11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Facts for Comic Readers, June 16, 2009
This review is from: Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed (Paperback)
Brian Cronin is best known as a writer for the blog Comics Should Be Good, most notably for the "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed" column. Was Superman a Spy is a mix of half old columns and half all new material written specifically for the book. I've read the column from time to time, but I still found most of the info new to me. It acts as a sort of barman's guide to comic book arguments and legends. Ever wonder who actually created Batman? Or that Venom was intended to be a women? Or why The Human Torch was replaced by a robot in the original Fantastic Four cartoon series? Well than this is the book for you.
You also learn about some of the biggest foibles in comic book history such as why some print runs were pulped and what happened to the mysterious Warlock issue left in the back of a cab. Split into 3 sections (DC, Marvel, and Other Comic publishers) it is a light read you can pick-up at any point. Overall it was a fun read and look into the history and mysteries behind comic books. Recommend for comic and pop culture enthusiasts.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You never knew what you thought you knew, May 1, 2009
This review is from: Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed (Paperback)
Brian's book deals with some of the greatest myths you've ever heard about comic books--and a ton of them you probably have never heard before. Brian's work on "Comics Should Be Good" online has given us a taste of some of these weird stories (Wolverine was supposed to be an actual animal...and his claws were actually just supposed to be a part of his gloves) and great behind-the-scenes information.
If you're a serious comic book fan, you'll find so many wonderful surprises and "I never knew that!" moments in here. If you're just a casual comic book reader, you'll still find things of interest here as well (though many of the more detailed surprises may not mean as much to you since you don't know the characters). Brian did a great job here and the book is nicely laid out. Be prepared to go through this one in one sitting.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Easiest and Most Fun Reads About Comics, November 23, 2009
This review is from: Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed (Paperback)
Brian Cronin's Comics Should Be Good blog delves into comics mythology--the real-life kind. He debunks false stories, examines true one, and basically just presents the story behind the stories. Was Superman a Spy? collects some of his best entries, all in one compulsively readable volume.
Did I say compulsively readable? You bet. The stories are short enough that you find yourself saying, "Just one more" time and time again, until you've finished the book faster than you imagined you would. Was Superman a Spy? covers decades of comics lore, including the creations of its most pivotal and defining heroes. Along the way, it covers the whys and hows of many industry decisions, shows how business motives often trumped creative ones, examines the "could-have-beens" and "almost weres" of the format, and looks at how human foibles and strengths played into the creation of comics.
The book is divided up into three sections: DC, Marvel, and then a roundup of all the other companies. Some might see this as a slight to the indies and the lesser-known publishers, but at least Cronin gives ample time to many different characters, creators, and companies. That his book mirrors the focus of the marketplace seems natural.
Some of the stories inside are well-tread for most longtime comics readers (the creator of Wonder Woman, and her truth-cajoling magic lasso, was also the inventor of the lie detector; the sad and complicated story behind EC Comics' troubles), but many are fascinating looks into the behind-the-scenes discussions and battles that went on in the industry (the creation of gay comics characters, for example).
Because Cronin is such a swift storyteller, one who gets to the point quickly and without cheekiness or coy rambling, Was Superman a Spy? is one of the easiest and most fun reads about comics. There's tons to learn here, an array of things about the craft that prove why and how it has always been so interesting.
-- John Hogan
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