Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed

This book is not only informative, but fun to read. There are stories in this book that I haven't heard before and truths are told that make me look at things differently now. For example, Bob Kane is the undisputed creator of Batman, but how much of Batman did he actually create? "Was Superman A Spy" really shines a light on some things that were left in the dark. Another cool thing about the book is that it not only talks about certain comic strips, but the strips are actually included! I love it and I think every person that is or was a comic book fan should pick up a copy

Brian Cronin is best known as a writer for the blog Comics Should Be Good, most notably for the "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed" column. Was Superman a Spy is a mix of half old columns and half all new material written specifically for the book. I've read the column from time to time, but I still found most of the info new to me. It acts as a sort of barman's guide to comic book arguments and legends. Ever wonder who actually created Batman? Or that Venom was intended to be a women? Or why The Human Torch was replaced by a robot in the original Fantastic Four cartoon series? Well than this is the book for you. You also learn about some of the biggest foibles in comic book history such as why some print runs were pulped and what happened to the mysterious Warlock issue left in the back of a cab. Split into 3 sections (DC, Marvel, and Other Comic publishers) it is a light read you can pick-up at any point. Overall it was a fun read and look into the history and mysteries behind comic books. Recommend for comic and pop culture enthusiasts.

In this book, Brian Cronin basically examines a number of stories and legends that have grown up around the comic book industry. It is not a full-fledged history. You need not be a serious comic book aficionado to appreciate this work. If you are or were a fan of comic books, you will enjoy this well-written book. Cronin divides his pages into three sections: one on DC Comics (Superman, Batman, etc.), another on Marvel Comics (Spiderman, The Hulk, etc.), and a third on assorted other publishers. One of the things that becomes clear in reading this account is that the same type of egos and personalities that populate publishing, Hollywood, and academia are also in the comic book industry. Having many different contributors to the final product tends to lead to massive inconsistencies and reversals of plot. It also means that what the reader sees on the printed page is often quite different and many times better than the original concept; sometimes not, but mostly. Cronin writes in an easy, conversational style that makes "Was Superman a Spy?" a fast and enjoyable read. The illustrations leave a little to be desired, but that is on the publisher, not the author. If you buy this book, you will enjoy it immensely.

The author writes with conversational, good humor and very apparent affection for the comic book genre so it will certainly appeal to other likeminded fans. The chapters are filled with pop culture/trivia references about a broad cross section of animated super-heroes (copyrighted term by DC & Marvel!)--so there's something for everyone whether you're into the JLA, X-Men, the Archies, Richie Rich or all of the above. The material deserved a better treatment from the publisher and it's unfortunate that the illustrations aren't better quality reproductions, but that won't stop your enjoyment. I also wish there had been a "final chapter" or Epilogue to somehow wrap up the edition, but I guess it's not bad to be left wanting more!

Brian's book deals with some of the greatest myths you've ever heard about comic books--and a ton of them you probably have never heard before. Brian's work on "Comics Should Be Good" online has given us a taste of some of these weird stories (Wolverine was supposed to be an actual animal...and his claws were actually just supposed to be a part of his gloves) and great behind-the-scenes information. If you're a serious comic book fan, you'll find so many wonderful surprises and "I never knew that!" moments in here. If you're just a casual comic book reader, you'll still find things of interest here as well (though many of the more detailed surprises may not mean as much to you since you don't know the characters). Brian did a great job here and the book is nicely laid out. Be prepared to go through this one in one sitting.