Our Hero: Superman on Earth

Icons of America

by Tom De Haven

From the author of It's Superman!, an exuberant and original exploration of America’s most iconic comic book hero

Since his first appearance in Action Comics Number One, published in late spring of 1938, Superman has represented the essence of American heroism. “Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound,” the Man of Steel has thrilled audiences across the globe, yet as life-long “Superman Guy” Tom De Haven argues in this highly entertaining book, his story is uniquely American.

Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the midst of the Great Depression, Superman is both a transcendent figure and, when posing as his alter-ego, reporter Clark Kent, a humble working-class citizen. An orphan and an immigrant, he shares a personal history with the many Americans who came to this country in search of a better life, and his amazing feats represent the wildest realization of the American dream. As De Haven reveals through behind-the-scenes vignettes, personal anecdotes, and lively interpretations of more than 70 years of comic books, radio programs, TV shows, and Hollywood films, Superman’s legacy seems, like the Man of Steel himself, to be utterly invincible.

Genres: Nonfiction, Comics, Superheroes, History, Superman, Graphic Novels

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Tom De Haven is the author of five novels: Freaks' Amour, Jersey Luck, Funny Papers, Derby Dugan's Depression Funnies, and Dugan Under Ground; a collection of three related novellas, Sunburn Lake; and a three-novel series, Chronicle of the King's Tramp, which includes Walker of Worlds, The End-of-Everything Man, and The Last Human. His latest novel for young adults, The Orphan's Tent, was published in 1996, and his latest graphic novel, Green Candles, in 1997. He has previously published two young adult novels, two graphic novels, and various other innovative fiction projects.

De Haven has a richly varied experience as a writer, having worked as a freelance journalist, an editor, and a film and television scriptwriter. His book reviews appear regularly in Entertainment Weekly and The New York Times Book Review. His awards include a fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and he has twice won fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Before joining VCU's faculty, De Haven taught at Rutgers and Hofstra University.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like a not as interesting, snarky for snark’s sake summary of Glenn Weldon’s book. He’s tonally dismissive of Siegel and Shuster’s legal battles(you were “embarrassed” for Siegel, Tom?). The ones after Warner brothers (with whom he sounds weirdly sympathetic) are given little more than a vague mention. But when I got to his takedown of the ‘78 movie in which he attacks the production design of Krypton and that still awe-striking opening credit sequence, I wondered if he was reviewing a version produced on Earth 38. Last month I had a chance to see some of STM’s original concept art—and while my kid self was annoyed by the headband omissions —Donner’s Krypton is one of the great reimaginings of comic book material. Would he have preferred the sweaty Pandora knock-off we got in Man of Steel?
Overall, it’s a speed summary with little to add and commentary that isn’t as wry or as witty as he thinks it is.
I felt like I was on a date with a dismissive guy in a Taylor Swift song.

[Tim Rooney · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a miserable take on Superman.

I started reading this doing research for a paper that may end up involving Superman, because I love Superman. And I couldn't stop reading it. It wasn't particularly well written. Mr. De Haven's writing style is too conversational and prone to repetition. I found the tone insufferable. His analysis of Superman as a character borders on cynical (despite his professed affection for the character) and seems to be rooted in a nostalgia that he long ago lost touch with and now thinks of as rather juvenile. Or at least, he thought the character was better back when he was a kid.

The bits of the story about Siegel and Shuster are interesting enough, but you can find that story in a myriad of better books.

I was fine with the book, disagreed, with it, but was fine. Until the final page, where De Haven dismisses the character.

"As with athletes and artists, there has always been a selfish, even a self-serving quality to Superman, to Superman’s ego. He doesn’t require love from the multitudes; Lois Lane will do. Basically, what he needs, and all he needs, is the freedom to act in ways that are satisfying to him. That’s why he’ll “never stop doing good.” It makes him feel good, dammit. Our hero." It's smug. It's dismissive. The tone carries through the entire book.

I said I couldn't stop reading it, and that's because I kept waiting for him to get to the point. I started reading with the impression De Haven was going to offer an analysis on what makes Superman endure, what about him speaks to people even 75 years later, that inspires. Indeed, that is what he sets us up for in his initial chapter. All that was offered was the same history I've read before, but written with less affection and a cynical edge (and mostly cannibalized from better comic historians). If you're going to write a history, at least be upfront about it, instead of setting up for a thematic analysis.

If you want to read a book about Superman, whether it's about how he was created, or about his influence, or anything about him at all, look elsewhere. I beg you. I wish I hadn't wasted my time. The character deserves better.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially one long essay on the Man of Steel, author Tom De Haven packs in enough insight and information into this book to make it a compelling read for any Superman fan.

De Haven smartly keeps personal Superman anecdotes to a minimum, focusing instead on Superman's history, from creation to development to merchandising to cinema. Insights into the creators is especially enlightening, highlighting the myriad legal battles from original co-creator Jerry Siegel, and the gritty reality behind what is arguably one of the greatest fantasies that exists.

In this way, reading Our Hero can potentially strip away some of the magic of Superman, when you see that the people responsible for his creation and propogation were themselves litigious (Siegel), bullying (Weisinger) and exploitative (Weisinger again). As a lifetime Superman fan myself, I found quite a bit of familiar ground covered here, but so much of it was news to me... hearing of the legal battles and the financial struggles, the rushed films and underpaid actors, and the truth behind why the declaration "Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster" disappeared from comics for so many years is an incredibly interesting narrative presented in the form of an essay. De Haven has done his research, and there is plenty of quotable information in here to make anyone sound like a Superman expert.

What's disappointing is the bare mention of the last 20 years in Superman lore, specifically Lois and Clark, the animated series & Justice League cartoons, Smallville, Superman Returns, and recent comics (though Birthright gets a page or two). These important chapters in Superman's history are glossed over and barely mentioned, making this an incomplete collection if you're looking for a single source of truth on all things Superman. But if you're looking for real insight and behind the scenes stories that reveal the rich history of the Man of Steel, Our Hero is an excellent addition to any Superman fan's library.

[Chris Aylott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. De Haven promises to dig into the long-term appeal of Superman, but most of the book is a review of Superman's history in the comics, the movies, and on television. The history is interesting, but unoriginal -- literally a review of what other sources have written. It's also skimpy after the seventies, compressing what is now thirty years of Superman into a few bewildered comments.

In the last few pages, he gets back to the appeal and cultural role of Superman, but doesn't have much to say about it after all. The most useful insight is that Superman does what he does not because of a sense of obligation, but because he enjoys being a hero -- that heroism stems from his nature rather than a need. That's interesting, but it could have been a ten page essay and not a 200 page book.

[Whitney Borup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly what I was looking for, but it's a succinct, entertaining history of the character. There are a couple insights into how/why the character has evolved/not evolved. But mostly it's a series of anecdotes about how various creators have contributed to the Superman character.

[Billy Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed his Superman novel, which took place in the 1930's, when the Man of Steel first appeared, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed. De Haven gives us a history of the development of the character, not just on the comic book page, but in all other media in which Superman has been adapted. He also analyzes his evolution as a character, and also shares his own history with the Man Of Steel. A very interesting read.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes Superman such an iconic character? How has he managed to last almost ninety years and still capture the imagination? Tom de Haven's excellent essay looks closely at the history of Siegel and Shuster's masterpiece character and explores his appeal.

[Chazzbot · Rating 3 out of 5]

DeHaven's book explores the cultural history of Superman in a concise, accessible format. As a long-time fan of Superman, there was not much new information here for me, though I would recommend this book to people who are interested in the character primarily through his many television and film appearances. It should be noted, however, that DeHaven borrows heavily from other, better, histories of comic book culture, particularly "Men of Tomorrow" by Gerard Jones. DeHaven provides citations for his sources, but readers looking for a more comprehensive and/or scholarly history should go elsewhere. To his credit, DeHaven carefully documents which aspects of the Superman mythos (Kryptonite, Bizarro, the Kent family) were contributed by which writer or creator (a surprising majority of them had only limited background in comic books), though perhaps only hardcore fans will be interested in this kind of specificity. DeHaven also takes an ingratiatingly familiar tone in his writing, addressing the reader directly at times ("Do you know what a tulpa is?") and occasionally engaging in stylistically questionable phrasing ("It makes him feel good, dammit."). The book's relatively short length (206 pages in the paperback version) reduce these annoying mannerisms to tolerable levels, though I found them needlessly distracting. The pace of the book comes to a screeching halt when DeHaven interjects a 7-page critique of "Superman: The Movie" that, in tone and persuasiveness, isn't much more sophisticated than a fanboy rant found in an internet chat room. DeHaven's cultural history is more useful and engaging when he sticks to the facts, and his book provides a good overview of them for the novice interested in the history of this iconic character.

[Osvaldo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe add a half-star?

A solid long essay in book form that traces out the history of Superman in the media, from his origins in comic strips and comic books to his radio plays, TV shows and the eventual movies.

De Haven demonstrates a strong knowledge of the character and a does a great job synthesizing a variety of sources on the character and the property/brand.

I am not sure that De Haven succeeds at his stated goal of explaining why Superman still matters in the 21st century, except perhaps by establishing a convoluted history that is the ur-narrative of such corporate properties that represent a cultural icon - a figure that belongs to everyone, as much if not more than it belongs to DC/Warner Bros.

This book is not for the casual fan (except those that want to beef up their knowledge of the meta-aspects of the character and its serialization, but it easy to read, keeps moving and demonstrates a genuine love for the Superman as a cultural icon.

[Trin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Tom De Haven's reimagining of the Superman mythos, the utterly enchanting It's Superman It seems he can pull off a great nonfiction look at Supes, too, with Our Hero, a fantastic exploration of the character’s real-life origin story, his ups and downs, and his lasting cultural impact. De Haven comes across like the wise fanboy on a hill—he's got both the perspective and the enthusiasm. Even if you're not a big fan of the Man of Steel—and I'm not—this book is a joy to read: a thoughtful investigation into why stories and characters are so important, into how an alien from Krypton can help us think about what makes us human.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Well Written History

This is a well written history of the character, creators, and times of Superman. Dehaven's novel, it's Superman, was a non-canonical novel of the hero living in the 1950's. It seems to be this era that captures his imagination in this book. While most of the details in the book are told in other sources, there are a few gems that were new to me. The Mort Weisinger stories are worth the price of admission. While this book is very well written, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has already read other histories of the character. It's good, entertaining, and informative but for people familiar with the Superman lore it's a lot of familiar retreat you can find in more exhaustive books.

[Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom De Haven is a terrific writer and anything he writes is a good choice. This particular book is a well-researched treatise on the uniquely American qualities of this archetypal super hero. Tom explores the nature of Superman through the comics, radio, tv and movies--all the outlets of popular culture. I should disclose that I was interviewed for this book and I appreciated that Tom was willing to include the Major in his discussion of how Superman came about. Tom is a writer's writer and this is not only for those who love comics but for anyone interested in our modern archetypes and popular culture.

[Cheryl Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a fan of Tom De Haven, not as a fan of Superman. De Haven's novels always have a voice that sounds and feels authentic and makes the work a joy to read. It was a delight to read long-form nonfiction in his own distinctive voice. I also learned a lot about popular culture in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, and it got me thinking differently about more recent popular culture that I lived through myself. Devotees of Superman and the character's history may not find a lot of new information, but De Haven's perspective may open up new ways of looking at the Man of Steel. I found the book an entertaining and illuminating short history of an American icon.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

via NYPL - An engaging and pleasant walkthrough Superman's history, touching on most media incarnations (up to 2006's "Superman Returns") and major comic book versions. DeHaven pays special attention to the plight of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, with an overall objective to capture the essence of the character and the nature of his timeless appeal. Your mileage may vary on the last two points, but the rest is concise, well written and informative (if not especially revelatory compared to other comic book histories).

[Laurel Narizny · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a movie fan, I would have liked to see a great deal more discussion of the Superman films and tv series. But this is a fast and engaging read regardless, about what makes Superman essentially Superman, and incorporating the entertaining petty dramas of the people who made the comic books. De Haven's writing style surprised me at first, but by the end I greatly enjoyed his snappy, punchy prose, vividly full of life whether it was reverent or cynical.

[Marty Allain · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent primer into the world of SUPERMAN including a chronological overview of how the character was represented and considered in pop culture through the decades to the present. If you don't care about this type of thing, you will probably not find it the least bit interesting. Only for folks who have a relationship with the Man of Steel.

[Shawn Meunier · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting analysis of Superman's creation, history, and character. Written by a Superman ubergeek, Our Hero: Superman on Earth explores what makes the character relevant to pop culture, and what continues to make him tick in our hearts and imaginations. A fantastic read for anyone who wants to understand how superheroes thrive to reflect our society and the world we live in.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling more like a fireside chat than a written treaty on Our Hero, I did enjoy the style with a little bit of gossip thrown in, it solidified how the commodification of Superman actually took place.

Part warning about the commodification of comics, part warning of get yourself a Lawyer when conducting negotiations with publishers it was enjoyable.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

there's a new Tom Dehaven!
there's a new Tom Dehaven!
there's a new Tom Dehaven!


and it reads like it was written on deadline. everybody is allowed one off book.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smart, punchy, well written history & interpretation of Superman as culture, in culture.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent history of the character of Superman and what he has meant to American culture. I would have liked a bit more about the development of the character in the comics since 1970.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best books about superhero comics I have ever read. Maybe THE best.

[Samuel B. Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little book on Superman, the original and the greatest superhero.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic walk down memory lane with the various incarnations of the Man of Steel....although he shortsifted Tom Welling and Smallville....

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

completely unnecessary. quick read, but not sure who the audience is supposed to be.