Super Boys

The first comprehensive literary biography of Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, creators of Superman and the inspiration for Michael Chabon's Kavalier and Clay

Drawing on ten years of research in the trenches of Cleveland libraries, boarded-up high schools, and secret, private collections, Brad Ricca's Super Boys is the first ever full biography about Superman’s creators. Among scores of new discoveries, the book reveals:

- the first stories and pictures ever published by the two
- the various elements of the Superman mythos that Siegel tried out in stories in his high school paper
- the real inspiration for Lois Lane
- the template for Superman’s costume
- the exact circumstances of the death of Siegel’s father
- details about Joe Shuster’s missing years, including his stint illustrating pornographic novels
- the influence that touring strongmen had in the creation of Superman

Super Boys explains, finally, what exactly happened with the infamous check for $130 that pulled Superman away from his creators—and gave control of the character to the publisher. Ricca also uncovers the true nature of Jerry’s father’s death, a crime that has always remained a mystery. Super Boys is the story of a long friendship between boys who grew to be men and the standard that would be impossible for both of them to live up to.

**Booksellers, email kym.giacoppe@stmartins.com to request a print galley**

BRAD RICCA earned his Ph.D. in English from Case Western Reserve University where he currently teaches. He has spoken on comics at various schools and museums, and he has been interviewed about comics topics by The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, and All Things Considered on NPR. His film Last Son won a 2010 Silver Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.