Nick A. (sathor) reviewed Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman's Co-creator Joe Shuster on + 56 more book reviews
The book is really 2 parts, the first 35 or so pages is the back story, and if that were the sum of the book, it would be one that I would loudly tout as among the most important books that should be read as a society. It is interesting to see how the world was struggling with the same problems as today, finding their demons among the new. In my life, I remember the demonizing of rap music, of video games, and cartoons. The issues today are no different than they were 60 years ago, though the target was different. To us today, comics are no more evil than any other medium, but I was surprised to find that there was a time that even Superman was considered a bad influence.
The second half, which sadly is more likely to appeal to the masses than the first section, is a collection of Shuster's drawings, the ones that brought the firestorm and even Supreme Court mandated book burnings. It is rather odd to see images of 'Superman' in the midst of raping 'Lois Lane' drawn by the person who first drew those self same characters.
I am torn in the longer as to if I would recommend this book as a whole. I think that the editorial section is important, and might just be important enough that the overall work is with high value. I think that the foreword by Stan Lee helps convey the importance of it. I can't say that the book would be much of anything with just the first section, at just over 35 pages, but I think that a slimmed down edition with just that first section would make for excellent required reading in any current events class, be it High School or College. As a whole, the book probably shouldn't be in the hands of teenagers, at least not the tweens.
The second half, which sadly is more likely to appeal to the masses than the first section, is a collection of Shuster's drawings, the ones that brought the firestorm and even Supreme Court mandated book burnings. It is rather odd to see images of 'Superman' in the midst of raping 'Lois Lane' drawn by the person who first drew those self same characters.
I am torn in the longer as to if I would recommend this book as a whole. I think that the editorial section is important, and might just be important enough that the overall work is with high value. I think that the foreword by Stan Lee helps convey the importance of it. I can't say that the book would be much of anything with just the first section, at just over 35 pages, but I think that a slimmed down edition with just that first section would make for excellent required reading in any current events class, be it High School or College. As a whole, the book probably shouldn't be in the hands of teenagers, at least not the tweens.
