Gladiator: The Enduring Classic That Inspired the Creators of Superman!

Description

Thanks to his father's genetic experiments, Hugo Danner is born with superhuman levels of strength, speed, and intelligence. Hugo feels compelled to conceal his gifts from a suspicious and uncomprehending world, but he doesn't take on an identity as a costumed crusader. Instead, his struggles to find a place in society that will accommodate his extraordinary skills lead to a checkered career as a boardwalk strongman, Foreign Legionnaire, politician, and archeologist. Gladiator, first published in 1930, preceded Superman's debut by eight years and formed the archetypes further developed in subsequent superhero comics and literature. Fans of comics, graphic novels, science-fiction, and fantasy literature will be captivated by this timeless tale of an outsider's search for acceptance and fulfillment. Introduction by Gerard Jones, author of Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book.

Philip Gordon Wylie (1902-71) was a prolific writer of fiction and essays. Many of his books have been adapted for film, and his critical and philosophical views influenced the development of science fiction. Just as Gladiator inspired the creators of Superman, his The Savage Gentleman and When Worlds Collide contributed to the characters Doc Savage and Flash Gordon. Gerard Jones is a teacher, former comic book writer, and author of nonfiction books. His works include Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and The Birth of the Comic Book and The Undressing of America: How Our Culture Wars Over Sex and Privacy Were Born as well as many other books and comics.