In the foreword to « Becoming Superman » by J. Michael Straczynski, Neil Gaiman explains that Straczynski « works harder than anyone i have met in film and TV. »
While i am admittedly not a Hollywood insider, this description rings true for me. Since 1984, Straczynski happens to be writing for television — anything from campy animation to sci-fi that is high-minded. He also spent six years writing Marvel’s « The Amazing Spider-Man » flagship book that is comic in which he wrote a BAFTA-nominated film starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clint Eastwood. Other things that you might think about Straczynski, you can never accuse the man of being idle.
Even before reading « Becoming Superman » (HarperCollins, July 2019), i usually had the impression that Straczynski wrote so prolifically not because he wished to but because he absolutely had to. The guy simply has plenty of stories to share with and feels compelled to put pen to paper, because if he does not tell these tales, then no one else will.
Now, having read « Becoming Superman, » I finally understand why that is the case — plus the story leading up pay for a paper to it is really not entirely a happy one. In this memoir (or autobiography — it’s a little of both), Straczynski details a lifetime of hardship, abuse and trauma, culminating into the secret that is darkest his family’s past: an honest-to-goodness murder mystery.
« Becoming Superman » is half family drama, half behind-the-scenes showbiz anecdotes, with some writing advice and a few life lessons sprinkled in. The writing in the book is earnest, straightforward, incisive, often funny and occasionally very bitter like Straczynski’s TV shows and comics. I don’t know I imagine that’s still a pretty sizable niche if it will have massive appeal beyond Straczynski’s existing fan base — but given how many millions of fans he’s entranced over the years.
The foundation story
Reading the very first 50 % of Straczynski’s memoir, i possibly couldn’t help but recall the opening lines of Leo Tolstoy’s « Anna Karenina »: « All happy families are alike; each family that is unhappy unhappy with its own way. »
To say that Straczynski came from an unhappy family would be an understatement. The very first few chapters associated with book aren’t in regards to the author at all, but rather, his grandfather Kazimir and his father, Charles. There’s deception, violence, bigotry, war and incest — and that is all prior to the writer was even born.
Without going into great detail, Charles was something of a Nazi sympathizer, having tagged along with a small squadron of German soldiers while trapped in Poland during World War II. Over and over, throughout the book, Charles along with his relatives allude to Vishnevo, a Belarusian town where an family that is unrepeatable must stay buried.
Since the mystery of Vishnevo is just one of the primary threads that keeps the plot of « Becoming Superman » moving, i will not spoil it here. However, it is worth pointing out that Straczynski does an admirable job of sharing information regarding the storyline in dribs and drabs at a fairly pace that is regular the book. Similar to with a detective that is good, your reader must hunt for clues, content in the knowledge that everything should come together in a satisfying (albeit horrific) conclusion eventually.
What exactly is a harder that is little stomach could be the incredible violence that the author along with his two younger sisters endured at Charles’ hands. Straczynski does not shy away from describing his father’s continual verbal, psychological and abuse that is physical. Some of the scenes in « Becoming Superman » are so devastating, it feels like a miracle that Straczynski made it out alive — much less with a modicum of sanity intact from broken teeth, to sexual assault, to attempted murder.
In reality, if « Becoming Superman » has a weakness that is major it’s that the first half of the book is grueling with its depictions of poverty, callousness and viciousness. In the event that events described weren’t true, the writing might feel downright lurid. For Straczynski, I imagine that finally breaking the silence about his traumatic childhood was cathartic. For young readers who will be currently in similar situations, it might be instructive. But there isn’t any denying that the half that is second of book is a lot more enjoyable to see.
Sci-fi and superheroes
Straczynski spent his childhood moving around the world every couple of months, usually whenever Charles had a need to dodge creditors after a failed scheme that is get-rich-quick. But simply as things settled down when it comes to author after college, the book settles into an infinitely more comfortable pattern in its second half. If you are thinking about Straczynski primarily as a creator, that’s where the materials can get really interesting.
After kicking off his writing career as a freelance journalist, Straczynski moved through the worlds of TV, comic books and show films, where his credits include « The Twilight Zone » (1986), « Murder, She Wrote, » « Rising Stars, » « Spider-Man, » « Changeling » and « World War Z. »
Each chapter tells the story of a show that is different therefore the behind-the-scenes tales are amusing and informative for anyone who was ever interested in learning the way the entertainment industry sausage gets made. The Wachowskis and a veritable « who’s who » of genre film and television over the past three decades, Straczynski has crossed paths with George R.R. Martin, Angela Lansbury, Ron Howard.
If those names mean almost anything to you, « Becoming Superman » is an sell that is easy or even, you may still enjoy a glimpse into Straczynski’s creative process. He discusses the fine points of writing for animation, live-action TV, comic books and feature films, in addition to how he faced the difficulties inherent in each genre. And even though shows like « The Real Ghostbusters » and « Captain Power and the Soldiers into the future » were just a little before my time, the chapters about them were probably my favorite into the book.
Straczynski and his writing crews took « Ghosbusters » and « Captain Power » extremely seriously, although the series were ostensibly just tie-ins to market toys. Each program had character depth, setting consistency and narrative continuity, and Straczynski staked his reputation on keeping these reveals that way.
Of course, most readers who does go out of their option to read a Straczynski memoir are likely acquainted with one (or both) regarding the major TV series that he created: « Babylon 5 » and « Sense8. » Those shows get lots of attention, particularly toward the end associated with book.
« Becoming Superman » isn’t exactly a tell-all; you aren’t going to learn any juicy information which you did not already know just, or suspect, about what went on behind the scenes. But you’ll get a thorough explanation of how each show came to be — and how network that is powerful almost stopped « Babylon 5 » dead in its tracks. (Netflix seemed a little more creator-friendly, at least up until it canceled « Sense8, » despite fans’ vociferous objections.)
In all honesty, I expected « Babylon 5 » and « Sense8 » to take up a sizable chunk of this book — and, even about them, I’m glad that they didn’t though I would have been happy to read more. There clearly was a tendency to give attention to a creator’s wins and minimize his / her losses. But, as Straczynski himself points out in the written book, every part of his career shaped who he could be as a writer, and as an individual.
Walking away from a dream gig on « the Ghostbusters that is real just like important as watching « Jeremiah » crumble, which paved the best way to writing the story when it comes to « Thor » film. If Straczynski seems like a success that is massive it’s only because he’s been willing to endure a great deal failure as you go along.
If I experienced to guess (and I could be delighted to be wrong), i really don’t think that « Becoming Superman » is going to get to be the next « hardscrabble-child-becomes-celebrated-adult » bestseller, а la Tara Westover’s « Educated » (Random House, 2018). Straczynski’s book is a tad too self-effacing, a tad too fun as well as perhaps only a little too niche to attract an mainstream crowd that is enormous.
For fans of Straczynski’s work, though, that is a good thing. There is an expression in « Becoming Superman » that you’ren’t just listening to a stranger rattle off his life story. It really is a lot more like a casual acquaintance opening your responsibility over a couple of beers, and after that you realize there is a very good reason you liked this person from the beginning.
So come for the favourite sci-fi characters, stay for the intriguing family mystery, and learn a thing or two regarding how great writers can come from unlikely origins.