Customer Reviews

Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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

The author writes with conversational, good humor and very apparent affection for the comic book genre so it will certainly appeal to other likeminded fans. The chapters are filled with pop culture/trivia references about a broad cross section of animated super-heroes (copyrighted term by DC & Marvel!)--so there's something for everyone whether you're into the JLA, X-Men, the Archies, Richie Rich or all of the above.

The material deserved a better treatment from the publisher and it's unfortunate that the illustrations aren't better quality reproductions, but that won't stop your enjoyment. I also wish there had been a "final chapter" or Epilogue to somehow wrap up the edition, but I guess it's not bad to be left wanting more!

This book examines "more than 130" legends about comic book culture. Most of these stories deal with some of the stranger occurances in the comic book industry. The book heavily leans toward DC and Marvel, with much less written about other comic book companies, but that's understandable. I knew a lot of the stories in here beforehand, but there were also a lot that I hadn't heard before. A very enjoyable look at the quirkier side of the comic book industry.

Brian Cronin's book, "Was Superman a Spy," purports to be an overview of urban legends and myths throughout the comics industry, with the intent to confirm or debunk them. Instead, it's an overview of the history of superhero comics, with the majority of its attention given to the Big Two, Marvel and DC.

That doesn't make it bad. Many chapters are thorough, and have enough new and interesting facts and factoids that keep the reader interested. However, certain problems arise from either a writing or an editing perspective, or possibly both.

First of all, Cronin includes chapters on "DC Comics Miscellanea," "Marvel Comics Miscellanea," and "Various Comic Book Companies." While the information contained in these chapters is interesting, there seems to be little or no attempt at organization. While I understand that these chapters are intended to focus on miscellanea, there are no subheadings to sections, simply a lurch from topic to topic, seemingly at random. The chapter entitled "Various Comic Book Companies," in particular, has elements regarding a lot of the litigation between companies and could have been an interesting and focused discussion about intellectual property while maintaining the interest level. Instead, it just...lurches.

Second, the tonal shifts are disconcerting. The overviews of DC and Marvel, as well as the chapters on major characters, tend to be interesting and entertaining, with a touch of the scholar about them. Other chapters seem slapdash, written from a highly opinionated perspective that jars with the rest of the book. In addition, Cronin loves exclamation marks the way metal bands love umlauts. It's kind of sloppy.

Finally, Cronin seems preoccupied with Hollywood and film versions of characters. Sometimes the discussion is interesting (The Incredible Hulk), other times it seems pointless (does anyone care that Jonathan Frakes was once paid to dress up as Captain America for a Comic Convention?).

I think that, to a degree, Cronin suffered from an inattentive editor.

I somehow get the impression that this was rushed to meet a printing deadline, since parts of the book seem so unpolished. However, it's still worth reading. The content and information provided gets 5 stars from me. The slapdash nature of many of the chapters and the tonal shifts/writing style get about 2.5 stars.

My advice is to pick up Scott Tipton and Chris Ryall's Comic Books 101: The History, Methods and Madness first, for a better overview of the history of the industry. If you're still interested, come on back and read Cronin's book. It's decent.

Like comics history? Then you'd probably like this book. If you're already familiar with basic comics history, you'll recognize some of what's here, but it's likely you'll see some stuff you didn't know, including newer versions of standard stories. It's a physically small book, and the illustrations are black and white. You could read it in a day or two,esp. if you skip over (what I think are) relatively uninteresting parts, such as stuff about the history of comics distribution (!).I wouldn't pay the full retail price of $15 or so, but if you can get it cheaply and your interested in the subject matter, go for it.

I love this book! To be fair, I am a hardcore comic book fan, but that is just who this book was written for. I love the background that is given to each story. It isn't something as simple as: Was Superman A Spy? Yes/No, it is a lot more in depth, explaining why people thought that the Man of Steel was a spy and if he really was or wasn't. There are many other legends that are very interesting to learn that people thought. I highly recommend this book for any comic book geek, like myself. You won't be sorry.

Brian Cronin has expanded the comic book history discussions from his "Comic Book Legends Revealed" column on his "Comics Should Be Good" website into this paperback. The eleven chapters are divided into three parts: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Other Comics Creators. Cronin offers brief histories of the major American comic book companies and then groups his trivia nuggets by main characters: Chapter 1 is "Superman"; Chapter 5 is "Spider-Man", etc. Interspersed throughout the text are over 100 small black and white graphics of comic book covers, panels and sketches. While this book is at times interesting and enjoyable, the author's approach seems to work better on his blog than in a $14 book. Much of the information seems banal compared to the explosive promises of the back cover blurbs, especially the brief accounts of DC and Marvel which are probably already familiar to most hardcore fans, the book's supposed target demographic. As with many books that are compilations of shorter works, many of these segments flow awkwardly into one another, with some points repeated throughout the book (as aptly noted by other reviewers). The author's enthusiasm for the subject ultimately helps overcome these flaws and makes this a four-star review instead of a three-star one. This book seems best for a new comic book fan ready to learn some basic history of the genre as well as be enthused by some of the more obscure information herein.

A really solid, well written book. Being a lifelong comic book fan/historian myself... I knew a lot of the stories already. But it's always fun to discover again and fnd out new things while doing it.

Sometimes the chapters didn't flow together as smoothly as you'd like... but that fault was made up by the entertaining writing style.

Overall an excellent read! Any comic nut should own it!