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Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman
JERRY SIEGEL AND Joe Shuster, two misfit teens in Depression-era Cleveland, were more like Clark Kent—meek, mild, and myopic—than his secret identity, Superman. Both boys escaped into the worlds of science fiction and pulp magazine adventure tales. Jerry wrote stories, and Joe illustrated them. In 1934, they created a superhero who was everything they were not. It was four...more
Library Binding, 40 pages
Published
July 22nd 2008
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Jerry and Joe are best friends. They both feel like outsiders in high school; they’d much rather read the stories about amazing characters in comic strips than play ball outside. Soon, they start working on their own comic strips: Jerry writes stories, while Joe draws the characters. They dream of having their own strip in a newspaper. Jerry has the idea of a new hero, one who has the superpowers Jerry wishes he had. Joe draws a man as strong as steel. Many newspaper editors turn them down, unti...more
It might be called the revenge of the nerds. One of Jerry Siegel’s teachers told the Cleveland teenager that the fantastic adventure stories he wrote were trash. His only friend in high school was Joe Shuster, who shared his love of science fiction and adventure. But while Jerry typed his stories, Joe drew his two-fisted heroes. Together they hoped they could create a comic strip and sell it to a newspaper.
One night Jerry had an idea. What if, instead of humans traveling to other pla...more
One night Jerry had an idea. What if, instead of humans traveling to other pla...more
Excellent children's picturebook biography of mild and meek Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, creators of Superman. With retro-style art, the story begins with their solitary days in high school before they met - Jerry would isolate himself reading comics and writing science fiction stories in his attic while Joe would occupy his time drawing. The two, who could almost be mistaken for brothers, meet in their Cleveland high school and they become friends and comic partners. They take various ideas...more
This book soars when telling the quiet story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the "Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman." These two guys were the forerunners of silent, nerdy, fanboys who daydreamed of superheroes instead of focusing on school, or being aware that girls paid them no mind. These two slowly brought to life the amazing Superman, but not before facing a whole lot of rejection in the midst of the Great Depression. But their tenacity pays off and the whole world is introd...more
Once again, I picked up an F&G (advance unbound copy) of this picture book biography at work to flip through, and wound up reading the whole thing. The art alone is this book is wonderful, as it is consciously done in Shuster's style. The author has clearly done a lot of research, but never overwhelms the child reader. Nobleman does a good job of portraying Superman's origins (noting how he didn't originally fly, for instance) with the character we know today. He even goes into the rights contro...more
This is the story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who created Superman. They met while they were in high school during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. They were very similar in looks as well as in personality. Jerry and Joe would read books and comics and watch movies about superheroes. Jerry would write about them, and Joe would draw them. In winter, Joe’s house didn’t have heat, and he would draw in layers of clothing, including a coat and gloves. Jerry decided that he and Joe need...more
This deceptively simple picture book is surprisingly emotionally resonant. It looks like it may be for children, but after reading it, I'd say it's for the adult reader.
Excellent account of the two boys (Joe and Jerry) who created Superman. The boys met in high school and then sold their idea to DC Comics when they were 24. They spent most of their lives as Superman's obscure creators when DC bought the rights and took their names off the comics. This lasted until the Superman movie came out and DC was sued. I appreciated how the author and illustrator team of this book placed the creation of this superhero in the context of the Great Depression and WWI, a time...more
This is the gripping and fascinating true story of the creation of Superman. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were high school students in Cleveland during the Depression. Jerry was a writer, who loved adventure and science fiction. Joe loved to draw and illustrated many of Jerry's stories. Together in 1934, they created Superman, a hero who was also as shy and reserved as both of them were. For three years they tried to sell Superman to publishers. It wasn't until they found one interested in...more
Time was when a comic book wouldn’t have had a snowball’s chance in Hades of getting into a library’s collection. And while some library systems have grown more open to the notion of comic book heroes leaping about their hallowed halls, there’s still a great deal of resistance to the idea. Now Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ross MacDonald have found another way to get a fella like Superman into a library, and it’s definitely a slick idea. Until now the story of Superman’s creators Jerry Siegel and J...more
This is a great picture book story about the two creators of Superman, Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (illustrator). I could totally identify with their nerdiness during high school and not knowing how to relate to "normal" people, expect my favorite thing was anime rather than comics at the time.
In the essay at the back, I found it sad that DC treated them so unfairly so many times, but I was glad that their families got something from their legacy in the end.
In the essay at the back, I found it sad that DC treated them so unfairly so many times, but I was glad that their families got something from their legacy in the end.
The Great Depression had lasted nearly a decade. Now another World War was brewing. Everyday people were about to be called to duty, and many would prove to be real-life heroes. But if there was ever a time for a fantasy hero, particularly one with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, it was then. People wanted a hero they knew would always come home. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster gave them that - the world's first superhero.
My favorite picture books are historical fiction/non-fiction and this one was just terrific! Joe and John are two high-school boys dreaming about super heroes during the depths of the depression. They embark on an interesting collaboration as one writes while the other one draws and out of their work comes Superman. It is a great story even if it is heartbreaking and unjust. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Boys of Steel:The Creators of Superman is a short, concise biography about the two ingenous men who created the superhero, Superman. Full of doubt, creative ideas, and persistence, they saw their idea finally come to fruition, yet for a time they were not credited with their work. Colorful, comic-like illustrations accompany the text.
Fun comic book style biography about Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (high school friends)who were the creators of the Superman comics. I love the true life stories of people, who are rejected over and over again, becoming successful. (However, it is a bit sad that Seigel and Shuster where not compensated what was fully due to them).
I love this story of the creaters of Superman. This is a great story about what it takes to make a good idea something more. The illustrations were perfect for the time period they were writing about. Great story to share with a kid who needs a good non-fiction but does not know what they want to read on. Grades 2+
Good informational book about how the superhero was created by two high school boys. I always like helping my children to see the factual side of things-how something that a young boy might not have any understanding of how it came to be. Also a good book to teach about perseverance and overcoming life's adversities.
I love anything Superman-related, so I was predisposed to like this, I admit. But it really is a well-written biography of Siegel and Schuster, the creators of Superman, and the illustrations look just like they came out of an original Superman comic book! Very cool. (and again, the Cleveland connection is fun)
Neat story, with 1930s style comic book art and language (but still accessible to 21st century kids). Not a thrill a minute, but fairly entertaining. Recommend for young people who want to know how Superman got started--or how people become comic book artists or writers.
This book tells the story of two introverted teens, Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, who wrote science fiction stories and drew superheroes to escape from the reality of the Depression. Together, they created the comic book hero, Superman, who was everything they were not.
This book, written in comic book style, taught me a lot about the creators of Superman. I learned a lot about the men who created the iconic comic book character, and the struggle they went through to earn money and credit for their creation.
This biography in picture book format tells the story of two friends who created the character Superman when they were boys. I am on a Superman kick right now because of the tv show Smallville so this book was very interesting to me.
This picture book biography of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster tells the story of the co-creators of Superman. As kids, these two shy, bookish boys escaped the world by diving into pulp magazines with heroes like Tarzan and Flash Gordon. With Jerry writing and Joe drawing, they created one of the most iconic superheroes ever.
Vintage-style drawings illustrate this book and really give the reader a feel for the time period. An afterword gives more detailed information on the duo's legal bat...more
Vintage-style drawings illustrate this book and really give the reader a feel for the time period. An afterword gives more detailed information on the duo's legal bat...more
I wish that some of the information provided in the author's note had been included in the text of the book. It wasn't really explained when or how the first book was published...
As a Clevelander, I was highly impressed with this book. I thought it was a really concise way to tell the story of the two men who created the super hero Superman and bought us the idealized format of ourselves that is found in super heroes. Super heroes teach us what our priorities are and I really think that this book reflected that aim by telling the story from the perspective of the boys and what it was like for them to face failure and wish to be more than they were. I think it's a great s...more
Good information on how Superman was created. More detailed (and sobering) information on the creation and rights to Superman are included in the back of the book.
Engaging biography of two outcasts with great talent and an idea that became so much a part of our culture. It is a crime it took so long for them to be recognized.
Interesting book, I knew little about the creators of Superman before cracking the covers of this. I think students, boys especially, will enjoy this tale.
Jason Penckofer
rated it
A fantastic story about the creators of the most iconic character in comic books. I'm glad that they cover the legal troubles with DC. Really interesting!
The true story of the creators of Superman. We all loved it.
2010 Beehive Award Nominee (children's lit assoc of utah).
2010 Beehive Award Nominee (children's lit assoc of utah).
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Marc Tyler Nobleman is the author of more than 70 books for young people on subjects ranging from ghosts to Groundhog Day, shipwrecks to Superman. He writes regularly for Nickelodeon and is also a cartoonist. One of his favorite aspects of his job is speaking; he travels the country giving presentations at schools, libraries, museums, and various other places. (It is the only time he must wear sho...more
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