Coming of age in rural 1930s America with X-ray vision, the power to stop bullets, and the ability to fly isn’t exactly every boy’s sto...
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reviews
Jun 03, 2007
Trin
rated it: 
I didn't really know what to expect with this novel; I'm not particularly interested in Superman and I'm actually rather suspicious of novels based on others' works (which is rather bizarre for a fanfic writer, I must say). I guess I was sucked in by the fantastic Chris Ware cover. And hey, for once judging a book by its cover turned out to be a good thing: It's Superman! is immensely enjoyable, sweeping, and highly visual even without the aid of comic illustrations. De Haven reexamines Superm
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Nov 11, 2009
Patrick
rated it: 
I grew up pretty uninterested in Superman (a dumb invincible jock? Who cares?), but lately I've put my bias aside and done some research into the Superman mythos. For starters, I watched all the Superman movies, and even Supergirl (my recaps can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094074/boar...)
So when I heard about this book, I thought it would be a good introduction to the origin of Superman. I was wrong.
Who is the audience for this book? Is there some percent More...
So when I heard about this book, I thought it would be a good introduction to the origin of Superman. I was wrong.
Who is the audience for this book? Is there some percent More...
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Aug 04, 2007
Jeff
rated it: 
My cousin, who is a librarian, gave me an advanced readers edition of this book. See, years and years ago, this guy who lived across the street from me showed me his comic book collection. He showed me Iron Man. I thought Iron Man was the bomb. A dude in armor, he can fly and shoot lasers out of his hands... what's not to love about comics? 15 years later, I gave up on the medium, cause hell, who wants to pay $4 for a 22 page book? Still my family associates me with comics. I wasn't enthu
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Nov 26, 2008
David
rated it: 
Tom DeHaven's name seems familiar, but this was not your daddy's Superman novel. In fact, it was utterly FANTASTIC as DeHaven crafts a retelling of the story in a more hard-boiled way. DeHaven is a master at giving a reader the FEEL of living in 1930's America. He knows the sports teams, the radio shoes, the automobiles, the WPA projects, the towns....
As I read this book I could really feel that I was in the Smallville movie theater at times. The details were incredibly crafted More...
As I read this book I could really feel that I was in the Smallville movie theater at times. The details were incredibly crafted More...
Jan 31, 2012
Joel
rated it: 
I'm giving this book three stars for the ending and beginning which were both pretty good. Unfortunately, I can't really recommend anyone read the book because, between those two points, there were about 250 pages of character introductions.
Seriously, this was less a novel then a literary crowd scene. If that sounds good or erudite, keep in mind this is a novelization of the superman comics. The people being introduced all seemed to be astoundingly dumb thugs. There are two chara More...
Seriously, this was less a novel then a literary crowd scene. If that sounds good or erudite, keep in mind this is a novelization of the superman comics. The people being introduced all seemed to be astoundingly dumb thugs. There are two chara More...
Aug 07, 2011
Ron
rated it:
DeHaven has written many fine novels illustrating the history of everything from early newspaper strips to the beginnings of underground comix, but the story of Superman's early years may be his finest moment. The period details are wonderful, but the real strength of the writing is that it is actually drawn from much of the literature of the period. We are treated not only to an homage to the crime novels of Runyon and the bleak depression era poetry of Steinbeck, but a tale that is true to the
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May 21, 2010
Johnny
rated it:
I've always hated those fan-boys who go to a motion pictures based on a popular media phenomenon (in this case, comic books) and deliberately watched for all the areas where the film differed from the "canonical" comics so that they could immediately trash the film and pretend that they were the savior-archivists of the comic book's tradition. I always wished that they would get over it because the film medium is so different from the comic book medium and it would be either difficult,
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Aug 20, 2009
Amanda
rated it:
This book is the first successful Superman novel I've ever read. It really deserves 3 1/2 stars, because while it was successful, there were, obviously, a few flaws. but let's start with the good stuff.
I take it back, this isn't a Superman novel, it's the story of Clark Kent from Smallville and how he became Superman. The book starts off with Clark at the tender age of 16 who has just been shot at by a criminal while on a date. The criminal is now dead, having been hit in the forehe More...
I take it back, this isn't a Superman novel, it's the story of Clark Kent from Smallville and how he became Superman. The book starts off with Clark at the tender age of 16 who has just been shot at by a criminal while on a date. The criminal is now dead, having been hit in the forehe More...
Mar 01, 2009
Colleen
rated it:
Usually my expectations for something like this would be low. But I absolutely love his Derby Dugan trilogy and think he's one of the best writers out there today, I had very high hopes for this book. And really DeHaven is the perfect fit for 1930s Clark Kent, since I don't think anyone can depict the 30s quite like how the author does (a nightmare time with great art). I even think he's the modern equivalent to Dos Passos or Nathanael West.
There were times I was sort of so-so about More...
There were times I was sort of so-so about More...
Jan 07, 2010
Sean
rated it:
I have definitely never been a Superman fan (even as a kid). So I really do have no idea why this title appealed to me enough to pick it up last year. But I did. And finally got around to reading it now. And it was (a bit surprisingly) really fun! I flew through it in 2 days, so I guess it must've been.
De Haven's writing style is warm and engaging - and oddly, in the present tense. His characters are all dependably colorful and easily likable. (Despite or perhaps because he is the v More...
De Haven's writing style is warm and engaging - and oddly, in the present tense. His characters are all dependably colorful and easily likable. (Despite or perhaps because he is the v More...
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Jan 07, 2011
Brian
rated it:
An fresh and overdue re-telling of the Superman mythos. Loved the noirish, originalist elements as well. The author definitely finds the human element of Clark Kent that I feel is far more interesting than simply the overdone comic book "Man of Steel" storyline.
It's no wonder that Batman and Iron Man and Wolverine have become more popular characters recently. They have human qualities all of us can relate to. But what of Superman? How many of us could really relate to this More...
It's no wonder that Batman and Iron Man and Wolverine have become more popular characters recently. They have human qualities all of us can relate to. But what of Superman? How many of us could really relate to this More...
Mar 27, 2010
Michael
rated it:
While this book wasn't exactly what I was expecting I still enjoyed it and am actually surprised that DC gave it the go ahead.
Throughout most of this novel it is easy to forget that I was reading a book about Superman. We discover sides of Lois Lane, Clark Kent and Lex Luthor we rarely see (although maybe we should) and often I would go for chapters without thinking that this was a book about a super hero.
So is this a Superman book for people who aren't fans of Superma More...
Throughout most of this novel it is easy to forget that I was reading a book about Superman. We discover sides of Lois Lane, Clark Kent and Lex Luthor we rarely see (although maybe we should) and often I would go for chapters without thinking that this was a book about a super hero.
So is this a Superman book for people who aren't fans of Superma More...
Aug 24, 2010
Jess
rated it:
I've been fascinated by the question of what heroes do when they're not performing traditionally heroic deeds for quite some time now. That's probably why this book was so hard to put down. De Haven takes us on a chronologically ordered tour of the Man of Steel's past (with a double dose of angst at times). Others here have complained about the sluggish pacing, but I found it to be a perfect fit with the overall tone and subject matter of the story.
My only grouses: 1) the abrupt ending More...
My only grouses: 1) the abrupt ending More...
Dec 17, 2011
John
rated it:
Wow, did I enjoy this book, despite being quite different from what I expected. In the end, that difference is what increased my pleasure. It's Superman reads like a 30s pulp fiction novel with hard-boiled and a non black and white approach to all the characters, including our favorite Kryptonian.
While Superman and Clark retain much of the honesty and decency true to his Smallville upbringing he is not the completely wholesome Man of Steel we've become accustomed to in the comics. More...
While Superman and Clark retain much of the honesty and decency true to his Smallville upbringing he is not the completely wholesome Man of Steel we've become accustomed to in the comics. More...
Feb 05, 2009
If you enjoyed De Haven's Derby Dugan trilogy or have fond memories of (or a continued obsession with) the Man of Steel, you'll like It's Superman!, a re-creation of Superman's early life before 1938, when he first started to appear in comic strips and, later, books, radio and television shows, and movies. De Haven, who teaches creative writing at Virginia Commonwealth University, has added a sophisticated, well-rounded, and compelling addition to the Superman genre. In particular, he has an eye
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Mar 18, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
De Haven puts a human and more realistic twist on Superman mythos in this novel. Set in the 1930s, just before the beginnings of WW2, Clark Kent is an awkward and uncomfortable farm boy, Lois Lane is a struggling-for-independence-and-work reporter, and Lex Luthor is a corrupt and rising Alderman in New York City (replacing Metropolis). I think De Haven catches the essence of the Man of Steel but intentionally views it all through a more lifelike lens. Clark is not a pillar of the American way an
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Jan 13, 2010
Paul
rated it:
This is a retelling, or re-imagining, of the Superman story. The novel has the thematic elements of the Superman legend, only set in the '30s of the "real world." Smallville remains a town in Kansas, but Clark ends up in New York City, rather than Metropolis. There are several references to Metropolis, however.
The story was written in the style of the books I remember swiping from my father's book collection in the attic as a child; chapter plot points at the start of each More...
The story was written in the style of the books I remember swiping from my father's book collection in the attic as a child; chapter plot points at the start of each More...
Sep 12, 2009
Cody
rated it:
The Superman story has been re-invented for every generation, every few years. Same origin, baby Kal-El just landed in a different decade. If Superman is the ultimate hero, he needs to represent our contemporary values, so this all makes sense. Tom de Haven has gone back to the original era of the character - the 1920s and '30s, and created a back-story which works as a prequel to the Man of Steel, and a period novel as visceral, gritty and real as any document to come out of that time. Prequel
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Jan 14, 2009
Mike
rated it:
This is probably rated too high, but it has several things going for it: I'm a comic book geek, I love origin stories and it's a great piece of storytelling with the right amount of 30s-style setting. If Clark Kent were around in the 30s, this seems like what he'd be doing.
But what sets the book apart is Lex Luthor. If he were around in the 30s, I have no doubt this is what he'd be doing. Luthor's always at his best when he's utterly ruthless and focused on making money and being a More...
But what sets the book apart is Lex Luthor. If he were around in the 30s, I have no doubt this is what he'd be doing. Luthor's always at his best when he's utterly ruthless and focused on making money and being a More...
May 20, 2011
Robert
rated it:
Highbrow concept (good) ruined by highbrow execution (bad).
The idea of taking a historical, realistic turn with the Superman mythos intrigued me, i.e. portraying "Smallville' not as an abstract rural area but an actual plains town during the depression, psychologically investing Clark Kent with the appropriate country mouse/city mouse fears and insecurities.
Unfortunately the author spends far to much time on his own characters - a worldly photographer as a friend and fo More...
The idea of taking a historical, realistic turn with the Superman mythos intrigued me, i.e. portraying "Smallville' not as an abstract rural area but an actual plains town during the depression, psychologically investing Clark Kent with the appropriate country mouse/city mouse fears and insecurities.
Unfortunately the author spends far to much time on his own characters - a worldly photographer as a friend and fo More...
Aug 14, 2011
Snotchocheez
rated it:
Sometimes random library picks yield wonderful surprise reads; this was not one of them. Occasionally, "it's Superman!" delivered the goods: a tense, action-packed and faithful-to-the-comicbook retelling of Clark Kent's odyssey from Smallville, KS to meeting (and falling in love with) Lois Lane in NYC. More often than not, however, I found myself questioning the title of the book (shouldn't it be called "Where's Superman?" instead?) whenever it lapsed into over-lengthy char
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Mar 12, 2011
Mike
rated it:
It's a long read, but worth it. I can't figure out what you'd cut except details, name-dropping and descriptions, but I'm sure that's the point of it all. Very atmospheric, late 1930's New York setting. Kind of wish it was Metropolis, or that Willi Berg the photographer character was called Jimmy Olsen, but of course he's not much like Jimmy except in job. Very Warner Bros noir feel to the whole thing, dames and gunsels, not much sci-fi or Superman to be had, but what there was was thirty tim
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Oct 15, 2009
Nat
rated it:
I don't know if I can praise this book enough.
The atmosphere De Haven creates with his dusty, detailed Depression setting merges with the well-known Superman origin story to create something of an entirely different style, but with the same lasting poignancy. His sharp present-tense prose has the punch of a comic strip, and he takes his time with both setting and characters. This book is a commentary not just on Superman, but also on the hero's influence in American culture--and, ev More...
The atmosphere De Haven creates with his dusty, detailed Depression setting merges with the well-known Superman origin story to create something of an entirely different style, but with the same lasting poignancy. His sharp present-tense prose has the punch of a comic strip, and he takes his time with both setting and characters. This book is a commentary not just on Superman, but also on the hero's influence in American culture--and, ev More...
Jul 01, 2011
Brian
rated it:
This novel is about the origin of Superman and how Clark Kent discovers his powers and how he ultimately becomes Superman. It also describes how Lois Lane grows to become a top-notched reporter as well as how Lex Luthor becomes such as masterminded criminal.
I enjoyed the book, even though it does not stay true to the "Superman lore." It is his mother who dies when Clark is young instead of his father. Also Lana nor Jimmy appear in the novel. I did enjoy the cameos of a va More...
I enjoyed the book, even though it does not stay true to the "Superman lore." It is his mother who dies when Clark is young instead of his father. Also Lana nor Jimmy appear in the novel. I did enjoy the cameos of a va More...
Feb 13, 2011
Tom
rated it:
The short version: I like what Tom De Haven did; I just don't like the way he did it.
The not-so-short version: It's Superman! is a retelling of the Superman myth setting it in the 1930s-1950s. There is some true cleverness in this alternate version including:
- The mortality of Superman's adopted parents
- The origin of the costume and the creation of the final costume
- The handling of actual historical issues of the time (racism, etc.)
The most interestin More...
The not-so-short version: It's Superman! is a retelling of the Superman myth setting it in the 1930s-1950s. There is some true cleverness in this alternate version including:
- The mortality of Superman's adopted parents
- The origin of the costume and the creation of the final costume
- The handling of actual historical issues of the time (racism, etc.)
The most interestin More...
Feb 09, 2008
Chris
rated it:
Why does everyone feel compelled to start Superman somewhere in the 1930s? Oh sure, that's when the original comic came out, but still....
Anyway, that was just one of the nagging little thoughts that kept going through my mind as I read this book. Overall, it's a good read - we begin with the Kents in 1935, raising a strange and unusual son that they found in a cornfield. Meanwhile, young Lois Lane is trying to make her way as a feisty reporter in New York City - an interesting chang More...
Anyway, that was just one of the nagging little thoughts that kept going through my mind as I read this book. Overall, it's a good read - we begin with the Kents in 1935, raising a strange and unusual son that they found in a cornfield. Meanwhile, young Lois Lane is trying to make her way as a feisty reporter in New York City - an interesting chang More...
Jun 17, 2009
Jim
rated it:
This book looked appealing, because it promised a literary and intelligent look at a cultural icon, and that sort of thing has always appealed to me. It was literary, and literate. It's a well-written book. And it was intelligent. And it didn't insult the intelligence of the reader.
What it wasn't was very interesting. I feel like this was a huge opportunity for something as dynamic as the title character, yet De Haven seemed intent on avoiding the big scenes and the big themes More...
What it wasn't was very interesting. I feel like this was a huge opportunity for something as dynamic as the title character, yet De Haven seemed intent on avoiding the big scenes and the big themes More...
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Oct 25, 2007
Monk
rated it:
I have been, and always will be, the Man of Steel's biggest fan. I would watch the Superman movie as a child at least once per day. I had superman Underoos and a cape, and I'd run about under my parent's feet and say things like 'up, up, and away!' In brief - I am an adoring fan of the Big Blue Boy Scout. To this day. Supes is The Man (patent pending).
This book is a little different and it strays a bit away from Superman's usual rigid moral codes and truth, justice, and the American More...
This book is a little different and it strays a bit away from Superman's usual rigid moral codes and truth, justice, and the American More...
Apr 05, 2007
dustin
rated it:
I got this book as a gift because I'm a huge Superman fan and because I loved the cover art. It was a fun read and I liked De Haven's prose and dialogue a lot. This is definitely a different Superman than the one most of us know today though, he's far more based on the original conception- less morally stringent (he drinks and smokes as a teen and he has pre-marital sex). Mainly that didn't bother me, but he also lacked some of the grandness of Superman, some of the splendour. The focus was
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Jul 30, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it:
I've never been a huge superman fan. The inspiration to even read this book came after watching Kill Bill Vol 2's, superman speech. Great speech, different perspective. So when I saw this at the library I thought I'd give it a try.
I totally enjoyed this book. It gives superman a little more edge (at least compared to my mostly Christopher Reeves inspired understanding of the S man.) I liked the alien metaphor. We meet Clark as a teen. I also liked how his intellect was not equal to More...
I totally enjoyed this book. It gives superman a little more edge (at least compared to my mostly Christopher Reeves inspired understanding of the S man.) I liked the alien metaphor. We meet Clark as a teen. I also liked how his intellect was not equal to More...
