Is Superman Circumcised?: The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero

by Roy Schwartz

Overview

Superman is the original superhero, an American icon, and arguably the most famous character in the world--and he's Jewish! Introduced in June 1938, the Man of Steel was created by two Jewish teens, Jerry Siegel, the son of immigrants from Eastern Europe, and Joe Shuster, an immigrant. They based their hero's origin story on Moses, his strength on Samson, his mission on the golem, and his nebbish secret identity on themselves. They made him a refugee fleeing catastrophe on the eve of World War II and sent him to tear Nazi tanks apart nearly two years before the US joined the war.

In the following decades, Superman's mostly Jewish writers, artists, and editors continued to borrow Jewish motifs for their stories, basing Krypton's past on Genesis and Exodus, its society on Jewish culture, the trial of Lex Luthor on Adolf Eichmann's, and a future holiday celebrating Superman on Passover.

A fascinating journey through comic book lore, American history, and Jewish tradition, this book examines the entirety of Superman's career from 1938 to date, and is sure to give readers a newfound appreciation for the Mensch of Steel!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476662909
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/19/2021
Pages:	374
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.75(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Roy Schwartz has written for newspapers, magazines, websites, academic organizations, law firms, tech companies, toy companies, and production studios. He has taught English and writing at the City University of New York and is a former writer-in-residence at the New York Public Library. He is the director of marketing and business development of a regional law firm.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface 1

Introduction 3

Methodology 7

Part I Scriptural Superheroes: The Ancient Roots of the Man of Tomorrow

Samson, Solomon and Other Supermen 10

Paradigmatic Parallels: Superman as Moses 22

Sent by His Father: Superman as Jesus 33

World's Finest: Settling the Denominational Debate 47

Part II Shticks from the Shtetl: How Jews Created Comics and Caped Crusaders

Hitler, Hollywood and Houdini 56

Famous Funnies and Other Firsts: The Birth of Comic Books 70

The Big Bang 88

Part III Mensch of Steel: Fulfilling Jewish Fantasy and Faith

The Jewish Experience: Context Is Content 106

Birthright 126

The Secret Identities of Heroes and Hebrews 142

The Galactic Golem 159

The Brave and the Bold: Superman vs. Übermensch 168

Phone Booth, Voting Booth, Confession Booth: Superman's Religion and Politics 174

Part IV Postwar to Postmodern: Redefining Superman, Comics and Judaism

Superman vs. the Mad Scientist: The Postwar Era 182

If I Were a Superman: The Silver Age 210

Nazis in Space and Superman on Screen: The Bronze Age 228

Second Coming: The Dark Age 254

Superman Supernal: The Modern Age 286

Chapter Notes 319

Bibliography 359

Index 361

Editorial Reviews

"Schwartz meticulously covers the history of Jewish comic book writers and illustrators, from Jerry Siegel to Neil Gaiman...He makes a strong argument that Superman's Jewish writers gave the character a subtext tying him to Judaism and Jewish history...Schwartz presents a readable yet well-researched chronicle of an overlooked side of American speculative fiction and its Jewish roots."--Mythlore

"Though a serious study, the comic book icon's Jewish influences--from the subtext of his Exodus-inspired origin story to the irony that this All-American mom and apple pie hero was created by émigré Jews--the title will probably engender some long-running, and almost entirely inappropriate, debates at the pub following your local comic-con."--The Bookseller

"Schwartz begins his book with something of a cliche, dutifully comparing the now-familiar origin of Superman to the Biblical patterns of the Hebrew Bible... . But cliches are sometimes cliches for a reason: they can be oft-repeated precisely because they are true."--Comics XF

"a fascinating, illuminating and highly accomplished study of a comic book character as the crucial key to understanding both the mysteries of Jewish history and destiny and the makings of modern American civilization."--Jewish Journal

"Throughout the book...Schwartz approaches the subject with an academic lens and a fan's passion, with text-parsing that would have impressed the rabbis of the Talmud."--The Forward

"A fascinating journey through comic book lore, American history and Jewish tradition, this book examines the entirety of Superman's career from 1938 to date and promises to provide readers a newfound appreciation for the 'Mensch of Steel.'"--Cleveland Jewish News

"Roy Schwartz has done a deep dive into the history, mythology and cultural folklore of America's super-heroes and his conclusions are indisputable. The contemporary concept of the super-hero, as old as the story of Moses, was birthed by Jewish immigrants and first generation Jewish kids from the tales, morals and ethics of their Jewish ethnical roots. The majority of the creators from 1938's Golden Age of Comics through the 1960's Marvel Age of Comics were Jewish. Whether it was Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster turning Moses into Superman or Stan Lee and Jack Kirby transforming The Golem into The Hulk, their heroes embodied their Jewish experience. Roy Schwartz analysis is scholarly yet broadly entertaining. He answers many questions and leaves the readers with but one: 'If there were no Jews on Krypton where Superman was born, and if he was therefore circumcized on earth, did the moyal have to use a Kryptonite scalpel?'"--Michael Uslan, comic book historian and originator and executive producer of the Batman movie franchise.

"Is Superman Circumcised? is the kind of book that will be adored by fans of Comic-Con...It's fun, it's scholarly, and it's long. Don't try to read it straight through. Instead, enjoy it pausing between episodes, just as Superman Comics were also meant to be consumed."--San Diego Jewish World

"An in-depth examination of the Jewish roots of the character...a deep-dive into arguably the world's most famous and iconic fictional character and his Jewish influences. ...This book is a must-have for any fan of superheroes, comic books and Jewish history and literature."--Jerusalem Post

From the Publisher