Customer Reviews

The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero

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This is a fun book, but in places it attempts to create connections between Jesus and Superman that don't really appear to be there. Prospective readers should be aware that Superman is, and has aways been, primarily a pop culture icon intended to entertain, not a symbolic figure meant to remind us of Christ.

The author admits this truth and tries to navigate around it by several times admitting that not all the parallels he mentions were intended by the creators or writers responsible for the stories. Nonetheless, Skelton says, Christians ought to see any figure in pop culture through the lens of the Bible, so that we can be reminded of truth even in a medium where the author did not deliberately try to convey it -- essentially, we should interpret all our experiences (including those involving Superman) from a Christian persective.

This is all fine and good, but Skelton then goes on to point out such elaborate and inventive parallels between Jesus and Superman that it becomes hard to take some of them seriously. According to this book, we should be reminded of some aspect of Jesus' life by Superman's Kryptonian name (Kal-El), his earthly name (both "Clark" and "Kent" can remind us of Jesus), the names of both his Kryptonian parents and his earthly parents, the shape of the spaceship that brought him to earth, the clothing worn on Krypton, the clothing his earthly parents were wearing when they found him, the fact that Kryptonite is lethal to him, the color of Kryptonite (at least, the Green K), the colors on Superman's costume, the name of the actor most known for portraying Superman (i.e., Christopher Reeve), and on and on. It is as if every detail of some parts of Superman's life is meant to suggest some new idea about Jesus to us. The examples are so creative that they begin to appear contrived and artificial, rather than genuine parallels to the life of Jesus.

Ironically, Skelton ignores a pretty heavy dose of the Superman mythos to make his case. While he pays attention to every "jot and tittle" of some parts of the Superman lore, he completely overlooks other parts. He draws most extensively from the TV show "Smallville," the first "Superman" movie (not including any of the campy or humorous scenes from that film), and a couple of Superman comic stories -- mostly his origin and the "Death & Return of Superman" saga from the early '90's. Almost no mention is made of the "Lois & Clark" series (which definitely did *not* portray Superman as a parallel to Christ), the Superman III or IV movies, the 1940's Max Fleischer cartoons and movie serials, the George Reeves TV series, nor to broad themes appearing in the comics throughout their 70-year history -- other than mentioning these all briefly in a "Superman chronology timeline" in the beginning of the book. Also noticeably absent was any reference to Brian Azzarello's recent 12-issue stint on the Superman comic, which portrayed Superman as regularly flying to a church and confiding in a priest. Surely if all these other mundane aspects of Superman's life can remind us of Jesus, his presence in a church ought to, as well!

The book ends with a brief synopsis of Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" movie. However, because the book was released at roughly the same time as the film, the author was not able to view it before the book was complete, so he just deals with "plot speculation." This is unfortunate, because that film did make several deliberate attempts to depict Superman as a Messiah/Christ figure, and examples from it would have fit better than some of the ones that are in the book (Skelton doesn't even mention the most overt Christ-image in the movie, of Superman "giving his life" to save the earth and then falling with arms outstretched, in the position of Jesus on the cross, back to earth.)

Still, this book certainly is an entertaining read, even if I had to scratch my head a little at some of the examples that Skelton draws. After all, it is a well-thought-out book, and it's Superman!!! Anyone who enjoys Superman and wants to see how some of the ideas in his history can point us to Christ ought to enjoy it, as long as you don't expect an analysis that starts with the Superman creators' own intentions.

An excelent supplement to this book, which focuses more on broad themes (not only on the minutiae) of Superman, and also includes a "spiritual" analysis of many other comic book heroes, is H. Michael Brewer's "Who Needs a Superhero?"

It seems there is a misconception that this book is about one man's opinion. It is not. Those who will read the book will quickly realize that the parallels between Christ and Superman are not the random and far-fetched musings of one man with a Christian agenda. Those who have participated in the telling of the Superman story, from writers and screenwriters to producers and directors (across comics, TV shows and movies) have gone on the record as saying that they intentionally based Superman and his story on the gospel story of Christ. That is not to say that they in turn are pushing an agenda of their own, but are simply basing their story on the greatest story ever told. (Pretty good strategy, no?) As an example, Bryan Singer, director of Superman Returns, has said that "Superman is the Jesus Christ of superheroes" and that Superman Returns is a tale of "what happens when Messiahs come back."

The research is extensive and intriguing; the points are well-made and thoughtfully outlined. Skelton makes it easy to see why we are drawn to the Superman story - despite how self-sufficient we think we are, we're all in need a Savior!

This is an amazing-- even "super" little book! Stephen Skelton does an incredibly thorough job of delineating the not-so-coincidental sililarities between the world's most iconic superhero and Jesus Christ. The writer is an obvious fan of both, and really does his homework, giving readers the evidence to back up his supposition that the character we know as Superman can indeed be viewed as a Christ figure. Although Superman was created by two young Jewish friends, his story has been developed over the past almost-seventy years by many comic book, television, and movie writers who have intentionally woven allusions to the story of Jesus, his life, death, burial, and resurrection into the Superman "canon." Skelton is exhaustive and complete in his exposition of these parallels, and it becomes apparent to this reader why so many people worldwide are attracted to the goodness and the amazing powers of Superman. Reading and sharing this book can provide an excellent opportunity for believers to dialogue with non-believers-- either way!

Interesting read if ur a big superman fan... and also into a bit of Christianity behind it

This book does a great job of covering the most popular version of the Superman story and how it has been shaped to parallel the Gospel story. Rather than being selective--or cherry-picking--Skelton draws from the who's-who of Superman stories. At the beginning, he clearly presents his sources: early Siegel and Shuster comics (1938), the Superman novel by George Lowther (1942), the George Reeves TV show (1952), two Christopher Reeve movies (1978, 1981), the Death of Superman comic books (1992), the Smallville TV show (2001) and Superman Returns movie (2006).

About the two Jewish creators, contrary to some of the criticism here, Skelton plainly states that Siegel and Shuster did not intend to draw from the Christ story--although they did name Ma Kent "Mary" and apparently gave Pa Kent the middle name "Joseph".

Given Skelton's sources, those that object to the Christ imagery in the Superman story should take it up with people like Tom Mankiewicz, the screenwriter of Superman: The Movie, who said, "The metaphor was clearly there when Jor-El sends Superman to Earth with God sending Christ to save humanity." Or David Nutter, the director of the Smallville pilot, who said, "I thought there were a lot of metaphors between Clark and Jesus actually. And I tried to throw in as many of them as I could." As another reviewer alluded to, even Bryan Singer, the Jewish director of Superman Returns, said, "Superman is the Jesus Christ of superheroes."

In charting the seventy-year history of the Superman story as it was modeled on the Gospel story, this book reveals a blow-by-blow account of how the Superman story has truly become "The Greatest Story Ever Re-Told."

I could sit here and write an entire essay like one of the other reviews (which I did read, and enjoyed, and agree with) but I won't. What I will do is say that I am both a Superman fan and a Christian - so this book tied two of my favorite things together in a way that it gave me a greater appreciation for both. It amazed me at how much we see on the surface of the comic book figure of Clark Kent/Superman and do not recognize the devine shining through.
Whether it is intentional or devine influence, Superman truely represents (on multiple levels) the story and gospel of Jesus in a way that makes it accesible to those who might not turn to The Bible. For years I modeled my morals and values on Superman, and as I have walked closer with God I always thought to myself how much Superman mirrored the message of Jesus. When I saw this book I though to myself, "Now if that wasn't written for me to read, I don't know what other book was!" After reading these pages I have an entirely new insight into the Gospel, and a new way to reach out to those who would hear the message of Jesus through the use of Superman. it is simply amazing at what you see when a curtain is lifted.
If you are a Superman fan but don't know Jesus - this book is for you! If you are a Christian and think Superman is evil - Read this book! Either way, you'll have a new appreciation for the Savior and the Superhero.

A delightful read that asks "Is it possible that Superman represents Jesus?" Plenty of Bible verses and comparisons. Personally, if you compare them on just a few things: Both an only son sent by their Father from far away to Earth to help, seek and to save those that are lost. Never lie. Think about it. Good read to think about. Perhaps share with others.

The comparison between Superman and Jesus the Christ may seem a little daunting but this is not the first effort of its type - I recommend (and good luck finding it) "The Gospel According to Superman" which was written back in the early '70's. Of course, Robert Short started all of this with his "Gospel According to" and "Parables of" Peanuts.

Leaps tall buildings with a single bound and points a generation to Christ? That's the premise of Stephen Skelton's latest offering, "The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero."

Skelton seems to have an eye for the nostalgic as his previous offerings include "The Bonanza Bible Study" and the "Andy Griffith Bible Study." Skelton's passion is to use cultural artifacts from Television to point people toward this generation to Christ.

In "The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero" Skelton argues that the chapter of Superman was intentionally modeled by many of the writers in the "Superman Cannon" to be a Messianic/figure. Skelton goes the distance with detailed quotes to show from Siegel's creators, two Jewish teenagers, borrow from their heritage religious heritage's stories of Samson and the coming Messiah to create a secular "American Messiah." Skelton documents how the creators of the "Superman: The Movie", "Superman II", and TV's "Smallville" had an awareness of the parallels between Jesus Christ and the Man of Steel.

Skelton spends the rest of his book outlining these parallels the common ground that his two Supermen share with sections entitled "Origins", "Mission, and "Destiny." In each section, Skelton provides painstaking detail to show how Superman is a "parable" of Christ.

The fact that Skelton is a genuine fan of the Man of Steel shines throughout the book. It's apparent this book is a labor of love and not a hacked product to be released just in time for the release of this summer's "Superman Returns." It's his passion for the story that allowed him to unearth some arresting details that build his case that the parallelism between Superman and Jesus isn't merely coincidental. For example, Skelton reveals that Clark Kent's earthly parents were originally named Mary and Joseph before Superman's publishers required that that connection between the Gospels and the cartoon not be so obvious. With reverence for both Jesus and Superman, Skelton offers such an overwhelming catalogue of comparisons that it's impossible to miss the creative intention of many of Superman's creators. Causal fans of the Superman will enjoy his exposition of the "Death of Superman" story of which only the most devoted fans will be aware.

However, I felt that Skelton frequently strained to build his argument that Superman is a fictional type of Christ. For example, Skelton labors for a few paragraphs attempting to show how a Biblical Greek word "krypton" helps us understand the spiritual allusions of Superman's home plant Krypton." Odds are the similarities between the words are a simple coincidence. Later, in another side bar, Skelton tries his hand at linguistics and points out the "Kent" in "Clark Kent" uses the same consonants as the Hebrew word for "Christ." Again, Skelton presses to hard to make his point. Why torture the story for a few extra thrusts when logic doesn't allow it? His documentation of how the director and writers of "Smallville" intentionally infused their contribution to the Superman story is evidence enough of the messianic themes in Superman.

In spite of its short comings, "The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero" is a great gift for your favorite comic book fan. It's also a valuable book for children or youth pastors looking to build a summer curriculum series that ties into `Superman Returns." Skelton should be praised for attempting to find common ground between pop culture and Jesus.

I just finished reading this. It is not one that you can put down. One of the best descriptions of Superman in this book is that he, like us, are striving to live up to what Christ wants us to do.

It even has a closing chapter telling what is supposed to happen in the upcoming movie and how it parallels to the Christ story. The author even tells you that if you do not want the movie to be spoiled, then see the movie then read the chapter.

He made some great comparisons of Superman characters to their counterparts in the Bible.

E.g. Perry White - John the Baptist
Lois Lane - Mary Magdalene
Lex Luthor - Lucifer

The four Supermen in the Superman Returns saga as the 4 Horseman of the Apocolypse.