
Hunt it down if you want some idea how the rich soil of modern superhero comics was fertilized by very creative people. The BRAT PACK tie-in seems abrupt and forced, out of tempo with the rest of the book. Really, the only weak part is (interestingly) the one part that ties the book directly into Veitch's proposed King Hell Heroica "universe", specifically the previous title BRAT PACK (which is itself a wonderfully lurid, if occasionally misguided, examination of all the twisted possibilities inherent in the concept of "teen sidekicks", quite a few years before it became trite to be dark and ironic about such things). It's a fun, bizarre, kooky package brimming with creativity (fans should also attempt to hunt down Veitch's THE ONE, another odd look at superheroes). Mixed in with this are lurid and grotesque details (I'm still left wondering what purpose the scatalogical material serves, although I have some ideas), cosmic comic book stuff (True-Man literally creates himself in a wonderfully bizarre conceit), even some Grant Morisson-esque fourth-wall breaking.

Thus, all aspects of the Superman myth (here "True-Man") are touched on - his creators being screwed over, his impact on comics history in general, Hollywood legends about actors who take the role, Nietzsche's concept that predates the whole thing, the public's reaction, everything. Not perfect, but definitely ambitious examination of the impact of the concept of "The Superman" and "Superman" on the unconscious of the world.
