PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of The Joe Shuster Story: The Artist Behind Superman from Super Genius. Available on Tuesday, May 15th, the series features writing from Julian Voloj (Ghetto Brother: Warrior to Peacemaker), and artwork by Thomas Campi (Macaroni!, Magritte).
Here’s PopCultHQ’s Spoiler-Free Review of…
The Joe Shuster Story: The Artist Behind Superman
Writer: Julian Voloj
Artist: Thomas Campi
Go behind the scenes with JOE SHUSTER!
An inside look at the creator of Superman from the author of the acclaimed GHETTO BROTHER and by the artist of MAGRITTE.
Everyone knows Superman, but not everyone knows the story of two youngsters from Cleveland who created Superman. Based on archival material and original sources, “The Artist Behind Superman: The Joe Shuster Story” tells the story of the friendship between writer Jerry Siegel and illustrator Joe Shuster, and puts it into the wider context of the American comic book industry.
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
The Joe Shuster Story: The Artist Behind Superman
Writing:
Julian Voloj has done an amazing job taking Joe’s story and fleshing out the history into something tangible. Joe Shuster’s creative odyssey is one that begins in childhood and carries him into the partnership with Jerry Siegel that gave birth to the hero that started it all…The Man of Tomorrow, the Last Son of Krypton, the Man of Steel…Superman. With Jerry, and certainly without Joe, Superman would not exist. The world owes them all a huge debt of thanks, and Julian’s script helps to tell the story from Joe’s side of things. It paints such a vivid picture, one can almost put themselves into this story and walk alongside Joe in his journey.
Art:
Working in tandem to Julian’s script and story is Thomas Campi’s outstanding artwork. It is a clean, very smooth style of art. There is incredible flow across the pages as Joe’s tale unfolds before the reader. Another way to describe the art style would be something very nostalgic. The nostalgia evokes comics of yesteryear, but again clean and smooth, done in Thomas’s impeccable format, juxtaposed with images of other works that Joe and Jerry created over the course of the drama in addition to Superman.
PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:
Fans of Superman know the story of Jerry and Joe. But what they don’t know is what really happened all those years ago. Now for the first time ever is the story of Joe Shuster. From childhood to the mid-70’s, this well-written and beautifully illustrated graphic novel is a must-read and must-have for any comics historian or DC creator fan.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 Out of 5 Stars
The Joe Shuster Story: The Artist Behind Superman is available
at your local comic shop and online retailers on Tuesday, May 15th!
Be sure to follow the creative team!
Writer – Julian Voloj
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Artist – Thomas Campi
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Publisher – Super Genius
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