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Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed
Fascinating and often bizarre true stories behind more than 130 urban legends about comic book culture.
Was Superman a Spy? demystifies all of the interesting stories, unbelievable anecdotes, wacky rumors, and persistent myths that have piled up like priceless back issues in the seventy-plus years of the comic book industry,
• Elvis Presley's trademark hairstyle was based on a comic book character (True)
• Stan Lee featured a gay character in one of Marvel's 1960s war comics (False)
• Wolverine of the X-Men was originally meant to be an actual wolverine! (True)
• What would have been DC's first black superhero was changed at the last moment to a white hero (True)
• A Dutch inventor was blocked from getting a patent on a process because it had been used previously in a Donald Duck comic book (True)
With many more legends resolved, Was Superman a Spy? is a must-have for the legions of comic book fans and all seekers of “truth, justice, and the American way.”
Was Superman a Spy? demystifies all of the interesting stories, unbelievable anecdotes, wacky rumors, and persistent myths that have piled up like priceless back issues in the seventy-plus years of the comic book industry,
• Elvis Presley's trademark hairstyle was based on a comic book character (True)
• Stan Lee featured a gay character in one of Marvel's 1960s war comics (False)
• Wolverine of the X-Men was originally meant to be an actual wolverine! (True)
• What would have been DC's first black superhero was changed at the last moment to a white hero (True)
• A Dutch inventor was blocked from getting a patent on a process because it had been used previously in a Donald Duck comic book (True)
With many more legends resolved, Was Superman a Spy? is a must-have for the legions of comic book fans and all seekers of “truth, justice, and the American way.”
244 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 88 reviews
November 3, 2022
" . . . here we are with a collection of 130 comic book stories - 65 of my favorite [urban] legends from the column plus 65 brand-new legends! Some of them are false and some of them are true, but all of them demonstrate the fascinating history of comic books." -- from the author's introduction
Likely best appreciated by the devoted but well-adjusted fans (the farcical 'Comic Book Guy' character from TV's The Simpsons would probably find something to sniff at here) and followers of comic books and graphic novels, Cronin's Was Superman a Spy? kind of promises to be a little more interesting that it actually was, plus its 2009 copyright date means that a fair amount of pop culture history is missing from the last 12+ years. (For instance, only the very first Iron Man film from 2008 is mentioned, but Marvel's subsequent cinematic steamroller of a connected movie series - not to mention all of those streaming television shows - are understandably missing . . . and then there is all of DC's film and TV-related product, too. Also, Wonder Woman is way overshadowed by her 'Trinity' counterparts Superman and Batman in the opening DC section.) So what is presented is often more trivia and/or history than actual urban legend status, but reading this now-somewhat dated text was still relatively fun with its occasional nuggets of info, such as the calculated reason why Marvel's 'first family' The Fantastic Four did not appear attired in costume for early cover art.
Likely best appreciated by the devoted but well-adjusted fans (the farcical 'Comic Book Guy' character from TV's The Simpsons would probably find something to sniff at here) and followers of comic books and graphic novels, Cronin's Was Superman a Spy? kind of promises to be a little more interesting that it actually was, plus its 2009 copyright date means that a fair amount of pop culture history is missing from the last 12+ years. (For instance, only the very first Iron Man film from 2008 is mentioned, but Marvel's subsequent cinematic steamroller of a connected movie series - not to mention all of those streaming television shows - are understandably missing . . . and then there is all of DC's film and TV-related product, too. Also, Wonder Woman is way overshadowed by her 'Trinity' counterparts Superman and Batman in the opening DC section.) So what is presented is often more trivia and/or history than actual urban legend status, but reading this now-somewhat dated text was still relatively fun with its occasional nuggets of info, such as the calculated reason why Marvel's 'first family' The Fantastic Four did not appear attired in costume for early cover art.
September 13, 2017
Fantastic facts about comics and the individuals who worked in the industry and made this aspect of American pop-culture the global business it has become today.
June 10, 2020
Awesome book on the history of Marvel and DC comics, as well as insight into legal battles, mergers, sackings, hiring and the cultural comic book influences of the likes of Elvis Presley, Nicholas Cage, Martin Landau etc. to name a few! An absolute must read for anyone interested in modern culture. 9 out of 12.
December 1, 2019
A good collection of anecdotes and trivia on the publishers, artists, writers and fans of comic books, from Archie to Uncle Scrooge! Fun for the comic book geek in me.
Not many copies in the library system out there, and the book wasn't on high quality paper.
Not many copies in the library system out there, and the book wasn't on high quality paper.
November 27, 2011
What a pointless book. The author is a blogger, and this is where his talent lies. The book is sold as a debunk or confirmation of rumors culled from 75 years of the comic book industry, but fails to be. The first 2/3 reads more like a history of different companies with debunking elements, a history that has errors. One glaring example, the first Superman movie was SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN (1951), not SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978). Cronin does not mention the former film. The book is more anecdotal in the last third, but there it tells off-beat stories in an un-unified/scattergun way. Many of these are not especially interesting. Do you care that Dick Briefer created a hero for THE DAILY WORKER, or that John Byrne did not finish his NEXT MEN saga because he was offered more lucrative work?
Cronin is not so much a bad writer, though he is not a good one, as he has bad writing habits. In addition to the organization problems, he needs a stronger editor. Just one example, his overuse of the word THAT, as in (made up example because this book is not worth the time to reread until I find his actual blunders) “he isn’t that bad,” and “it isn’t that risky.” The first example does not need THAT; the latter could hold SO or VERY in that space. This may seem like a small thing here, but by the time I read the tenth example it seemed a big thing to me. It is a legitimate construction, but Cronin uses it when a different word would scan better and be more precise. It is a linguistic tic, and a bad one.
Cronin does not evidence the talent to write books in this book. He should stick to blogging, which is the natural environment for his lack of organization and mediocre writing.
Cronin is not so much a bad writer, though he is not a good one, as he has bad writing habits. In addition to the organization problems, he needs a stronger editor. Just one example, his overuse of the word THAT, as in (made up example because this book is not worth the time to reread until I find his actual blunders) “he isn’t that bad,” and “it isn’t that risky.” The first example does not need THAT; the latter could hold SO or VERY in that space. This may seem like a small thing here, but by the time I read the tenth example it seemed a big thing to me. It is a legitimate construction, but Cronin uses it when a different word would scan better and be more precise. It is a linguistic tic, and a bad one.
Cronin does not evidence the talent to write books in this book. He should stick to blogging, which is the natural environment for his lack of organization and mediocre writing.
March 17, 2012
I was thinking of this book as a list of comic book rumors and the truth about them. That is not exactly the format that this book takes. It reads more like a history of the major comic book companies and how various characters and plot points came about. So most of the time I didn’t know what the myth was he was responding to. And I do think that Cronin uses exclamation points (!!!!) more often than the facts warrant. Nothing is quite that exciting. But that doesn’t mean that the information was not interesting. I’ve never looked into it much before myself so most of the information here was new to me. Not only do you learn why they came up with kryptonite and why Batgirl was introduced, and many other tidbits but you also learn about the crazy comic book politics. The fighting and the way stories were changed around to fit with movies or TV shows and such and the battles over the rights to use certain names and terms. (Hulk Hogan had a run-in with Marvel about his name.) Knowing all the weirdness that went on behind the comic books does not make them less fun to read. In fact I think it might make them more fun. You, of course, have to be a comic book fan to care about any of the information in this book but if you are I think you will find something here for you.
March 5, 2011
The way this book quickly moves through the histories of comic book publishing, character creation and comic book story creation is unlike any other book I've read. It feels like a retelling of comic book history through the lens of what almost was, what strangely was and what almost never was. Was Wolverine meant to be an actual Wolverine? Did Walt Disney create morbid stories for his Disney Characters back in the day? Did the old Superman radio show change the direction of the comic books? Who actually created Batman, the Joker, or Spider-Man? Did the Green Lantern have a dog side-kick? Questions like these are examined. Some of the answers are not exactly defined, but readers are left with an understanding of why these questions exists and the significance of them.
A very quick and fun read. It'll have you saying to your friend the next day, "Did you know that...?"
A very quick and fun read. It'll have you saying to your friend the next day, "Did you know that...?"
July 10, 2009
This is a really fun collection of comic-book trivia culled from Brian Cronin's weekly column "Comic Book Legends Revealed." Google it. Cronin avoids having the book feel like a string of unrelated tidbits by piecing his articles together in such a way that it reads like a history text, albeit one told from the corners of DC and Marvel's back rooms.
Favorite bit of trivia: When he died in 1996, Marvel writer and editor Mark Gruenwald's will stipulated that his ashes be mixed with the ink used in a printing of one of his comics. So, if you own the first edition trade paperback collection of Squadron Supreme, you own a bit of the writer himself.
Favorite bit of trivia: When he died in 1996, Marvel writer and editor Mark Gruenwald's will stipulated that his ashes be mixed with the ink used in a printing of one of his comics. So, if you own the first edition trade paperback collection of Squadron Supreme, you own a bit of the writer himself.
July 15, 2010
I enjoy Cronin's "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed" column on his blog but he made a poor choice in formatting those entries into a book. Making everything an ongoing narrative grouped by character and company made it really hard to browse. I don't really want to read dozens of pages on the history of Spider-Man -- I just want to read a short anecdote about specific legend. The blog posts also format the legends with a TRUE/FALSE answer, and the book seemed to just list the true urban legends. That's no fun.
June 29, 2018
Some interesting stories about comic book history, but not that much that I hadn't already heard.
July 3, 2009
I first heard about this book from Scott McCloud's twitter (a person I really recommend everyone follow on there) and he basically touted it as being, and I'm paraphrasing, "the one non-comic every comic book lover must own." And after picking it up randomly one day, I definitely have to agree with this sentiment. Not only is it well-written and entertaining, it offers unique insight into some of the biggest "urban legends" in the comic book industry, not to mention it also gives you an interesting perspective on its history.
I have always loved learning about how comics got their start in the 30s, and most books tell you about it in spades. The problem with that, which I realized while reading Was Superman a Spy? is that I knew almost nothing about Marvel's beginning, which really started in earnest in the 60s. Brian Cronin fixes that for me, which gives me a whole new perspective on the two major companies, DC and Marvel. And don't think that Cronin only focuses on them as he does give plenty of room for companies like Dark Horse and Valiant to shine in his book.
All in all, I think this is a book every comic aficionado should read. It's well-thought out and you learn a number of surprising fact like who inspired Elvis' look. The answer may surprise you as it surprised me! One thing I would have like to have in this book, though it did not detract my enjoyment of it, was a definitive look on what happened with Alan Moore and his series Marvelman that was just shot down in its prime. We all know the stories, but perhaps finding out any inconsistencies would have been fun. That is a small wish, though, and hardly a criticism.
Go get this one! Highly recommended.
I have always loved learning about how comics got their start in the 30s, and most books tell you about it in spades. The problem with that, which I realized while reading Was Superman a Spy? is that I knew almost nothing about Marvel's beginning, which really started in earnest in the 60s. Brian Cronin fixes that for me, which gives me a whole new perspective on the two major companies, DC and Marvel. And don't think that Cronin only focuses on them as he does give plenty of room for companies like Dark Horse and Valiant to shine in his book.
All in all, I think this is a book every comic aficionado should read. It's well-thought out and you learn a number of surprising fact like who inspired Elvis' look. The answer may surprise you as it surprised me! One thing I would have like to have in this book, though it did not detract my enjoyment of it, was a definitive look on what happened with Alan Moore and his series Marvelman that was just shot down in its prime. We all know the stories, but perhaps finding out any inconsistencies would have been fun. That is a small wish, though, and hardly a criticism.
Go get this one! Highly recommended.
April 29, 2013
If you are looking for stories about comic book characters themselves, this isn't the book for you. But if, instead, you are looking for a book that takes a look at the creators behind them, and the urban legends that sometimes spring up around those creators and their creations, then this is definitely the book for you.
I was impressed that, even as a collector of comics for the last 26 years, there were still dozens of stories and anecdotes here that I'd never heard. And, I appreciate the research that must have gone into tracking down the stories behind the stories in many cases.
If I have one complaint about the book, it's the organization and presentation of the stories. As a book that trumpets itself as exploring the "fascinating and often bizarre true stories behind more than 130 urban legends about comic book culture" it is devilishly hard to track down individual stories. Want to find out the story behind, for example, the fact that Wolverine was actually supposed to be a mutated wolverine? Well, you'll be stuck going to the X-Men section and browsing aimlessly until you stumble across it. Either an index or at least titles for each section would have gone a long way to making this book more browse-able.
It's also worth noting that 90% of the stories here are about superhero comics and creators. There's a few anecdotes about Disney or Archie stuff, and one or two on war, crime and horror comics, but modern indie comics, like those produced by Fantagraphics or IDW, remain largely untouched. So, if superheroes aren't you thing, look elsewhere.
I was impressed that, even as a collector of comics for the last 26 years, there were still dozens of stories and anecdotes here that I'd never heard. And, I appreciate the research that must have gone into tracking down the stories behind the stories in many cases.
If I have one complaint about the book, it's the organization and presentation of the stories. As a book that trumpets itself as exploring the "fascinating and often bizarre true stories behind more than 130 urban legends about comic book culture" it is devilishly hard to track down individual stories. Want to find out the story behind, for example, the fact that Wolverine was actually supposed to be a mutated wolverine? Well, you'll be stuck going to the X-Men section and browsing aimlessly until you stumble across it. Either an index or at least titles for each section would have gone a long way to making this book more browse-able.
It's also worth noting that 90% of the stories here are about superhero comics and creators. There's a few anecdotes about Disney or Archie stuff, and one or two on war, crime and horror comics, but modern indie comics, like those produced by Fantagraphics or IDW, remain largely untouched. So, if superheroes aren't you thing, look elsewhere.
April 7, 2012
I picked this up cheap at a used bookstore, but maybe not cheap enough.
This was the kind of book I loved as a kid. Short essays about a bunch of different things bound by a theme, and the fact that the theme was comics would have made it all the sweeter.
Cronin investigates various stories and legends about the comics industry. I guess it all based on a blog he kept, but I never heard of the blog, so I have no point of comparison. But ultimately they are little tidbits, some proven false, others confirmed, others remain mysterious, but Cronin gives us his educated perspective, talking to the people involved when he can and chasing down firsthand accounts when he can't.
Overall, the book was just not that compelling for me. I knew a lot of what he had to share and the stuff I didn't know wasn't all that mind-blowing. I guess some of it might pop up again to me as useful trivia in party conversation when I am letting my geek flag fly. Someone who is less invested in comics may feel differently, but I can't say I am convinced that Cronin's voice is engaging enough to do it for anyone.
This was the kind of book I loved as a kid. Short essays about a bunch of different things bound by a theme, and the fact that the theme was comics would have made it all the sweeter.
Cronin investigates various stories and legends about the comics industry. I guess it all based on a blog he kept, but I never heard of the blog, so I have no point of comparison. But ultimately they are little tidbits, some proven false, others confirmed, others remain mysterious, but Cronin gives us his educated perspective, talking to the people involved when he can and chasing down firsthand accounts when he can't.
Overall, the book was just not that compelling for me. I knew a lot of what he had to share and the stuff I didn't know wasn't all that mind-blowing. I guess some of it might pop up again to me as useful trivia in party conversation when I am letting my geek flag fly. Someone who is less invested in comics may feel differently, but I can't say I am convinced that Cronin's voice is engaging enough to do it for anyone.
January 5, 2011
A fascinating look at the history of comic books and the creative process to make a Super Hero. I was completely blown away with the stories of how people, places, politics, science, laws, fans, mistakes, grudges, lawsuits and in one case a mugging effected the plots and character designs of theses beloved characters.
The author, Brian Cronin, originally researched and wrote theses stories as an ongoing segment for his blog. The result are short, easy to read segments. The only down side are the sometimes awkward or forced introduction paragraph that often ends the last sentence in a exclamation point. (A small complaint, and maybe it's a fitting style choice considering the subject is comic books and comic book characters).
Overall, an excellent read that I would recommend anyone with an interest in comics or just in the creative process.
The author, Brian Cronin, originally researched and wrote theses stories as an ongoing segment for his blog. The result are short, easy to read segments. The only down side are the sometimes awkward or forced introduction paragraph that often ends the last sentence in a exclamation point. (A small complaint, and maybe it's a fitting style choice considering the subject is comic books and comic book characters).
Overall, an excellent read that I would recommend anyone with an interest in comics or just in the creative process.
November 5, 2009
Why was THE HULK grey in his first issue, then promptly changed to green in the second? Who was THE JOKER based on? Why did H.E.R.B.I.E. replace THE HUMAN TORCH in the animated FANTASTIC FOUR series? Why was BLACK VULCAN used for SUPER FRIENDS instead of an already-established BLACK LIGHTNING? And is THE THING really Jewish?
Any weird and obscure trivia about DC and Marvel is encapsulated in this fairly awesome book. From character origins to strange in-fighting within these two comic book companies, this book has this kind of geeky shit and much MORE.
I am CRANKING through it.
Any weird and obscure trivia about DC and Marvel is encapsulated in this fairly awesome book. From character origins to strange in-fighting within these two comic book companies, this book has this kind of geeky shit and much MORE.
I am CRANKING through it.
July 4, 2011
Probably worth more like 3.5 stars, but I rounded up...it certainly isn't life-altering, but it was still a very enjoyable read containing lots of behind-the-scenes tidbits from a long history of the comics industry. It's well-written and fast-paced, and I have to say that I loved the color scheme on the cover, which is actually why I picked it up initially. If the topic interests you, this is definitely worth the read.
January 25, 2014
This one is better than his other book, Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent?: And Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia!. It got more in depth with the information presented. Still reads like a bunch of blog entries (which is what it is), but it's an excellent bathroom reader for folks who like comic trivia.
January 13, 2014
This was a pretty good collection of interesting facts about Comics and the politics behind the four colors. I'm a regular reader of the author's nonlinear column, so a lot of it wasn't t news to me, and many of the facyoids have been coopted in other books I've read, but there was plenty of new stuff to make it an enjoyable read. Definitely hope the author puts out more volumes like this.
November 18, 2017
This book is like a box of chocolates. That’s partly because you never know what you’ll get, and partly because its factoids come as small, tasty and easily digestible morsels.
These “morsels” represent the best of Brian Cronin’s “Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed” blog, which appears on the Comic Book Resources website. In each installment, Cronin presents an urban legend and determines its veracity. Here, he’s reformatted the material somewhat, as one legend leads directly into the other, often with little real transition. That’s not a problem, though, as any comic fan will find the book very readable, and…well, as I said, it’s all a collection of tasty morsels. There are divisions by comic company (Marvel, DC and other) and then by character and “miscellaneous.” If you like, you can read the chapter on your favorite character and then scan the rest of the book at your leisure. Come to think of it – this is great bathroom reading material, but most comic fans will probably find it difficult to stop reading when the bathroom break is over.
Cronin presented some facts that I already knew, along with some that I didn’t. Most fans probably know that Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter changed the Dark Phoenix Saga’s ending and that kryptonite first appeared on the Superman radio show. I also knew that Elvis modeled his hairstyle after Captain Marvel, Jr. and that Marvel Comics had to put pants on Howard the Duck when Disney complained about his resemblance to Donald. I did not know wrestler Hulk Hogan paid Marvel Comics a licensing fee to use the name “Hulk,” that X-Men writer Len Wein had planned for Wolverine to be revealed as an actual evolved wolverine or that Marvel artist John Romita, Sr. broke into the comics industry by pretending to be someone else (Stan Lee hired Romita’s friend to pencil and ink. Romita’s friend could ink but not pencil. The friend convinced Romita to pencil, while he inked the material and submitted it under his name. Eventually, Romita introduced himself to Stan and the rest is history.).
For me, some of the most delightful parts concerned the debunking of legends often believed to be true. I had heard the story, for example, about Batman gaining a yellow oval on his chest in the 1960s because that made the bat symbol easier to trademark. Many fans seem to take this as truth, but Cronin shows that it isn’t. He notes that Batman’s bat symbol was already stylized enough to trademark and that DC editor Julius Schwartz has stated that he only added the yellow oval to distinguish his new take on the character. Like many fans, I had also heard the story about Marvel deciding to get into the super hero business after publisher Martin Goodman played golf with either Irwin Donenfeld or Jack Liebowitz of DC and learned how well JUSTICE LEAGUE had been selling. Both Donenfeld and Liebowitz, however, have denied ever playing golf with Goodman.
The book contains other such “debunked legends,” but…well, perhaps it’s more fun to discover these for oneself. If you're a comic fan, then go ahead and check this out!
These “morsels” represent the best of Brian Cronin’s “Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed” blog, which appears on the Comic Book Resources website. In each installment, Cronin presents an urban legend and determines its veracity. Here, he’s reformatted the material somewhat, as one legend leads directly into the other, often with little real transition. That’s not a problem, though, as any comic fan will find the book very readable, and…well, as I said, it’s all a collection of tasty morsels. There are divisions by comic company (Marvel, DC and other) and then by character and “miscellaneous.” If you like, you can read the chapter on your favorite character and then scan the rest of the book at your leisure. Come to think of it – this is great bathroom reading material, but most comic fans will probably find it difficult to stop reading when the bathroom break is over.
Cronin presented some facts that I already knew, along with some that I didn’t. Most fans probably know that Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter changed the Dark Phoenix Saga’s ending and that kryptonite first appeared on the Superman radio show. I also knew that Elvis modeled his hairstyle after Captain Marvel, Jr. and that Marvel Comics had to put pants on Howard the Duck when Disney complained about his resemblance to Donald. I did not know wrestler Hulk Hogan paid Marvel Comics a licensing fee to use the name “Hulk,” that X-Men writer Len Wein had planned for Wolverine to be revealed as an actual evolved wolverine or that Marvel artist John Romita, Sr. broke into the comics industry by pretending to be someone else (Stan Lee hired Romita’s friend to pencil and ink. Romita’s friend could ink but not pencil. The friend convinced Romita to pencil, while he inked the material and submitted it under his name. Eventually, Romita introduced himself to Stan and the rest is history.).
For me, some of the most delightful parts concerned the debunking of legends often believed to be true. I had heard the story, for example, about Batman gaining a yellow oval on his chest in the 1960s because that made the bat symbol easier to trademark. Many fans seem to take this as truth, but Cronin shows that it isn’t. He notes that Batman’s bat symbol was already stylized enough to trademark and that DC editor Julius Schwartz has stated that he only added the yellow oval to distinguish his new take on the character. Like many fans, I had also heard the story about Marvel deciding to get into the super hero business after publisher Martin Goodman played golf with either Irwin Donenfeld or Jack Liebowitz of DC and learned how well JUSTICE LEAGUE had been selling. Both Donenfeld and Liebowitz, however, have denied ever playing golf with Goodman.
The book contains other such “debunked legends,” but…well, perhaps it’s more fun to discover these for oneself. If you're a comic fan, then go ahead and check this out!
June 5, 2013
WAS SUPERMAN A SPY? is chock-full of information and dirty little secrets about comic book companies' pasts. The big two (DC and Marvel) are tackled, as well as other current and no-longer-existent independent comic book companies. The author, Brian Cronin, seemingly did a lot of research to uncover mysteries and validate (or disprove) urban legends. There was also quite a bit of information about subjects and situations that I never even thought about, but I'm glad I know now why they are like they are.
Although I really enjoyed the book, I think it could have been presented better, and I'm not sure why the author (or his editor(s)) didn't consider it. The title of the book grabs you: Was Superman A Spy? Well, was he? The book is divided into the following sections: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Other Comic Book Companies. Within each of these sections, there are chapters for each super-hero or team (i.e., Superman, Batman, X-Men, Hulk). The chapter then tells you all of the "little secrets" about that hero in separated paragraphs. What happened to the questions to be answered? Cronin should have presented the questions (i.e., Was Superman a spy?, Why did Captain America's shield change after one issue? Who really created Batman?) and then answered them for the reader, not just present an essay on each superhero and then spill any and all related facts about that superhero. I think it would have made for a much more interesting and grabbing read if you knew what fact was coming up next. As it stands, I'm not sure what theory or story he's proving or disproving until at least halfway through the paragraphs. Don't get me wrong; it's still interesting, but it could have been presented to the reader SO much better.
Lastly, Cronin should have stuck to discussing only events/situations in the past, or the text needs to be periodically updated. The current or upcoming events he references are no longer current and in the past (i.e., there's talk of a new Spider-Man movie (which was already filmed and released in 2012)). It makes the book feel very dated.
All in all, though, I recommend this book for the longtime comic book reader who would love all these juicy details that bring to light circumstances and situations you never even knew you wanted to know about.
Although I really enjoyed the book, I think it could have been presented better, and I'm not sure why the author (or his editor(s)) didn't consider it. The title of the book grabs you: Was Superman A Spy? Well, was he? The book is divided into the following sections: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Other Comic Book Companies. Within each of these sections, there are chapters for each super-hero or team (i.e., Superman, Batman, X-Men, Hulk). The chapter then tells you all of the "little secrets" about that hero in separated paragraphs. What happened to the questions to be answered? Cronin should have presented the questions (i.e., Was Superman a spy?, Why did Captain America's shield change after one issue? Who really created Batman?) and then answered them for the reader, not just present an essay on each superhero and then spill any and all related facts about that superhero. I think it would have made for a much more interesting and grabbing read if you knew what fact was coming up next. As it stands, I'm not sure what theory or story he's proving or disproving until at least halfway through the paragraphs. Don't get me wrong; it's still interesting, but it could have been presented to the reader SO much better.
Lastly, Cronin should have stuck to discussing only events/situations in the past, or the text needs to be periodically updated. The current or upcoming events he references are no longer current and in the past (i.e., there's talk of a new Spider-Man movie (which was already filmed and released in 2012)). It makes the book feel very dated.
All in all, though, I recommend this book for the longtime comic book reader who would love all these juicy details that bring to light circumstances and situations you never even knew you wanted to know about.
February 18, 2021
Took awhile but I got to read the book. Some things I knew with some surprises just a fun quick read.
September 1, 2009
Required reading for all comic book geeks, Brian Cronin's weekly column
Comic Book Legends Revealed
educates and enlightens the trivial aspects of comic book history. Was Superman A Spy? collects 65 of Cronin's columns plus an additional 65 pieces written for this book. Dividing the book into three parts (DC, Marvel, and Other Companies), Cronin introduces and demystifies legends involving many of the industry's giants—both creations and creators. Sadly, Was Superman A Spy? lacks an index. Often missing notations, the picture reproductions are of poor quality. Inexcusable for a publishing house the size of Plume, the book is littered with misspellings and typos. Despite these flaws, Was Superman A Spy? stands as a unique book for the comic book fan and will be enjoyed by anyone with an even passing interest in the medium.
June 18, 2009
this is wonderful! many of the stories i didn't know. the big secret behind the hulk being green instead of gray. why is his name bruce robert david banner? remember Tatoo on fantasy island screaming "de plane de plane?" a few years before he was saying "de pencil, de pencil" at a comic publisher. why did herbie (the robot) exist? who did steve ditko's contract say he didn't have to talk to?
reprints lots of comic panels. i even bought a book mentioned. i found only one spelling error and one error of fact, maybe - (there were plans for a she hulk movie, i've seen some of the stills.)
one last one, wonder woman was originally drawn by Harry Peter.
reprints lots of comic panels. i even bought a book mentioned. i found only one spelling error and one error of fact, maybe - (there were plans for a she hulk movie, i've seen some of the stills.)
one last one, wonder woman was originally drawn by Harry Peter.
October 6, 2015
quick and light, interesting and readable, but the premise spelled out on the cover is a bit misleading. it's not so much the mythbusters of comic book history as a series of amusing anecdotes and odd trivia. there are maybe 5 instances of debunked rumors, which is just as well, but an odd inconsistency.
the collection is poorly edited, and at times amateurishly written, as careless syntactic mistakes and unclear phrases occur far too often, sometimes even obscuring the intent of a given sentence.
the collection is poorly edited, and at times amateurishly written, as careless syntactic mistakes and unclear phrases occur far too often, sometimes even obscuring the intent of a given sentence.
August 24, 2009
A quick read full of amusing anecdotes, I guess my biggest complaint about the book is that it reads like a series of blog posts, which I think it was originally. Of course, I hate reading things online, and also, the book has a great cover design. Lacked an ending to wrap it all up with insightful commentary, but still worth reading for anyone interested in some back stories to rumors and myths behind a lot of Marvel and DC comics.
November 23, 2009
Cronin is turning into the final authority on disputed points of superhero trivia. He is a combination archivist and mythbuster. The book is fun and hard to put down.
May 25, 2022
This was disappointing - the cover really misrepresent the format of this book in a major way. It advertises itself as presenting various "urban legends" of comic book history and verifying or debunking them. In fact, it's basically just a collection of anecdotes from throughout comic book history, focusing heavily (too heavily) on the movie side of things.
The fact that the book is constructed predominantly of repurposed blog posts from the author's site is very evident, as there is no separation between the various stories beyond a few hard returns—no headers of any kind, no titles, etc. Just paragraph after paragraph of stories. It'd be a major headache to refer back to a specific story without writing in headlines yourself or noting page numbers (there's also no index). Beyond the presentation issues, the book is at times distractingly poorly written. The number of repeated words and phrases and awkwardly constructed sentences started to grate on me pretty quickly, and I can't help but think this could have been avoided with a simple once-over by a content editor.
Overall, a book filled with interesting information that unfortunately presents itself so poorly that it is difficult to enjoy.
The fact that the book is constructed predominantly of repurposed blog posts from the author's site is very evident, as there is no separation between the various stories beyond a few hard returns—no headers of any kind, no titles, etc. Just paragraph after paragraph of stories. It'd be a major headache to refer back to a specific story without writing in headlines yourself or noting page numbers (there's also no index). Beyond the presentation issues, the book is at times distractingly poorly written. The number of repeated words and phrases and awkwardly constructed sentences started to grate on me pretty quickly, and I can't help but think this could have been avoided with a simple once-over by a content editor.
Overall, a book filled with interesting information that unfortunately presents itself so poorly that it is difficult to enjoy.
June 2, 2020
A cool overview of comic history with an emphasis on cool little comic book urban legends. Find out the original intended origin for Wolverine or whether Swamp Thing ripped of Man-Thing or the other way around. I've been reading about this stuff for years, but I found some things I'd always wondered about, like why Marvel published only eight ongoing series throughout the '60s. Each section is a perfect snack-sized factoid, so this book is perfect to read on the go.
Brian Cronin is the prolific author of several great blogs, including Comics Should Be Good and Comic Book Legends Revealed. He does an amazing job, and I'm sure I'll enjoy his other books in the future.
Brian Cronin is the prolific author of several great blogs, including Comics Should Be Good and Comic Book Legends Revealed. He does an amazing job, and I'm sure I'll enjoy his other books in the future.
November 26, 2018
A good collection of comic book legends, myths and truths, from throughout the history of the medium.
Of the 130 "stories" presented, I was aware of most of them, but a few were definitely brand new to me.
But familiarity aside, the writing is highly engaging, and having a confirmation of many stories I already knew didn't hurt.
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