The day after Thanksgiving will officially ring in the shopping season. 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 about the book: “The government provides manuals for new homeowners and new motor vehicle operators, but what’s a new superhero to do?”
The manual’s eight chapters explore everything from choosing a costume – “nothing says, ‘Evildoers, beware!’ quite like a large piece of cloth tied around your neck” – to finding an arch enemy. Government 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 funny, but the rest of the time they feel longwinded. For example, here is a nod to Superman: “Observe! Overhead 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 diagrams and illustrations. Unfortunately, the book’s art looks like it was taken from some 1950s-themed clipart CD. Like many things in the book, its playful but bureaucratic voice is lukewarm-funny.
“The Government Manual For New Superheroes” is a quick read that gets a few chuckles and maybe a laugh or two. It’s an OK book that would make a decent, albeit mindless, gift for the superhero comic book lover in your life.

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