CAPTAIN OBVIOUS vs. the UNFUNNY TOME
Have you heard? The 1950s are a hilarious means of satirizing popular genres! One of the funniest means of lampooning these genres is to create a survival guide for them, in the style of well, Survival Guides, which are the spawn of Idiot's Guides. We've got books on surviving day-to-day challenges like the office, the workplace, and life in general...why not one on superheroes?
No seriously, why not? It's not like this has ever been done before. This clever 1950s guide, aimed presumably at superhero fans, lampoons precisely these four superheroes: Batman (he's smart and rich but a kook), Superman (he's not a U.S. citizen, he's an alien!), Spider-Man (he's got a very old aunt and a crazy symbiotic suit--comedy gold!), and Thor...who is technically a god and probably could found his own religion. Does anyone who isn't a comic book fan know who Thor is? Anyone?
Are you laughing yet? Come on, superheroes are funny!
How about not one but TWO jokes about how superheroes fighting in a library would be utterly silent (cause libraries are FUNNY)?
Okay, how about this: how about if we come up with some really clever jokes about superheroes by using the superhero's name as a joke. The formula's simple: insert superhero name of topic #1 which ironically describes the exact opposite of what you mean, and then insert supervillain name of topic #2 which also ironically describes the exact opposite of what you mean. For good measure, you can throw in a third super-name, although that would probably be just hitting the reader over the head with your joke and surely you wouldn't want to do that.
Let's try it, shall we?
THE TIRED JOKE and his sidekick MARKETING BOY faces down their arch-nemesis, WIT. During the battle, WIT calls upon his comrades from the LEAGUE OF BETTER READS, including MR. HUMOR, CAPTAIN SUBTLETY, and the ever-popular BOOK THAT'S ACTUALLY FUNNY. Our dynamic duo is well prepared though, because they haven't read this guide and thus have no idea that they're ironically hilarious, reading their 1950s newspapers, smoking their 1950s pipe, and watching their 1950s wives cook them dinner.
If you find recycled 1950s illustrations, large font type, or a huge index (that's more pages than some of the chapters) funny, then this book is for you!
not recomended
This book has been done better elsewhere. The illustrations were possibly the best bits - but then only if you are a fan of the art style used in games such as Fallout.
If you are into "How To" parody books, read The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead or How to Be a Villain: Evil Laughs, Secret Lairs, Master Plans, and More!!! instead.
EXCELLENT - use it to teach!
I am so psyched that you have added a website ([...])! They should cite it in the book. I am teaching a class called Who wants to be a superhero?! We read The Government Manual for New Superheroes. It is the only text we use. I am a Superman collector and found this thru several books I have purchased with Amazon. I have purchased several superhero manuals and guides. This one is by far my favorite.
In my class, which takes about 10-15 forty minute class periods (depends how long it takes for the kids to create their designs), we read each chapter and after complete all of the items mentioned in that chapter... creating our superhero name, insignias (I teach them how to manipulate, tear apart and re-color clip-art), costumes, fortress design, etc. We even take it further and do superhero business cards, trading cards, etc.
The vocabulary level of the book is way higher than middle school level, but they what they are reading, so they figure it out. They are learning a lot of vocabulary, technology and character education pieces without realizing it. My new life goal is to create a massive legion of superheroes! We are the Squad of Infinite Madness! - Mrs. Senack, Geneva Middle School, Geneva, NY
Another gift
this was another gift for my friend and it was in great condition, received quickly and looked so interesting I might ask to borrow it to read.
Don't waste your money
This book tries to be funny but does not quite succeed. If this book was a superhero it would be the INCREDIBLE LETDOWN.
