Siegel and Shuster's Funnyman: The First Jewish Superhero, from the Creators of Superman

Funnyman, brain child of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, was started after the duo parted ways from DC Comics. They were hoping that it would take off, but it did not. Possibly because people were expecting another Superman. At any rate, the book did not last that long, and this volume collects the entire run, including the rare Sunday and Daily newspaper strips. This is the first book ever devoted to a Jewish superhero and the first of the book is devoted to Jewish personages in American culture as background, the Siegel and Shuster describe the development and creation of Funnyman, followed by the covers and stories. Very unique idea that really never took off, so to speak. Readers may view this volume entirely differently from other readers reading this volume, but is a must have for its creativeness and as a tribute to the fathers of the superhero.

Good backstory on one of the Siegel and Shuster's last attempts to create a super-hero. Shuster was legally blind and had significant trouble drawing. Let go by National, the duo needed a hit to support their families. Funnyman was highly derivative - he looked like Danny Kaye, and his persona change as the creative duo tried various tweaks to attract readers. The book's author puts the creation in context, as a product of Borscht Belt comedy. Outside of NYC, readers of that era would struggle with some of the references that Siegel & Shuster made.

For the initiated Jerry Siegel and Jerry Shuster were the co-creators of Superman the most important and iconic character in the history of the medium. Unfortunately, that accomplishment did not lead to the fame and fortune that they anticipated. After a failed legal attempt to regain the rights to their creation they were dismissed by the publisher.Fortunately, for them they had offers from other publishers and immediately embarked on a new creation. This book describes their most ambitious post-Superman project.

I have no one to blame but myself.If you are a comic book fan/historian, you probably appreciate that we are in a Golden Age of comic-book reprinting. I look on the shelves behind me and I see the complete Spirit in 26 volumes, Joe Kubert's Tor from the 1950s, multiple volumes of Dr. Solar and Magnus, Robot Fighter, and well over 100 hardcover and paperback reprinting of classic material from DC and Marvel.When I saw the solicitation for "Siegel and Shuster's Funnyman," I believed that what was being offered was another collection of rare comic books. How wrong I was. Oh, there are a few stories from the short run the character had in the comic-book format and a story from its comic-strip run, but the bulk of the book is a history of Jewish comedy along with related articles. Not that the articles are uninteresting, but they are not the reason I bought this book and I have a feeling there are books out there that better address that history.Maybe I was wrong for reading too much into the description with regard to this book being a complete reprinting of the Siegel and Shuster's Funnyman, but reading the description now that I have the book the hand, I see nothing that would lead me to expect this book. The few Funnyman stories included raise my rating of the book to "two stars."

This book aspires to show the cultural influences that shaped Siegel and Shuster's Funnyman comic. It succeeds and then some. It also shows the forces behind the creation of Superman and the struggle Siegel and Shuster went through to create their visions. The essays are well written, insightful, original and enlightening and the graphics are AMAZING! This is a great book for any Superman fan or Judaica and vaudeville history buff.

I am not a comic book person, actually. This book is so much more than that. Just the drama of Siegel and Shuster's most terrible deal with DC is tragic/comic enough for a Coen brothers flick. But, the insightful discussion of Jewish humor is both thoughtful and thorough. I was entertained and educated. Can't beat that.

A fascinating insight into the early years of DC as well as the creators of Dr Occult (and some other character that did fairly well) as well as an amazing history of Jewish comedy. Also includes all the strips of the Funny Man who to be fair is an acquired taste but isn't that bad ... just probably not what people wanted at the time