“Truth, justice, and the American way,” may be Superman’s famous catchphrase, but for Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, their fight for even a fraction of these things took most of their lives. The creative duo, who met as kids, worked for years to give life to the superhero that would define their careers. But once their superhero was born, villains in the form of shady businessmen took advantage of their lack of knowledge around rights and copyrights and stole from them the success that would have changed their legacies forever. It would take numerous legal battles over decades to get even a fraction of the money, success, and recognition they deserved. Award-winning author William Bernhardt brings this harrowing fight to light in his new book, The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and an American Icon.
Buy The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and an American IconBernhardt starts this book from the beginning, and I don’t mean of the creative partnership between Siegel and Shuster but tells the story of where these two men came from and the cultures and defining events that shaped them. His retelling of this story is through an engaging literary voice full of care and compassion for Siegel and Shuster, while not shying away from their human follies. Bernhardt also draws on his professional life as a lawyer to bring a unique legal and research angle to this work. And while he dives deeply into Siegel and Shuster’s legal battles, he explains them in a way that all readers can understand.
The Superman Wars is a book for the historical comic lover who wants to know all the details of both the creativity and the chaos. But it is also a fantastic read for those who take an interest in how quickly creativity can be commodified and corrupted. Superman might be the “Man of Steel,” but it was money hungry men who stole this man from their rightful owners. Two young and hopeful men who helped pave the American way through their American dream, only to have it turned into a nightmare.
The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and an American Icon is published by Black Château and is available now wherever you purchase your books.
