‘Becoming Superman’ Requires Facing Off With Real Life Villains [REVIEW]

Comic books taught J. Michael Straczynski to triumph over adversity. (Photo by Mark Grambau, Flickr)

Through his writing, one man has transported us to new worlds and parallel universes, introduced us to mythical characters with superhuman powers, and ultimately challenged us to transcend our circumstances and seize our dreams. But his own life was not always as inspiring as his work. In a dazzling new memoir from one of Hollywood’s greatest minds, discover how J. Michael Straczynski triumphed over adversity and forged the life he wanted in Becoming Superman. 

Harper Voyager

There are few writers who have been as successful as J. Michael Straczynski, a man who has spent the past forty years writing for multiple mediums, including film, television, and two separate comic book universes. And although he’s stretched our minds and explored the impossible in his work, he has never told his own story… until now.

Like one of his comic book heroes, Joe’s origin story was born of darkness. The grown ups in his life were no Jonathan and Martha Kent. In fact, his dad was a violent drunk and his mom spent multiple stints in an institution. To make matters worse, his grandfather was an unapologetic grifter and his grandmother a master manipulator. This is a family that wasn’t just dysfunctional, they were also on the run, constantly on the road trying to outrun bad deeds from their past, even though Joe never really knew just how bad those deeds were until much, much later.

The silver lining in Joe’s life didn’t rise up out of the ice like Kal-El’s Fortress of Solitude, however. Instead, he found his refuge in comic books and in the dreams they inspired, dreams populated with heroes who could survive anything and triumph over every adversity. And those dreams led him to discover his own superpower: the ability to write stories where good triumphed over evil and the world he created could look any way he wanted it to. As Joe found success, the demons from his past kept nipping at his heels until a shocking secret that had lain dormant for decades is finally revealed, one steeped in violence and mass murder.

Despite the dark days of his youth, this is much more than an autobiography, even though it is one that makes Batman’s backstory seem tepid. It is also a book about a magnificent career, one that rivals Stan Lee’s with it’s amazing diversity, unflinching dedication, and prevailing commitment to doing the right thing no matter what. It is an insightful peek into the workings of the entertainment industry, reveals behind-the-scenes stories from some of our favorite shows and films, and provides a brutally honest look at what it takes to be a writer in an ever-evolving landscape. Becoming Superman is both a revelation and a step-by-step guide in how to survive working in the media world with your ethics—and your soul—intact. Don’t miss this one. Becoming Superman is the memoir of the year!

J. Michael Straczynski
(Photo by Peter Konerko)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Michael Straczynski has had one of the most varied careers of any American writer, penning hundreds of hours of television, comic books for Marvel and DC that have sold more than 13 million copies, and movies that have grossed over a billion dollars.

His body of work includes writing for television shows like Babylon 5 and Sense8, as well as scripts for films like Clint Eastwood’s Changeling and Marvel’s Thor. 

Fans may like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

BECOMING SUPERMAN
By J. Michael Straczynski
480 pp. Harper Voyager. $28.99

Purchase Becoming Superman at one of these fine online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, HarperCollins, IndieBound, and Powell’s.

Becoming Superman is brought to you in association with TLC Book Tours.