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The Superhero Handbook
 | The Superhero Handbook Michael Powell Date: 18 June, 2005 — $9.95 — Book Rating: |
This tongue in cheek guide is a how-to manual for realizing your superhero potential. Filled with such gems as “Dealing with your Superiority Complex and Becoming Really Cool,” and “The Three L’s - Leather, Latex and Lycra: Creating your superhero costume,” this book covers everything from coming out to one’s parents to warning signs that it’s time to retire. Along the way, prospective heroes can get tips on vehicular pursuit, leaping a building in a single bound, and finding your evil nemesis.
If it’s possible to respectfully lampoon an entire industry, this slim volume does it while making references to Hawthorne and Nietzsche and spouting Chinese allegories along the way. The informal tone and pop culture references lend a casual feel to the narrative.
Short quizzes (such as guess the mentor), and a matching game to create a catchphrase make this an interactive self-help guide. The illustrations are traditional in style, with less capes (“they’re lame”) and a welcome deficiency of scantily-clad women. The heroes are diverse in age, race and gender, and both the comic book and newsprint styles are imitated with success. The only thing missing are comic book style panels.
Powell excels at referencing major icons of the genre without naming names making this book a laugh out loud treat for those geeky, er, SAVVY enough to be in the know. Too many inside jokes limit the audience, and the many references to wearing of underwear outside of one’s clothes get old after awhile. Purchase for your favorite superhero or comic book aficionado.
