Customer Reviews

Who Needs a Superhero?: Finding Virtue, Vice, and Whats Holy in the Comics

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

 

 

Once I started reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was just as entertaining as it was spiritually insightful. The author does a terrific job of telling stories of different comic book heroes: their acts of heroism, nobility, as well as their inner conflicts and downfalls. The really cool part about this book, the author relates each Superhero story to a spiritual perspective---there are surprisingly many similarities, parallels and even ironies between the Superhero stories and what we learn in Scripture.

All in all, the book is very smooth reading and definitely thought provoking. The author really sparked my interest in his Introduction, and I remained intrigued the entire book. He writes in a very personable way, and lets you know as a Christian it is okay to have "superheroes", but ultimately Jesus is our true Superhero, and he backs it up with Scripture in a very refreshing and spirited way!!

I highly recommend this book, I enjoyed every page of it.

This book is excellent in its analysis of both comic heroes and Christian principles. The references of comic book hero history are very accurate. The various citations of Scripture verses are both relevent and fulfilling.

Wow! I wish I'd written this book! This is a wonderful survey of the great comic book heroes by a writer who clearly knows and loves these characters. The superheroes become parables for exploring themes in Christian faith and life. For instance, Superman is a savior figure sent from above; the Hulk is a frightful picture of sin gone amok; and Spider-Man offers a model for using our gifts to make a better world. Every page of this book offers a new insight; espcially good are the chapters on Capt. America and Green Arrow.
Buy this book for any comic book reader on your list, Christian or not. They'll love the writing and the gorgeous artwork. And for any Sunday School teacher, youth pastor or Youth Group leader, this book is a must for connecting with teens and young adults. Gee, I really do wish I'd written this book.

Being a lifetime fan of the Superhero genre...this book frequently amazed me with its insight. Brewer shares the spiritual foundations for these characters, (Both Marvel and DC), that all of us may have felt in reading these stories, at one time or another, but never verbalized. Ideal for the hardcore comic book fan, (especially those adults, who grew up during its Silver Age), and those new to the format, who just want an education on the background of these characters.

Robert James Luedke, (Author...Eye Witness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth)

This book was very inspiring to me. I think it may have affected my entire future in its Spider-Man section in fact. The analogies are awesome, the writing is understandable, yet sermon-esque (but in a good way), and most of all, the way Brewer talks of his love for heroes reminded me of my love for them as well.

Definately a good read for Christian Superhero lovers.

-Matt

It was such fun to find out how all my childhood superheroes got their start. And it was fascinating to see how they corresponded to the Scriptures.

This is not what I expected. I actually threw the book in the trash. I was looking for a book that would be able to use for children especially little boys to help develop good heroes. This book is intended for adults but I wasn't impressed there either. I read some and not how I would present the subject. I think I get what the author was trying to say. But to me Christ is beyond a superhero. To lower Him to compare to a comic hero doesn't work for me. He is my Holy Savior.

Well written and insightful. Full of great comic book history, although nothing I didn't already know. It's because of this book that I'm such a big Thor fan!! Worth the money.

H. Michael Brewer, a pastor, professor and lover of comics, has written an entertaining and insightful read that explores the common links between comic book characters (mostly heroes), humankind, and the Christian message. Lest anyone think this is an overly preachy book, it draws on expierences of people as well as Christianity. Although many of the themes may be accidental, Brewer notices that this cannot be help because, "Our Maker built us with a persistent longing for a rescuer who will save us from injustice and suffereing." (p. 10)

All the primary chapters dealing with popular superheroes are just great. Superman, Batman, Captian America, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman are particularly interesting, but the chapter on the Fantasic Four is probably the best (I say this as a Batman and Daredevil fan); however, this is my complaint with the book and why it falls a star short of five. Daredevil is one of the most inetersting and dynamic characters when Frank Miller developed and explored Daredevil/Matt Murdock's Catholicism. there are so many good themes here, but Brewer focus on the least complex (Daredevil's ability to recognize the truth).

Some may say I'm being picky, but I think Brewer would appreciate my position - after all, the comic book world, while mundane and childish to many, is serious stuff.

The chapter on spider man made me cry. Brewers format is excellent. He gives you background information for those of us who are not as comic book savvy. He also gives insight to his humorous childhood. But most importantly he gives us food for thought and guidance through the bible to specific chapters and verses.