■ Book review
Even Batman needed
help getting on his feet
Manual offers guidance to would-be superheroes
to help them discover and hone their super-duper skills
BY ANDREW MCCOLLUM
PULSE REPORTER
The day after Thanksgiving will
officially ring in the shopping sea
son. If you find yourself coming up
short for that superhero comic book
lover you have on your list, take a
look at "The Government Manual
For New Superheroes" by Matthew
Brozik and Jacob Weinstein.
The book's humor centers on the
it's-funny-because-it's-true look at
the basic elements of classic truth
and-justice-era superhero comics.
The mock-u-manual is written as a
1950s government how-to booklet A
quote on the back cover says a lot
aboutthe book: "The government
provides manuals for new homeown
ers and new motor vehicle operators,
but what's a new superhero to do?"
The manual's eight chapters ex
plore everything from choosing a
costume — "nothing says, 'Evildo
ers, beware!' quite like a large piece
of cloth tied around your neck" —
to finding an arch enemy. Govern
ment studies show that the best
places to meet a nemesis include
"the library, the grocery store,
the mall, the park, and your local
legislature," according to the book.
Without using any trademarked
names, the book has quite a few
nods to classic superheroes. At
times, these jokes can be quite fun
ny, but the rest of the time they feel
longwinded. For example, here is a
nod to Superman: "Observe! Over
head in the firmament! There's a
waterfowl! There's an aerodyne!
There's—" The book's superhero
in-jokes tend to revolve around
classics: Batman, Superman and
Spider-Man.
The book's content would benefit
greatly with some humorous dia
grams and illustrations. Unfortunate
ly, the book's art looks like it was tak
en from some 1950s-themed clipart
CD. Like many things in the book, its
playful but bureaucratic voice is luke
warm-funny.
"The Government Manual For
New Superheroes" is a quick read
that gets a few chuckles and maybe a
laugh ortwo. IfsanOKbookthat
would make a decent albeit mind
less, grftforthe superhero comic
book lover in your life.
amccollum@dailyemerald.com
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©2005
Thanksgiving: Harry Manx plays tonight
Continued from page 6
Without a mustache, expect to pay $2.
Harry Manx will be performing
tonight at Luna at 30 E. Broadway in
downtown Eugene. Tickets can be pur
chased in advancefor$15 at Adam's
Place, located next doorto Luna. The
show starts at 9 p.m. On Friday, see
Spencer Bohren playthe blues at9
p.m. for $10. These tickets can also be
-
mm,
purchased in advance at Adam's
Place. Then on Sunday, catch 3 Leg
Torso play live at Luna at 9 p.m. for $7.
amylichty@dailyemerald.com
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