From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up–This colossal encyclopedia of all things superhero could not have come at a better time. With a slew of comic-book movies each year, kids are more interested than ever in anything to do with these heroes. The collection includes hundreds of alphabetically arranged entries detailing how the character was first envisioned, highlights of important superheroes, and, when relevant, how they've been portrayed by Hollywood. The volume devotes as much attention to popular superheroes as it does to lesser-known figures such as Ant-Man, Nick Fury, and The Wasp. Only a limited number of commercial Hollywood icons are included, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Powerpuff Girls; none of the shows of the past are mentioned. While a strict definition of what the editors believe makes up a superhero is lacking, this is nonetheless a fairly thorough collection. While one might wish for a lot more illustrations, it is a must-buy for comic readers interested in knowing the early roots and conceptions of comic-book heroes.–Scott La Counte, Anaheim Public Library, CA

From the Publisher
Calling All Superheroes The first encyclopedic reference work that profiles superheroes from all companies and in all media, "The Superhero Book" is the ultimate A-Z compendium. Its 300 full entries provide information on more than 1,000 mythic overachievers, covering the best-loved and historically significant comic book, movie, television, and novel superheroes. "The Superhero Book" provides more than 150 full-color illustrations, including dozens of classic comic covers. The encyclopedia comprehensively profiles its heroes, detailing their mythology, sidekicks, protégés, villains, love interests, superpowers, weapons, costumes, vulnerabilities, nicknames, and modus operandi—as well as the many twists and turns they’ve taken in their careers and their changing status in popular culture. You’ll find tons of trivia, never-before-revealed facts and finds, and loads of insider information, written with enthusiasm and insight by a devoted team of comic-book, film, and pop culture experts. With "The Superhero Book", you'll be reminded why we love and need them, why they were chosen to save the world, what they do for their day jobs, and their very human conflicts and problems.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Superhuman strength. Virtual invulnerability. Motivated to defend the world from evildoers. A secret identity. And a penchant for looking good in long underwear. These are the traits that define the quintessential superhero whose impossible feats graced the pages of comic books during comics￯﾿ﾽ Golden and Silver Ages. They are Batman, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman, and dozens of others￯﾿ﾽwith names like Ant-Man, Daredevil, Hawkman, the Human Torch, the Spectre, the Spirit, and Sub-Mariner￯﾿ﾽwhose death-defying acts and altruistic motives have come to characterize heroism for generations of fans.

By the end of the twentieth century the real world had become a darker place, necessitating a new kind of hero. Popular heroes of yesteryear were reinvented to meet the demands of a new age. The popular culture witnessed the rise of the anti-hero, the fresh breed of brazen, gritty adventurer that includes the likes of Elektra, the Punisher, and Wolverine. Heroes that aren￯﾿ﾽt typically defined as super￯﾿ﾽBuffy, Hellboy, Sandman, and Spawn￯﾿ﾽbecame associated with the word because they possessed superhuman qualities. But they were often nearly paralyzed with angst, doubt,and disillusionment, identifying with their audience in a way reminiscent of existential sixties superheros like Spider-Man.

With 150 full-color illustrations, including dozens of classic comic covers, The Superhero Book is the ultimate A-Z compendium of everyone￯﾿ﾽs favorite superheroes and their mythology, sidekicks, villains, love interests, superpowers, and modus operandi. Almost 300 entries cover the best-loved and historically significant comic book, movie, television, and novel superheroes￯﾿ﾽmainstream and counterculture, famous and forgotten, best and worst￯﾿ﾽincluding classics like Green Lantern and Plastic Man, cult favorites like the Rocketeer and Madman, and timeless entities like the XMen. Each significant era of the superhero is explored￯﾿ﾽthe Golden Age (1938￯﾿ﾽ1954), the Silver Age (1956￯﾿ﾽ1969), the Bronze Age (1970￯﾿ﾽ1979), and the Modern Age (1980￯﾿ﾽpresent)￯﾿ﾽproviding the reader with a perspective of the hero over the twentieth century and beyond.

With The Superhero Book, you￯﾿ﾽll be reminded why you love them (Who wouldn￯﾿ﾽt want to get their hands on Wonder Woman￯﾿ﾽs lasso for just one day?), why they were chosen to save the world (￯﾿ﾽWe shall call you Captain America, son! Because like you￯﾿ﾽAmerica shall gain the strength and will to safeguard our shores￯﾿ﾽ), what they do for their day jobs (world traveler Oliver Queen . . . Hollywood star and America￯﾿ﾽs sweetheart Linda Turner . . . billionaire industrialist Bruce Wayne . . . college student and free-lance photographer Peter Parker), and their very human faux pas (As the Flash, he could outrun the wind, but as alter ego Barry Allen he was hard-pressed to show up for a date on time!).

In an uncertain age, what we need is a superhero. Use our book to find the right one.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal