humored goof on the genre. A nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
January 13, 2018
We've all read DC comics but have we ever examined a typical day in the life of a superhero? Well here's our chance in the picture book, Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day. A unauthorized parody of the popular children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judy Viorst, Peter Croatto has found a way to capture the essence of the original in a witty, laugh out loud manner which is sure to please both children and adults.
Poor Superman starts the day off by accidentally stepping on his glasses and blowing up his bottle of shampoo (drat that X-ray vision). Then on the bus he has to listen to the kids argue over their favorite super hero and his name isn't even mentioned. Late for work at the Dailey Planet (someone has to stop those super villains), he not only gets yelled at in front of the whole staff by Perry White, but he gets stuck covering a flower show. Ready to find solace at the Justice League headquarters he starts to long for his Fortress of Solitude when he's assigned his least favorite task, Monitor Duty.
Cleverly crafted, Tom Richmond has packed the 32 pages chock full of details with Superman in color and the remainder of the images in black and white, all while utilizing the style created by the original illustrations of Judy Viorst. This fun, family-friendly book is perfect for parents to share with their kids. Even if you know nothing about superheroes, who wouldn't chuckle about gum stick to someone's butt.
Mad has done it again. Five stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read. ellenk59.wordpress.com
Poor Superman starts the day off by accidentally stepping on his glasses and blowing up his bottle of shampoo (drat that X-ray vision). Then on the bus he has to listen to the kids argue over their favorite super hero and his name isn't even mentioned. Late for work at the Dailey Planet (someone has to stop those super villains), he not only gets yelled at in front of the whole staff by Perry White, but he gets stuck covering a flower show. Ready to find solace at the Justice League headquarters he starts to long for his Fortress of Solitude when he's assigned his least favorite task, Monitor Duty.
Cleverly crafted, Tom Richmond has packed the 32 pages chock full of details with Superman in color and the remainder of the images in black and white, all while utilizing the style created by the original illustrations of Judy Viorst. This fun, family-friendly book is perfect for parents to share with their kids. Even if you know nothing about superheroes, who wouldn't chuckle about gum stick to someone's butt.
Mad has done it again. Five stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read. ellenk59.wordpress.com
October 18, 2017
As you were growing up, did your storytime include Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? Or maybe you read it to your kids. As a teacher, I saved it for a really bad day for the initial read in my classroom. It’s one of those special books that puts problems in perspective and a smile on your face.
With those memories in mind, pick up Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day. MAD promotes it as 100% parody, and I think you will get a kick out of the story and illustrations. Poor Superman is just having one of those days. He wakes up to broken glasses and cell phone. Kids on the bus and the other superheroes don’t give him the respect he deserves. He gets a lousy assignment at work. You just need to read it yourself to learn of all the “miserable, rotten, no fun, really bad” things that happen to the Man of Steel. Maybe your problems won’t seem so bad!
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to DC Entertainment/MAD for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
With those memories in mind, pick up Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day. MAD promotes it as 100% parody, and I think you will get a kick out of the story and illustrations. Poor Superman is just having one of those days. He wakes up to broken glasses and cell phone. Kids on the bus and the other superheroes don’t give him the respect he deserves. He gets a lousy assignment at work. You just need to read it yourself to learn of all the “miserable, rotten, no fun, really bad” things that happen to the Man of Steel. Maybe your problems won’t seem so bad!
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to DC Entertainment/MAD for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2017
This is a Goodreads First Reads review.
I won this book and gave it to my nephews who are obsessed with superheroes. I ended up reading it to them twice because they thought it was hysterical. The oldest enjoyed the part where The Flash eats all the pizza and the middle one liked where Superman got gum stuck to his butt. The little one just liked all of the Superheroes.
The pictures are good, but Superman is the only thing in color in the book and my nephews thought it was a coloring book. They will probably color all over it now. Other than that, they really enjoyed it so as long as your kids like superheroes, they will love the book.
I won this book and gave it to my nephews who are obsessed with superheroes. I ended up reading it to them twice because they thought it was hysterical. The oldest enjoyed the part where The Flash eats all the pizza and the middle one liked where Superman got gum stuck to his butt. The little one just liked all of the Superheroes.
The pictures are good, but Superman is the only thing in color in the book and my nephews thought it was a coloring book. They will probably color all over it now. Other than that, they really enjoyed it so as long as your kids like superheroes, they will love the book.
November 8, 2017
A brief book that lets you know that even Superman has a bad day once in a while! It starts off a bit slow (a bit of a problem in a book so short), but by the end, there are some pretty hysterical images. Being a MAD parody, this is probably best reviewed before giving it to a child, but it could definitely be read to or with a youngster if he or she is into superheroes.
I received a preview copy of this book from NetGalley.
I received a preview copy of this book from NetGalley.
August 11, 2019
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” was one of my favorite books growing up. Superman is my favorite superhero. ‘Nuff said. This was a cute book with nice little Easter eggs for fans, making it both a solid parody as well as a sweet kids’ book. Worth the five minutes it takes to read whether you’re a fan yourself or if you’re wanting to introduce the next generation of fans to the Man of Steel.
August 14, 2017
Mad has done another super-hero themed parody of a kids book. Poor Supe. He really had a bad day. And the next day is likely to be as bad or worse. If you like parodies or just like send-up of pretentious kids books, you will likely enjoy this Mad offering.
Thanks DC and Netgalley for the chance to read this
Thanks DC and Netgalley for the chance to read this
October 15, 2017
I think my coworker would really enjoy this parody, but it wasn’t my favorite. Mostly, I’m tired of parodies, myself. However, Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day was well-done. The illustrations matched both the Superman world and the Alexander world and the writing was interesting.
October 25, 2017
SUPER good book! If you've ever read "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" you need to read this one too! It's a cute little book that shows how superman feels on the bad days. A great book to read to your kids if they're having a bad and feel like moving to the fortress of solitude.
December 14, 2017
I love Superman, and one of my favorite picture books growing up was Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This combines those two in an awesome and fun parody that is entertaining and enjoyable. Poor Superman, nothing goes right for him. Cool illustrations and fun story. Nicely done!
August 21, 2022
This review is for the ebook. I could not add a new edition for it, so I am reviewing it here.
Cute! The author definitely knows his source materials. He blends the fun of Viorst's children's classic with the kinds of situations Superman might find himself in. It was enjoyable on a couple of different levels for me.
Cute! The author definitely knows his source materials. He blends the fun of Viorst's children's classic with the kinds of situations Superman might find himself in. It was enjoyable on a couple of different levels for me.
May 11, 2017
I asked my 9-1/2 year old son to read this book with me. He of course is the one who gave it a 4 star rating. I laughed though as I thought it was definitely a 4 star book given the age range it was for. We both laughed and enjoyed the book immensely.
October 25, 2017
This book, done by MAD, is simple silly fun for all ages! Superman fans will adore it and it is cute enough to be enjoyed by even those that are not superhero crazy. The illustrations are quite comical and really make this book.
August 31, 2019
That WAS a miserable, rotten, no fun, really bad day. Very reminiscent of the classic picture book that inspired it, but with a superhero twist. Great illustrations that made me laugh. Superman may not have had fun, but I did.
July 30, 2017
...great for children to realize that even super heroes can have bad days. I loved the illustrations.
May 19, 2017
This is a funny book starring Superman in a parody of a classic children's book. Kids and adult superhero fans alike will enjoy it.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
July 14, 2017
I had fun reading this!
August 15, 2017
That was a good chuckle. Poor, poor Superman.
October 2, 2017
Fun and ny.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews