‘Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel’ book review

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Spanning everything from Superman’s car-crushing first appearance in Action Comics No.1 right to his early, t-shirted vigilantism in DC’s rebooted ‘New 52’, it first analyses in forensic detail the geography and family of Clark Kent’s life before recounting his chronological history through the major stories that have been told (though wisely there’s no mention of Action Comics Issue 592-593, where – we kid you not – Superman was tricked into filming an ‘adult video’ by an alien. The story stayed in continuity for 24 years).

In doing so it highlights the changing tastes in comics – from the Star-Spangled Banner waving optimism of comics of the 30s and 40s to the gritty storylines of self-doubt and death that touched all titles, including Superman’s, in the 80s. To tell the story of Superman is to tell the story of comics as a medium. If anything it shows that Superman’s greatest power might well be his ability to remain the most iconic superhero of all time, across 7 decades of changing politics, social movements, and DC tinkering endlessly with his continuity.

Along the way there are pages detailing Supes’ major and minor enemies and allies (although in the book’s only mistake Animal Man is confused with Alpha Centurion. Sorry to mention it, but it was really niggling us). Even his dating history is given the once over, with the past roster of women he’s locked lips with suggesting that Kal-El has a fetish for ladies with alliterative names. Lois Lane is just the tip of the iceberg…

The page layouts are packed with detail and sharp reproductions of comic panels, and are inviting to the eye, allowing new fans to learn and veteran geeks to reminisce with ease. So if you’ve ever wanted to find out how much Superman can bench-press and for how long, or if you’ve forgotten about the issue where Lex Luthor solves an irrigation crisis on an alien world while Superman wanders around aimlessly like a lost child, you’ll be taken care of.

With Man of Steel about to rocket into cinemas this summer it’s the perfect time to reacquaint yourself with the last son of Krypton, and short of buying every Superman comic ever written, there’s no better way to do it than with The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel.

Published on Wednesday 1 May 2013 by DK.

> Buy the Superman Blu-ray boxset on Amazon.