Clearly well researched, this book provides a great coverage of the real world history of the Man of Steel. From his creation by Siegel and Shuster, to the rise/fall in publishing numbers, to the legal dramas that have unfolded around his rights/payments, Tye does a great job conveying the history of the CHARACTER of Superman, not so much the "in-universe" lore. Nor does he really dive into the symbolism/ideology of Superman - Tye tells us Superman has inspired people for generations, but never really talks about why.

Truthfully, Superman is my favorite superhero, so I was going to finish this book no matter what. But getting through this book could be a slog. While the narrative of the character is laid out mostly in a chronological manner, there's still some skipping around within eras that can make it hard to follow. Plus, as mentioned, I found the book lacking in its discussion of why people have felt so drawn to the character and was not as interested in the real world history. Was still great to learn things that were new to me, and the book backs up all of the information it provides - just wish it had caught a bit more of the magic that comes from Superman inside the pages of a comic book in the first place. ( )

Great book. Well researched and written. ( )

In his unique history of the iconic character, Larry Tye delivers an insightful biographical account from the perspective of the creators, publishers, and stars behind Superman. Beginning with Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel in Cleveland through the character's re-birth as part of DC's recent 52 remake, Tye analyzes and reveals many fascinating behind-the-scene aspects such as why Superman didn't fight oversees during World War II, the complex origins of kryptonite, and the stories behind the various radio, cartoon, television, and movie incarnations. The comprehensive volume includes numerous interviews and accounts, copious endnotes, and an all-too-short collection of images. The even-handed, thoughtful, and thorough accounting of the muddy and controversial relationship between Siegel and DC delivers one of the best explanations of the whole sordid affair. Though Tye's literary paint-by-numbers styling lacks any zing, he successfully maintains interest throughout the compulsive and highly recommended Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero. ( )

In Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero, author Larry Tye argues, "There's no better way to understand modern-day heroes than to look at Superman, the superhero who tapped into the American psyche more effectively than anyone else and, as a result, has lasted longer than all of them" (pg. xi). Type explores creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's backgrounds as well as the cultural mythology on which the two built in creating their hero. He finds, "Jerry and Joe did not cook up Superman from scratch. They built on as well as borrowed from a long line of myth-makers and storytellers, the same way Burroughs borrowed from Homer and Wylie from the ancient Hebrews" (pg. 33). Of the religious undertones, Tye concludes that the character's "appeal was his universality along with his particularity, which ensured his stories would live on the way most parables do" (pg. 80). Tye explores every facet of the character and how he changed over time to reflect the world of his readers, in any decade. He concludes, "Evolution was inevitable for a character who had lasted as long as Superman. Stasis would have doomed him" (pg. 228).
Tye's book, while ambitious in its scope, reflects some of the best scholarship available on Superman's history. He draws upon his own interviews, published and recorded interviews with people involved in shepherding Superman's image, legal documents, internal DC and Warner Bros. memos, and more. The end result is a readable and thorough history of each iteration of the character from his creation to the time Tye's monograph appeared in print. He offers new insights into the history. For example, he challenges the established narrative for why Joe Shuster burned the original artwork for "The Superman," arguing it was due to a temporary falling out between the creators rather than publishers' rejections (pg. 18). Tye's work is a valuable resource for those studying comic books as well as for fans. ( )

I enjoyed this book but it was a bit tedious for me. Since I'm not a big fan of the man of steel, I was curious about what I've been missing. Now I know but, I'm still not interested. Surprisingly, I was most interested in the religious analysis. If you're a fan, you'll probably enjoy this book more than I did. That being said, I'm still glad I read it. ( )