• Superman

  • The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero
  • By: Larry Tye
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (319 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Superman  By  cover art

Superman

By: Larry Tye
Narrated by: Scott Brick
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.25

Buy for $20.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The first full-fledged history not just of the Man of Steel but of the creators, designers, owners, and performers who made him the icon he is today, from the New York Times bestselling author of Satchel and Bobby Kennedy

“A story as American as Superman himself.”—The Washington Post

Legions of fans from Boston to Buenos Aires can recite the story of the child born Kal-El, scion of the doomed planet Krypton, who was rocketed to Earth as an infant, raised by humble Kansas farmers, and rechristened Clark Kent. Known to law-abiders and evildoers alike as Superman, he was destined to become the invincible champion of all that is good and just—and a star in every medium from comic books and comic strips to radio, TV, and film.

But behind the high-flying legend lies a true-to-life saga every bit as compelling, one that begins not in the far reaches of outer space but in the middle of America’s heartland. During the depths of the Great Depression, Jerry Siegel was a shy, awkward teenager in Cleveland. Raised on adventure tales and robbed of his father at a young age, Jerry dreamed of a hero for a boy and a world that desperately needed one. Together with neighborhood chum and kindred spirit Joe Shuster, young Siegel conjured a human-sized god who was everything his creators yearned to be: handsome, stalwart, and brave, able to protect the innocent, punish the wicked, save the day, and win the girl. It was on Superman’s muscle-bound back that the comic book and the very idea of the superhero took flight.

Tye chronicles the adventures of the men and women who kept Siegel and Shuster’s “Man of Tomorrow” aloft and vitally alive through seven decades and counting. Here are the savvy publishers and visionary writers and artists of comics’ Golden Age who ushered the red-and-blue-clad titan through changing eras and evolving incarnations; and the actors—including George Reeves and Christopher Reeve—who brought the Man of Steel to life on screen, only to succumb themselves to all-too-human tragedy in the mortal world. Here too is the poignant and compelling history of Siegel and Shuster’s lifelong struggle for the recognition and rewards rightly due to the architects of a genuine cultural phenomenon.

From two-fisted crimebuster to über-patriot, social crusader to spiritual savior, Superman—perhaps like no other mythical character before or since—has evolved in a way that offers a Rorschach test of his times and our aspirations. In this deftly realized appreciation, Larry Tye reveals a portrait of America over seventy years through the lens of that otherworldly hero who continues to embody our best selves.

©2012 Larry Tye (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Action and adventure... comedy... tragedy... mythology... Larry Tye captures it all! As complete a history of the Man of Steel as ever published, this book is a deeply documented yet anecdotally told tale that transports us from the bedroom of a daydreaming teenager in 1930s Cleveland, Ohio, to the collapsing towers of the planet Krypton, from the wheatfields of middle America to the hearts of every American, with a story that is entertaining, revealing, and shocking, yet crammed with historical information. If you liked reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, wait till you read Larry Tye’s true story behind it all!" (Michael Uslan, author of The Boy Who Loved Batman and executive producer of seven Batman movies)

"I only wish I had the good fortune of reading Larry Tye’s book before I made Superman, the problem being that if I had, then the motion picture part of Superman’s history would not have been in Mr. Tye’s book. Having said that, the reason I found Tye’s book incredibly informative is his sense of my bible in making the film - that is, verisimilitude. Reality overcame everything." (Richard Donner, director of Superman)

“A story as American as Superman himself . . . The best origin story pulsing through Superman is not the one about the Krypton-to-Kansas alien baby, but rather the one about the superhero’s mortal and sometimes star-crossed creators.” (The Washington Post)

What listeners say about Superman

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    193
  • 4 Stars
    101
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    202
  • 4 Stars
    76
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    177
  • 4 Stars
    88
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This Superman soars

Superman appeared in 1938, several years into the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office. He was crippled with polio, and yet he didn't let something like an unending economic catastrophe quell his can-do attitude.

Superman was the optimistic superhero the nation needed. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's creation heralded an age of superheroes, which would gain steam with the introduction of Batman in 1939 and Wonder Woman in 1941.

Like FDR, Superman was the optimistic Man of Steel. He was clean-cut Clark Kent from Kansas, if you ignored his secret Kryptonian origins. He was a great guy who knew how to collar a criminal and never thought it beneath him to help a little girl get her cat out of a tree.

Author Larry Tye examines the Superman story from its origins in Cleveland with two Jewish kids obsessed with pulp magazines and science fiction. The Siegel and Shuster story is told chronologically. So it begins at the beginning then fades out temporarilly while Tye deals with the founding of DC Comics (National) and introduces other characters and generations of fans. But the story inevitably returns to Siegel and Shuster. After all, they invented one of the most profitable comics franchises in history--and made next to squat. Shuster died penniless. In fact, he owed $20,000.

But there are other stories to be told. Tye fills in the history of the old Superman radio dramas, the Fleischer cartoons, the first TV show and the later one starring George Reeves, whose death remains a mystery.

Many readers will enjoy the chapters devoted to the 1978 film Superman and its sequels. Christopher Reeve became for many the embodiment of the Man of Steel. It's interesting to hear how the actor came up with his dual characterization of Clark Kent and Superman. His Kent influence was the bumbling Cary Grant of Bringing Up Baby.

Some critics have said we're too cynical for Superman nowadays. We want our heroes anti. This book makes me hope that's not true.

Scott Bricks puts in another solid performance as narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Book for Any Superman Fan

Larry Tye provides insight into not only the original creators of Superman but nearly all the major influences that have defined (or in some cases attempted to re-define) Superman. While Siegel and Shuster are featured prominently throughout the book, he looks at other comic, TV, newspaper comic, and movie writers, directors, producers, and actors who have helped to create the Superman mythos.

It is a great listen. Scott does a fine job, though admittedly this is not as difficult as an audiobook where multiple characters have to be distinguished audibly. He's clear and engaging. If he's not a fan of the subject matter, he does a good job of sounding as if he is.

The book does not present a one-sided view of the struggles of the Siegel and Shuster with DC comics over Superman. It fairly evenly presents the history, but is more concerned about the endurance of the character as a cultural icon. It posits some theories about why Superman is so loved, but never descends into a psychological study. It is primarily history, told from the view of someone enamored with his subject. Recommended listening for old and new fans of Superman.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

the hero we thought we knew

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I found it fascinating how the creators managed to survive the depression and wars but in the end lost their rights to the man of steel but begged for money from the current owners because they felt entitled.

Do you think Superman needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Once you've heard the history you don't really need to question it, so no I don't think a follow up book is in order.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Super History!

Excellent history of the Superman character. I've been a Superman fan since I was a kid in the seventies, and this book not only brought back a lot of memories, but filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge. Nye's history hits every era of Superman with detail and love from Action Comics # 1 to the Man of Steel due in theaters in the summer of 2013. Scott Brick, Super Narrator, does a fine job as always.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Definitive

Any additional comments?

This is a very thorough and insightful look into Superman's history - not just in the comics but in film, radio, tv, as well as the many creators who have helped shaped Superman along the way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Fascinating and Complicated Story

I grew up with the Superman comics as my absolute favorite. Of course, I never had any idea of its origins or history. The author explores a very personal look into the creation and continuing history of this iconic character.
It also brought back long forgotten memories of the Superman comics with the characters and plots that had meant so much to me as a child. I also enjoyed how the author made the fictional characters so real as they seemed to take on a life of their own. The only flaw for me was the often confusing timeline and who were some of the myriad people involved.
Isn't it amazing how the character of Superman has affected so many? And the horrible irony of the creators passing away in poverty.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The never-ending battle

l have been a comics fan for 50 years, and thought l knew everything about Superman, but Larry Tye has proven me wrong in a big way! This was a meticulously researched, well written bio of the Man of Steel, with narration by the great Scott Brick, that finally proves once and for all that despite his great power, Superman might save the world, but he couldn't save Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb!!!

I have been a fan of Superman for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching Smallville I watch the Superman Adventures of the cartoon shows I've seen every single Superman movie. I love Superman and this book does Justice for not only the name but for the brand, for the Legacy, for the legend that is Superman this book was great. There was just so much more that went to the development of the man of steel that we know today and this book gives you the entire synapses from first day to everything that happened up to 2012.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth every penny

My nerdest listen ever.
But it left me amazed by realizing how biblical a character can be in the lives of those involved in maintaining its life. And how life inspiring it can be to all of us fans.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great history story

very will told back story of the history of superman and his creator's legacy on the world

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful