Customer Reviews

Creators Of The Superheroes

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Close on the heels of he and Mel Gordon's "Funnyman," Dr. Thomas Andrae's "The Creators of the Superheroes" is, in many ways, a comprehensive tour-de-force of the acclaimed scholar's lifelong work in the field of comics history. In terms of raw information, the book itself is unlike any on the market -- it not only reproduces interviews with all of the famous (and infamous) figures in early comics history, but it is also full to bursting with previously-unpublished material and information -- including an unpublished interview with Batman co-creator Bill Finger, the original intended publishing order of the Superman newspaper strip, the first published account of the origins of Kryptonite, and many stunning new pieces of art and photography. Andrae's book is not only extremely well-researched, but it is just as fascinating to read. This is not full of academic jargon; this is just hard to put down. The art reproduction and layout by Hermes are also top-notch. The book may seem expensive, but the size of the book is bigger than the picture above hints at. It is a big, bright, comprehensive volume that is as much at home on your coffee table as it is on your bookshelf. It is hard to imagine a book covering this much ground with an equal level of focus, but it does so with fluid ease (the section on Kirby is also fascinating). Highly recommended for comics scholars and indeed for any reader who wants to learn more about the people who created the superheroes -- through their own words.

Anyone who considers themselves an avid reader or collector is always looking for the beginning, the start, how did it come about. Where did this come from, what were the inspirations, sources, influences? If you have any curiosity or want a greater understanding of the genre, you need to read this book. Superman, Spider-Man, Batman to mention a few are interesting but the story behind their creation is fascinating. Tom Andrae has long been considered an expert in the field and the majority of this book comes from first hand interviews. Make it your pathway to the real fun of collecting.