Laurie S. Sutton

* Note this rating reflects the book's worth as a young children's book*

For young kids, this is an in between books - mainly words with a few occasional pictures. The pictures when shown as bright, colorful, and well illustrated. Every text page has fun blue font for sound effects to hold interest for children starting to read.

Superman is made ultra powerful for this book. So sad many movies can't follow route for budget and plot effects. It starts immediately into the action, involves show more thinking processes on the side of Superman, assistance with the military, moral lessons on not letting anger control you, and surprises that should keep the young reader happy.

It's a short book but a perfect length for children of this age group. Highly recommended for young superhero fans. The end gives a brief biography of Doomsday and his abilities, as well as a thesaurus. show less

A nice selection of Superman stories, ranging from the 1950's to the 1970's. I remember many of these from my kiddish Saturdays, blissfully spent in the basement reading a pile of comic books. Actually, I never quite stopped. There are several pivotal stories here, ranging from how Lex Luthor became Superman's enemy, to the introduction of Supergirl, Superman's return to the Krypton of his infancy, and the team-up of Luthor and Braniac to kill Superman. The book concludes with a frustrating show more and intriguing storyline in which Superman somehow becomes ordinary when dressed as Clark Kent. He decides to explore what Clark Kent is really like and loses his meek persona, becoming a crusading reporter who no longer takes guff, and wins Lois Lane's heart. For a few issues I finally thought that DC Comics had grown a pair and written a major change in the time-honored and hoary pattern they'd created for their most popular character. Alas, things went back to status quo at the conclusion of the storyline. A lot of the older stories had such glaring holes in plot and logic, but nostalgic affection helped me quickly achieve the necessary suspension of disbelief to enjoy them. show less

I realized that it’s a little weird that I like reading these middle readers so much. But, a lot of it is because of stuff like in the beginning of this where scientist Barry tells the reader why the fabric threads would be swollen (water). The plots sometimes are out there (like here, Gorillas and Robot Chimps attacking Central City), but the little details are generally awesome.

Not to mention I think that the authors of these (Laurie S. Sutton in this one) don’t get enough credit for show more having very tightly written interesting (if simple so the age group gets it) stories. show less

Cute. It’s always an interesting story when Mirror Master is involved.

And I thought that this middle reader book took an interestingly different look at Mirror Master too.

Instead of just jumping from place to place he’s found some other universe and appointed himself King. Can Flash save the kingdom and save the Princess/Ruler? (Wait, I thought he was ‘married’ to Iris, heh).