The Gospel According to the World’s Greatest Superhero
Reviewed by Scott Roche
Product Details -
Author: Steve Skelton
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (May 15, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 0736918124
Amazon Link
Sample chapter here.
When I was first contacted by Steve Skelton about this book I was a little skeptical. I'd seen a number of books sitting on shelves that look at my religion in light of some pop culture icon. My favorite concept (haven't read it yet) is The Gospel According to Harry Potter. Personally I have nothing against either the Potter books or movies. I read the first book and have seen the first three movies. Harmless and fairly well written fantasy, but hardly the first thing I think of when I think of Christ. This sort of book always struck me as being very gimmicky. I then chastised myself. After all, some of the reviews I've written attempt the very same thing on a much smaller scale. And, I asked myself, "Self, isn't Supes arguably one of the best known pop culture icons of the twentieth century?". Combine those two things with the fact that Superman Returns is coming out this summer and I was sold.
When I got the review copy in my sweaty paws I was excited to see that the last chapter contained clues as to what we might see in the movie. Out of respect to the author and to you my dear readers I won't dish, but what I read (and yes I waited and read everything in proper order) didn't disappoint. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I knew going in that the original creators Siegel and Shuster were Jews and I saw parallels to Moses and other Old Testament figures. I also knew that I saw some definite Christic parallels in both the comics and the movies. I was eager to know how much of that was on purpose and what details I might be missing so I plowed ahead.
Skelton spends the first three chapters doing an excellent job of laying out the groundwork. He shares the origin of his love for Superman which stemmed largely from the movies. This was reinforced later in life by Smallville and rumors of an upcoming movie sequel. We're also given a clear picture of his approach to looking at entertainment and looking for the gospel in it. He points out that both Christ and Paul used stories and concepts found in everyday life to communicate eternity and our place in it. In his eyes this makes movies, books, and television fair game. In some cases he believes that the authors may be sending these messages intentionally, but that is by no means a necessity.
The rest of the book is divided into three sections; Origin, Mission, and Destiny. The chapters in each section do a thorough job of examining the similarities between the two men. In spite of the fact that the comics were not central to Skeleton's youth as the movies were he has done his research. He uses examples not only from the comics (1940s-Present), but also the radio series, all of the television shows, and a host of books and articles. No detail goes unexamined from his uniform and symbol to the names of the people in his life. I was amazed at the number of connections and I agree with most of his conclusions.
Now lest I come across as some blathering fanboy, I have to say that the book isn't perfect. Some of the detail he goes into seems to stretch the point more than a little. I'm thinking mainly here of when he's talking about the suit and symbol. The "Afterword", a chapter where he deals with other possible ways of looking at the man in blue is rushed. He raises some interesting contrasting opinions, but then dismisses them too quickly. I'm also confused as to who the audience is for this book. It would seem to be limited to Christians, but he makes a few attempts to make it accessible to "seekers". In spite of these limited shortcomings though, I enjoyed this quite a bit. Given its timing (impeccable), research (thorough), and narrative voice (engaging) I think you will too. Especially if you like what we do here.
Q&A with the author.
I was able to ask Steve a few questions.
1) Describe the purpose of your ministry.
At The Entertainment Ministry, we believe that many stories which transcend social, racial and cultural barriers today, do so because they contain spiritual truth for which all people have a God-given hunger.
For example, we've done a series of video-based Bible studies using classic television episodes as modern parables. In our study with the Andy Griffith Show, we've identified an underlying theme of love for fellow man. In our study with the Beverly Hillbillies, it's an underlying theme of morality versus materialism. Or Lucy, with an unerlying theme of forgiveness and grace.
The ministry promotes a grassroots approach to using popular entertainment to engage a Christian worldview. In doing so, whether it is with Superman of Metropolis or Andy of Mayberry, we equip the church with ways to reach the world beyond.
2) Who do you view as the audience of your book?
Superman fans. All kinds--young and old, male and female, believer and nonbeliever. Here's a pertinent example. There's a review of the book over at www.supermanhomepage.com. The review is by a writer named Neal Bailey. Neal is an atheist...and he loves the book. In fact, in his review he says something along the lines of, If I like this book and I'm a-religious, I can only imagine what it will mean to those of you who are religious.
3) What did writing this look like? What sort of research did you do?
The book has been in the works for about two years. Lot of research through all the different ways we've seen Superman. Starting with the newspaper comics, then on to the comic books, then the radio show, the George Lowther novel, the George Reeves television show, the Christopher Reeve movies, the Death of Superman comic book storyline, Smallville and up to the minute with Superman Returns. These are the works that I believe make up the popular canon. They define the generally known story of Superman. And they parallel the Gospel story in amazing ways.
4) Do you write any fiction?
Only when I bounce a check. Which is never on purpose, mind you. Other than that, it's nonfiction.
Actually, some of the things I wrote in the book were looked at as if they were fiction until the sources were checked. Such as the quote from the Superman Returns teaser trailer. You know what I'm referring to. As Superman floats over the Earth, his father says, They can be a great people, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capactiy for good, I have sent them you--my only son. Some folks had a hard time believing that quote at first. But it is simply the latest illustration of how the movie makers have purposefully promoted Superman as a Christ figure.
And he addressed some of my concerns:
First thing. You mention similar books, such as the Gospel According to Harry Potter. I think, if I do say so myself, that the thing that distinguishes this book is that we have the Superman storytellers themselves on the record confirming that they make the connection between Superman and Christ. In other words, it's not just Steve's opinion.
I'm thinking specifically of Tom Mankiewicz, the writer of Superman: The Movie with Christopher Reeve, who said, "The metaphor was clearly there when Jor-El [the father] sends Superman to Earth with God sending Christ to save humanity."
Or David Nutter, the director of the Smallville pilot, who said: "I thought there were a lot of metaphors between Clark [Kent] and Jesus actually. And I tried to throw in as many of them as I could." (While the two Executive Producers of Smallville, Al Gough and Miles Millar, voiced their approval in the background.)
And Bryan Singer, the director of Superman Returns, who said: "Superman is the Jesus Christ of superheroes." And that Superman Returns is "a story about what happens when messiahs come back..."
IMHO, not only is the confirmation of the Superman storytellers themselves what sets this book apart--but from the standpoint of equipping folks with the knowledge of the spiritual history of Superman, the confirmation of those Superman storytellers is HUGE. (I, myself, have seen it convince the skeptical.)
Second thing. In the review, you wonder who the audience for the book is. I always intended it for the general Superman fan first, the Christian Superman fan second and the skeptical Superman fan third. However, the actual response is even better than I could have hoped for.
The best, most public, example of what I'm talking about can be seen in the review of the book at www.supermanhomepage.com. There, Neal Bailey begins his review by stating that he is an atheist...and he loves the book! You can see his review at the link below:
http://www.supermanhomepage.com/other/book-reviews/book-reviews.php?topic=gospel-superhero
Hope that wasn't information overload, but I think this book deserves every bit of attention it can get.
Back to the book index.
Product Details -
Author: Steve Skelton
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (May 15, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 0736918124
Amazon Link
Sample chapter here.
When I was first contacted by Steve Skelton about this book I was a little skeptical. I'd seen a number of books sitting on shelves that look at my religion in light of some pop culture icon. My favorite concept (haven't read it yet) is The Gospel According to Harry Potter. Personally I have nothing against either the Potter books or movies. I read the first book and have seen the first three movies. Harmless and fairly well written fantasy, but hardly the first thing I think of when I think of Christ. This sort of book always struck me as being very gimmicky. I then chastised myself. After all, some of the reviews I've written attempt the very same thing on a much smaller scale. And, I asked myself, "Self, isn't Supes arguably one of the best known pop culture icons of the twentieth century?". Combine those two things with the fact that Superman Returns is coming out this summer and I was sold. When I got the review copy in my sweaty paws I was excited to see that the last chapter contained clues as to what we might see in the movie. Out of respect to the author and to you my dear readers I won't dish, but what I read (and yes I waited and read everything in proper order) didn't disappoint. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I knew going in that the original creators Siegel and Shuster were Jews and I saw parallels to Moses and other Old Testament figures. I also knew that I saw some definite Christic parallels in both the comics and the movies. I was eager to know how much of that was on purpose and what details I might be missing so I plowed ahead.
Skelton spends the first three chapters doing an excellent job of laying out the groundwork. He shares the origin of his love for Superman which stemmed largely from the movies. This was reinforced later in life by Smallville and rumors of an upcoming movie sequel. We're also given a clear picture of his approach to looking at entertainment and looking for the gospel in it. He points out that both Christ and Paul used stories and concepts found in everyday life to communicate eternity and our place in it. In his eyes this makes movies, books, and television fair game. In some cases he believes that the authors may be sending these messages intentionally, but that is by no means a necessity.
The rest of the book is divided into three sections; Origin, Mission, and Destiny. The chapters in each section do a thorough job of examining the similarities between the two men. In spite of the fact that the comics were not central to Skeleton's youth as the movies were he has done his research. He uses examples not only from the comics (1940s-Present), but also the radio series, all of the television shows, and a host of books and articles. No detail goes unexamined from his uniform and symbol to the names of the people in his life. I was amazed at the number of connections and I agree with most of his conclusions.
Now lest I come across as some blathering fanboy, I have to say that the book isn't perfect. Some of the detail he goes into seems to stretch the point more than a little. I'm thinking mainly here of when he's talking about the suit and symbol. The "Afterword", a chapter where he deals with other possible ways of looking at the man in blue is rushed. He raises some interesting contrasting opinions, but then dismisses them too quickly. I'm also confused as to who the audience is for this book. It would seem to be limited to Christians, but he makes a few attempts to make it accessible to "seekers". In spite of these limited shortcomings though, I enjoyed this quite a bit. Given its timing (impeccable), research (thorough), and narrative voice (engaging) I think you will too. Especially if you like what we do here.
Q&A with the author.
I was able to ask Steve a few questions.
1) Describe the purpose of your ministry.
At The Entertainment Ministry, we believe that many stories which transcend social, racial and cultural barriers today, do so because they contain spiritual truth for which all people have a God-given hunger.
For example, we've done a series of video-based Bible studies using classic television episodes as modern parables. In our study with the Andy Griffith Show, we've identified an underlying theme of love for fellow man. In our study with the Beverly Hillbillies, it's an underlying theme of morality versus materialism. Or Lucy, with an unerlying theme of forgiveness and grace.
The ministry promotes a grassroots approach to using popular entertainment to engage a Christian worldview. In doing so, whether it is with Superman of Metropolis or Andy of Mayberry, we equip the church with ways to reach the world beyond.
2) Who do you view as the audience of your book?
Superman fans. All kinds--young and old, male and female, believer and nonbeliever. Here's a pertinent example. There's a review of the book over at www.supermanhomepage.com. The review is by a writer named Neal Bailey. Neal is an atheist...and he loves the book. In fact, in his review he says something along the lines of, If I like this book and I'm a-religious, I can only imagine what it will mean to those of you who are religious.
3) What did writing this look like? What sort of research did you do?
The book has been in the works for about two years. Lot of research through all the different ways we've seen Superman. Starting with the newspaper comics, then on to the comic books, then the radio show, the George Lowther novel, the George Reeves television show, the Christopher Reeve movies, the Death of Superman comic book storyline, Smallville and up to the minute with Superman Returns. These are the works that I believe make up the popular canon. They define the generally known story of Superman. And they parallel the Gospel story in amazing ways.
4) Do you write any fiction?
Only when I bounce a check. Which is never on purpose, mind you. Other than that, it's nonfiction.
Actually, some of the things I wrote in the book were looked at as if they were fiction until the sources were checked. Such as the quote from the Superman Returns teaser trailer. You know what I'm referring to. As Superman floats over the Earth, his father says, They can be a great people, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capactiy for good, I have sent them you--my only son. Some folks had a hard time believing that quote at first. But it is simply the latest illustration of how the movie makers have purposefully promoted Superman as a Christ figure.
And he addressed some of my concerns:
First thing. You mention similar books, such as the Gospel According to Harry Potter. I think, if I do say so myself, that the thing that distinguishes this book is that we have the Superman storytellers themselves on the record confirming that they make the connection between Superman and Christ. In other words, it's not just Steve's opinion.
I'm thinking specifically of Tom Mankiewicz, the writer of Superman: The Movie with Christopher Reeve, who said, "The metaphor was clearly there when Jor-El [the father] sends Superman to Earth with God sending Christ to save humanity."
Or David Nutter, the director of the Smallville pilot, who said: "I thought there were a lot of metaphors between Clark [Kent] and Jesus actually. And I tried to throw in as many of them as I could." (While the two Executive Producers of Smallville, Al Gough and Miles Millar, voiced their approval in the background.)
And Bryan Singer, the director of Superman Returns, who said: "Superman is the Jesus Christ of superheroes." And that Superman Returns is "a story about what happens when messiahs come back..."
IMHO, not only is the confirmation of the Superman storytellers themselves what sets this book apart--but from the standpoint of equipping folks with the knowledge of the spiritual history of Superman, the confirmation of those Superman storytellers is HUGE. (I, myself, have seen it convince the skeptical.)
Second thing. In the review, you wonder who the audience for the book is. I always intended it for the general Superman fan first, the Christian Superman fan second and the skeptical Superman fan third. However, the actual response is even better than I could have hoped for.
The best, most public, example of what I'm talking about can be seen in the review of the book at www.supermanhomepage.com. There, Neal Bailey begins his review by stating that he is an atheist...and he loves the book! You can see his review at the link below:
http://www.supermanhomepage.com/other/book-reviews/book-reviews.php?topic=gospel-superhero
Hope that wasn't information overload, but I think this book deserves every bit of attention it can get.
Back to the book index.
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