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Over the past couple of years, all of the episodes of George Reeve's The Adventures of Superman have been released on DVD. This is the perfect time, therefore, to also acquire a copy of Peter Murano's The George Reeves Adventures of Superman Companion. A somewhat unwieldy title, but the book is a must-have for any Superman fan. |
This Companion has what every such book should have, an inexhaustible fount of material on the most esoteric of Adventures of Superman trivia:
ratings of each espisode on a ten-point scale
5 trivia questions for each episode
flying sequences in each episode - stock or new?
super powers used in each episode
memorable lines in each episode
secret identity alerts
supporting cast notes for each episode
editorial comments on each episode
Author Peter Murano has put together one of the most complete and informative television series companion books ever written. It's all here in 352 8X11 pages. And, it's all on heavy stock, glossy white paper so that the photos - b& w for the first seasons, all in color for the color seasons - really jump out at you. This high quality paper does bump up the price, to $39, but it's such a gorgeous looking volume, and will stand up to such heavy use, that it's well worth it.
Murano's writing is much like that of Bill Warren in Keep Watching the Skies, it's very personal. Each episode is discussed - in detail - with comments about how he felt about each scene, his favorite lines, etc. And that's what makes this book so enjoyable - you get to compare his views to your own, and since he's provided his email and would love to hear from readers, you can get into a good discussion about your favorite episodes.
As for myself, I have always liked the first season, which starred Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane, and which were a bit more adult and 'darker' in tone, although certainly several of the Noel Neill episodes are classics as well.
If you're a fan of Superman in general, and George Reeve's characterization in particular, you will enjoy having this book. Show it to a few fans - if any - of Superman Returns and they'll realize how it should be done!
Also at The Thunder Child:
Ryan Brennan reviews the DVD release of The Adventures of Superman volume 1.
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Table of Contents
Part 1
George Reeves, A Superman
The Cast of The Adventures of Superman
Guests and Familiar Faces
Part 2
Clark Kent, Reporter
Daily Planet office
Apartment
Cars
Assignments
Superman
Origin and purpose
Costume
Super Powers
Flying
Kryptonite
Part 3
The B&W episodes
1951 - Episodes 1 - 26
1953 - Episodes 27 - 52
Part 4
The Color Episodes
1954: Episodes 53-65
1955: Episodes 66-79
1956: Episodes 80-91
1957: Episides 92-104
Part 5
Author's Scrapbook
Nostalgia and collecting memorabilia
Artwork and kits
Buttons and puppets
Trading cards
Video releases
Lobby Cards
8 X 10 photos
Why do we need a superhero
Comic books
Some Bizarro fun
Part 6
Epilog
Part 7
References and information sources
Part 8
Episode list summary tables |