Superman Through the Ages! Forum

(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0811844358.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)

It's Superman!
by Tom DeHaven

Best known for his Derby Dugan trilogy of novels, about the real-life inspiration for a (fictional) 1930s comic strip, DeHaven's newest project is a licensed novel about Superman from Chronicle books.  DeHaven is a comics fan and his interpretation of the character should be more sympathetic to older versions of Superman.

The great cover is by Chris Ware, whose graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan, Smartest Boy on Earth was a touching examination of the Superman myth in its own right.

Here's an early review of It's Superman!:


Fantagraphics Blog (http://www.fantagraphics.com/blog/archive/2005_06_01_fantagraphics_archive.html#111903515375298924)

Wow! How neat does THIS sound?

One of the things that's most interesting about Superman, at least in his early days is that there is a degree of futurism about him; all sorts of 1939 World's Fair type stuff. His "Metropolis" (an obvious reference to the German science fiction movie) was a future city. He was called the "Man of Tomorrow." His "costume," after all, started out as a reference to Flash Gordon and was worn because it looked futuristic (at least at that time).

Here's a question for the forum that this novel raises:

Is Superman a "period" character? Should he be kept "period?"

It would be unthinkable to put Sam Spade in any other time other than the 1930s and 1940s; ditto for Sherlock Holmes from his Victorian Era.

There was a Time magazine article a while back that said that "back in the 1930s, we liked our heroes the way we liked our steak: beefy and All-American." Perhaps - and I'm just indulging in idle, harmless speculation here - maaaaybe one of the problems Superman has had in recent times may be because they are attempting to "modernize" or "remake" what is basically a period character.

This author works across the street from me here at the university!  I talked to him last year when this project was announced in a local paper.  Once the book's out, I'll see if I can talk him into popping onto the boards if you guys have any questions you want to ask.

Awesome! Thanks for the hookup, Nightwing. I do have a few questions now that you mention it...

In life, it's not what you know, but...

Can't wait!

I saw the Roger Stern novel in the bookstore and flipping through it didn't impress me much. Maybe my standards are too high....

Anyway, this looks like it's going to be really good. I accidentally came across it while browsing Amazon, and I may preorder it.

aPPARENTLY it's out!

Now available in finer bookstores everywhere.

Any early reviews?

You've mentioned this before, Julian, about Superman being more closely tied to his origin era of the 1930s/1940s.

I became a fan of Superman in the early 1970s which is far removed from his 1930s origins.  The character has updated, mostly successfully, for every era since his origin.  IIRC, the Silver Age sales were higher than the Golden Age ones, or at least they were comparable.

IMHO, Superman should be kept. Period. :D

OTOH, the comics marketplace doesn't owe him an existence, despite his having founded the industry.  If the creative powers-that-be can't keep him fresh and vital for a changing fanbase, then the problem lies with them.

Actually, this was the first time I brought it up - check out the date on my post there.  :D



Ditto for me. Roger Moore is my James Bond and Bates/Maggin are my Superman writers.



That's an interesting point - Superman HAS been revised successfully many times.

It is interesting to note that in many ways, his seventies incarnation is the BIGGEST departure from Superman's beginnings. Not because of stuff like Kandor being re-enlarged, but because Superman's personality went from an all-wise father figure, to being a funny, understated character who cracks wise occasionally, and while he has a lot of dignity, he doesn't give speeches or pose. His heroism comes not from a Sir Lancelot purity, but from a very direct sense of right and wrong and refusal to compromise. In other words, Superman didn't try very hard to be a hero in the 70s - he just WAS one.



Agreed. I'd rather have no Superman comics at all than lousy ones.

I can't wait to buy this novel. It seems like a fascinating read.

Whaaa?

Rao, you mean to tell me that I've been watching Amazon, waiting for this book to come out....and it's out?

To ebay!

(coincidentally, while we're talking novels, Amazon has a free chapter of Roger Stern's recent novel posted. It may be acceptable to post it on this site.)

bn.com claims that they can ship "It's Superman" within 24 hours.  They also link to a used bookseller who's got a galley copy for sale.  Here's the link (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=u56aOHMB5r&isbn=0811844358&itm=1).  But if you're anywhere near a bookstore, why not just go there and pick up a copy?  (But for those who can wait, just remember that a purchase through our amazon link helps out a lot.)

And here's my review from the other thread, just so that it can be in the correct place, too. :)


We'll have to see if I still like it so much once I get further in...

:s:

At the end of the day Superman is timeless. But there is something about the backdrop of the 30's and 40's which seems to feel very natural for him and kind of pops him out, I would say the same for Batman actually. I think it's part of why the retro fusion look adopted for Batman the animated series and also Superman work so well.

I think the character is so timeless you could put him back in period and still have it work for a modern audience. Hell, it might even be better. Though that doesn't mean I want to have him just being able to leap or wearing sandels instead of boots.

Given everything that has come down the pike for the character in the past 20 years or so, I'd be very inclined to put him back into period so that he would not be so downwind of trend and a victim of alot of efforts to force him to "change with the times". Yes the character has been adapted to the shifting enviorment before but the past 20 years seem to have demonstrated an inability to do that without breaking or over analyzing the very things that make him work in the first place. Heck there are some folks who seem convinced the only way to modernize him is to not have him fly and take away his costume.

Also, putting him back in period would have another purpose which is to restablish him as THE first superhero. You could have his regular adventures happening in period but you could also do stories with him in modern times where he's older and is the example for others.

I've spun off a Spoilers Thread (http://superman.nu/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=14404) for the novel.  Be warned that there are, of course, many spoilers and probably more to come.

Perhaps non-spoiler disscussion should remain here.

:s:

I like this idea too, I think Peter Jackson setting his King Kong in period as well means it has a good chance of being a well-done flick...

The "Superman shouldn't fly or wear a costume" attitude is one I've been seeing a lot of in recent years. From Hollywood types like Jon Peters and Tim Burton (who very nearly did exactly that to Superman in the late '90s) to comic book fanboys of an Iron Age mentality ("Batman rules because he's dark and gritty and doesn't have powers, Superman stinks because he's bright and powerful and doesn't angst"). I don't think putting Superman back in a period setting would change that attitude. People who are predisposed to hate the character are going to hate him no matter what unless he's warped into their own twisted image.

Ultimately, I think the period and setting of Superman (1938-1940s, 1950s, contemporary, whatever) is irrevelant. What matters is fidelity to the character, what he's all about, and telling the story well. If you're true to who and what Superman is and you tell a good story, you've done your job. The rest is just window dressing.