Books : It's Superman!

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Best Superhero Novel Ever!
Maybe it's not exactly an overcrowded field (great superhero novels, that is) but this one is the hands-down winner. I loved Tom DeHaven's Derby Dugan trilogy (especially the second one) but this Superman novel even surpasses those three books. For the first time ever in a novel, I really cared about Clark and Lois and Lex. DeHaven's feel for the 1930s era in Kansas and Los Angeles and New York is pitch-perfect, and this is probably the best psychological look at Clark coming to term with his powers. Lex Luthor has never been more callously evil, either. There's also a new character here who I don't think comes from the comics: a scrappy, wisecracking newspaper photographer (not Jimmy Olsen). I can't recommend this book more highly.

Rating:

- It's a New-Old Superman! And It's Wizard and Keen!
I want to heartily urge everyone to read ITS SUPERMAN by Tom DeHaven, but also want to "warn" you that its a very different type of Superman story...in some ways.

Its basically Superman's "origin" but set more in the "real world" than ever before. You will find much, much more Clark Kent here than the Big Blue Boy Scout. There's real people populating this novel, real emotions, real actions, real personalities, and really wonderful, quirky characters and situations. DeHaven veers off from the comic book Superman mythos at various points but these diversions are worthwhile and fascinating.

One of the most interesting characters in the book is Lex Luthor. DeHaven paints him as the train wreck you can't look away from, evil and calculating, but intriguing and deep. He's a combination of the out-and-out villainous Luthor of legend and the more-recent crooked-businessman from the modern comics.

The dialogue is crisp and multi-faceted and the scenes are poignant and...humorous.

Yes, there's humor here, but this is definitely not a "comedy" novel. DeHaven's fans will know what to expect. The situations are sometimes so outrageous that you may laugh and smile at the same time you cringe and feel the horror.

Its not a pristine world this Superman lives in. Its a sweaty, often soiled world and all is not clean and bright. But is is captivating and literary.

Bravo, Mr. DeHaven. A truly unique novel.

Jim!

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