The Government Manual for New Superheroes :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

not recomended

2007-11-04
This book has been done better elsewhere. The illustrations were possibly the best bits - but then only if you are a fan of the art style used in games such as Fallout.

If you are into "How To" parody books, read The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead or How to Be a Villain: Evil Laughs, Secret Lairs, Master Plans, and More!!! instead.

EXCELLENT - use it to teach!

2007-11-01
I am so psyched that you have added a website ([...])! They should cite it in the book. I am teaching a class called Who wants to be a superhero?! We read The Government Manual for New Superheroes. It is the only text we use. I am a Superman collector and found this thru several books I have purchased with Amazon. I have purchased several superhero manuals and guides. This one is by far my favorite.

In my class, which takes about 10-15 forty minute class periods (depends how long it takes for the kids to create their designs), we read each chapter and after complete all of the items mentioned in that chapter... creating our superhero name, insignias (I teach them how to manipulate, tear apart and re-color clip-art), costumes, fortress design, etc. We even take it further and do superhero business cards, trading cards, etc.

The vocabulary level of the book is way higher than middle school level, but they what they are reading, so they figure it out. They are learning a lot of vocabulary, technology and character education pieces without realizing it. My new life goal is to create a massive legion of superheroes! We are the Squad of Infinite Madness! - Mrs. Senack, Geneva Middle School, Geneva, NY

Another gift

2007-07-22
this was another gift for my friend and it was in great condition, received quickly and looked so interesting I might ask to borrow it to read.

Don't waste your money

2007-05-14
This book tries to be funny but does not quite succeed. If this book was a superhero it would be the INCREDIBLE LETDOWN.

Fine as far as it goes, but I met with failure

2007-05-04
I couldn't believe it when I hit puberty and my super-power began to manifest itself. It took significant amounts of experimentation to work out its parameters, but eventually I fixed it as the ability to raise the temperature of a man-sized-or-less body of water by exactly 2 degrees fahrenheit. Thus, I discovered that I could make a cool glass of water slightly less cool, that I commanded the illusion of perimenopause in women, and that ice sculptures defeated the expectations of their creators by melting a full hour or more earlier than normal.

I purchased this book and was a little disappointed to discover that it was not specifically intended for those of us who have been prenaturally gifted. Worse, although my uniform-manufacturing skills were above average, my athletic skills were short of the par. To be fair, the book warns you of this necessity, but I still didn't expect to fall 50 feet off a roof the first night that Captain Tepid patrolled the streets.

This is a book for jocks and wrestlers. I anxiously await the book that explains to those of us with powers, how best to develop them for good, not evil.

Novelty without the novelty

2007-04-28
The Government Manual for New Superheroes is a hilarious, mock-official handbook that offers thorough, accessible, and completely zany advice for anyone who has always dreamed of donning a skintight spandex uniform and leaping across the rooftops of their cities. Going well beyond tights and capes, this manual provides insight into choosing a name, constructing a costume, choosing the right supertools of the supertrade, establishing a base of operations, maintaining a secret identity, taking or becoming a sidekick, joining a superheroic team, and even finding that special someone who gives meaning to a superhero's life-a nemesis.

Extra features include a roster of superhero unions, a registration application, several useful charts and tips, and even a list of other government-sponsored periodicals for further reading. Destined to become a cult classic, The Government Manual for New Superheroes is an essential guide for every aspiring superhero.

Definitely a fun read. 2007-04-15
A light-hearted fun read. I thought it was cool and easy to read through.

Disappointed 2007-01-10
I was kinda disappointed with this manual. I had great expectations after reading the Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks, and was hoping for more of the same, but this book was a joke. There was very little substance to the book, and was very much designed only to be a gag. I received no helpful advice whatsoever on becoming a superhero.

Hi I'm Troy McClure... 2006-12-07
This is a great satyrical look at how to become a superhero. It's very reminiscent of the 1950s style info-documentaries on "Duck & Cover" public service announcements and safety newsreels. You can almost hear The Simpsons character "Hi I'm Troy McClure, you might remember me from such infomentaries as...".

I feel this book is better put together than the "Superhero Handbook" by Michael Powell although that one is quite good also. For the large part, this book is focused on the gov't program of regular people donning the cape with gadgets ala Batman rather than mutants, aliens, or radioactively altered superbeings. I'd really recommend both books but text-wise, I like this one better. Unfortunately, it loses a star for lack of illustrations. What few there are, are done in the familiar 1950s line drawings. While Powell's is more modern, this sets a stage for 'historical' stylized superheroes.

Hilarious Homage to Comic Book Fantasy 2006-09-29
These guys know their superhero lore, and their maniac humor and inventiveness make the "Manual" a really fun read for anyone who's at all familiar with the literature. Highly recommended!