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OverviewSuperman is the original superhero, an American icon, and arguably the most famous character in the world--and he's Jewish! Introduced in June 1938, the Man of Steel was created by two Jewish teens, Jerry Siegel, the son of immigrants from Eastern Europe, and Joe Shuster, an immigrant. They based their hero's origin story on Moses, his strength on Samson, his mission on the golem, and his nebbish secret identity on themselves. They made him a refugee fleeing catastrophe on the eve of World War II and sent him to tear Nazi tanks apart nearly two years before the US joined the war. In the following decades, Superman's mostly Jewish writers, artists, and editors continued to borrow Jewish motifs for their stories, basing Krypton's past on Genesis and Exodus, its society on Jewish culture, the trial of Lex Luthor on Adolf Eichmann's, and a future holiday celebrating Superman on Passover. A fascinating journey through comic book lore, American history, and Jewish tradition, this book examines the entirety of Superman's career from 1938 to date, and is sure to give readers a newfound appreciation for the Mensch of Steel! Full Product DetailsAuthor: Roy SchwartzPublisher: McFarland & Co Inc Imprint: McFarland & Co Inc Dimensions: Width: 17.80cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 25.40cm Weight: 0.658kg ISBN: 9781476662909ISBN 10: 1476662908 Pages: 374 Publication Date: 19 May 2021 Recommended Age: From 18 years Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Manufactured on demand  We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier. Table of ContentsTable of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Introduction Methodology Part I. Scriptural Superheroes: The Ancient Roots of the Man of Tomorrow Samson, Solomon and Other Supermen Paradigmatic Parallels: Superman as Moses Sent by His Father: Superman as Jesus World’s Finest: Settling the Denominational Debate Part II. Shticks from the Shtetl: How Jews Created Comics and Caped Crusaders Hitler, Hollywood and Houdini Famous Funnies and Other Firsts: The Birth of Comic Books The Big Bang Part III. Mensch of Steel: Fulfilling Jewish Fantasy and Faith The Jewish Experience: Context Is Content Birthright The Secret Identities of Heroes and Hebrews The Galactic Golem The Brave and the Bold: Superman vs. Übermensch Phone Booth, Voting Booth, Confession Booth: Superman’s Religion and Politics Part IV. Postwar to Postmodern: Redefining Superman, Comics and Judaism Superman vs. the Mad Scientist: The Postwar Era If I Were a Superman: The Silver Age Nazis in Space and Superman on Screen: The Bronze Age Second Coming: The Dark Age Superman Supernal: The Modern Age Chapter Notes Bibliography IndexReviews"Roy Schwartz has done a deep dive into the history, mythology and cultural folklore of America’s super-heroes and his conclusions are indisputable. The contemporary concept of the super-hero, as old as the story of Moses, was birthed by Jewish immigrants and first generation Jewish kids from the tales, morals and ethics of their Jewish ethnical roots. The majority of the creators from 1938’s Golden Age of Comics through the 1960’s Marvel Age of Comics were Jewish. Whether it was Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster turning Moses into Superman or Stan Lee and Jack Kirby transforming The Golem into The Hulk, their heroes embodied their Jewish experience. Roy Schwartz analysis is scholarly yet broadly entertaining. He answers many questions and leaves the readers with but one: “If there were no Jews on Krypton where Superman was born, and if he was therefore circumcized on earth, did the moyal have to use a Kryptonite scalpel?"" —Michael Uslan, Comic Book Historian and Originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie ""A deep-dive into arguably the world’s most famous and iconic fictional character and his Jewish influences...This book is a must-have for any fan of superheroes, comic books and Jewish history and literature."" —Jerusalem Post, 19th May 2021" Roy Schwartz has done a deep dive into the history, mythology and cultural folklore of America's super-heroes and his conclusions are indisputable. The contemporary concept of the super-hero, as old as the story of Moses, was birthed by Jewish immigrants and first generation Jewish kids from the tales, morals and ethics of their Jewish ethnical roots. The majority of the creators from 1938's Golden Age of Comics through the 1960's Marvel Age of Comics were Jewish. Whether it was Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster turning Moses into Superman or Stan Lee and Jack Kirby transforming The Golem into The Hulk, their heroes embodied their Jewish experience. Roy Schwartz analysis is scholarly yet broadly entertaining. He answers many questions and leaves the readers with but one: If there were no Jews on Krypton where Superman was born, and if he was therefore circumcized on earth, did the moyal have to use a Kryptonite scalpel? - Michael Uslan, Comic Book Historian and Originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie A deep-dive into arguably the world's most famous and iconic fictional character and his Jewish influences...This book is a must-have for any fan of superheroes, comic books and Jewish history and literature. - Jerusalem Post, 19th May 2021 Author InformationRoy Schwartz has written for newspapers, magazines, websites, academic organizations, law firms, tech companies, toy companies, and production studios. He has taught English and writing at the City University of New York and is a former writer-in-residence at the New York Public Library. He is the director of marketing and business development of a regional law firm. 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