Reviews

“I am floored by this deep and beautiful examination of history, liturgy, and culture. If you believe in comics as the holders of miracle, myth, and mystery, this is the book for you.”

— Mayim Bialik, actress, author, neuroscientist

“A must-have for any fan of superheroes, comic books and Jewish history and literature.”

— Jerusalem Post

“A fascinating book.”

— Fox 2 Detroit Morning News

“Fascinating, illuminating and highly accomplished...you will never look at Superman in quite the same way.”

“A lively and often funny book.”

— Jewish Journal

“Over the years, there have been quite a few different books written about the history of Superman and Schwartz's book certainly ranks at the top of the list.”

“Schwartz has crafted together a profound read… [a] beautifully written and comprehensive portrait of Superman’s ties to the history of the Jewish faith and culture.”

— Superman Super Site

“Schwartz approaches the subject with an academic lens and a fan’s passion, with text-parsing that would have impressed the rabbis of the Talmud.”

— The Forward

“A deep dive into the history, mythology and cultural folklore of America’s super-heroes…scholarly yet broadly entertaining.”

— Michael Uslan, executive producer of the Batman movie franchise, comic book historian

“Schwartz demonstrates extraordinary insight in his overview of the intersection of comics, the history of heroes and heroines, theological knowledge, and pop culture...[and] imparts the information with humor, focus...and an uncanny ability to join the concepts in an accessible, entertaining, and enlightening way.”

— Times Beacon Record

“This book is amazing.”

— New Books Network podcast

“A magnificent book.”

— First Comics News

“I’ve read quite a few books on the history of Superman…Schwartz’s book is right up there with some of the better ones…all Superman fans should add [it] to their collection.”

“Really digs deep into those early days of the comic book industry and brings [them] to life.”

— SupermanHomepage.com

“One of the best volumes that devote serious thought to [comics].”

“While this is entirely readable and entertaining, this is…a substantial work of literary criticism.”

“Time and again while reading I thought, “How have I never noticed this before?!”

— The Times of Israel

“Schwartz is a brilliant scholar…a thorough and meaningful scholarship about Jewish history, world history and the history of comics.”

“A remarkable book…if you care about comics, if you care about Jewish history, and if you like to think about things in a weird way, this book is a delight.”

— The Times of Israel Daily Briefing podcast

“Utilize[s] Superman as a jumping off point for numerous interesting discussions...the kind of book that will be adored by fans of Comic-Con.”

“Plunge[s] deeply into Torah and Talmudic learning while never leaving popular culture too far behind.”

— San Diego Jewish World

“Roy Schwartz’s new book…shines.”

— Jewish Telegraph (UK)

“Beautifully written and consummately researched…highly recommend for both comics fans and casual readers alike.”

— Reel Roy Reviews

“Many have argued whether Superman embodies a Moses or Jesus figure. In Is Superman Circumcised? Roy Schwartz deftly gives a comprehensive tour through the Man of Steel’s life and times…and allows us to come to our own conclusions. No rock is left unsmitten as Schwartz skillfully presents the arguments for all sides of the great debate.”

— Danny Fingeroth, former group editor of Spider-Man publications at Marvel Comics, author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee

“A thorough exploration that reveals a surprising amount of Yiddishkeit in Superman's history.”

— Haaretz (tr.)

“As a comics scholar, I have read many books that claim to offer extensive analyses of graphic narratives and their place(s) in American culture. Most fall short in achieving that goal. Roy Schwartz’s Is Superman Circumcised? stands as a stark exception. This work contains some of the best analysis, history, and sociology pertaining to comics I have ever read.”

“Especially impressive is Schwartz’s incredible textual depth…[it] not only offers a wide view of Superman and his impact within our culture but provides a blueprint for scholars to examine such longstanding characters.”

“As a work of academic research and popular engagement, this book succeeds on multiple levels. With nearly forty pages of notes and a wealth of sources, this book achieves monumental status as a scholarly endeavor. Yet this work is not stuffy, pedantic, or banal. Its prose is exciting and engaging, which makes it hard to put down….this monograph animates Superman as a character that jumps off its pages and comes to life in every discussion about him. Indeed, as Schwartz notes, “Superman was like nothing seen before and everything seen thereafter” (89). I feel the same way about this extensive book.”

— The Popular Culture Studies Journal

“Schwartz has published what might become the “authorized version” of the Superman saga. He does not leave a single stone unturned in his scholarly yet humorous take on his fascinating subject. His book is a must for hardcore Superman fans as well as general readers.”

— St. Louis Jewish Light

“A pleasure to read.”

— Reel Sources podcast (UK)

“An impressive work that is meant for hard-core, real-deal fans as well as the general public.”

“The whole book is well-written and engaging. What a delight. It’s clear Roy Schwartz is both a passionate fan as well as a focused researcher.”

— Pop Culture Squad