# Superfolks > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Superfolks > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Superfolks.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfolks > Source revision: 1349309317 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Book by Robert Mayer}} {{Infobox book | name = Superfolks | title_orig = | translator = | image = Superfolks.jpg | caption = First edition | author = [Robert Mayer](/source/Robert_Mayer_(journalist)) | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = | language = | series = | subject = | genre = [Superhero fiction](/source/Superhero_fiction) | publisher = [Dial Press](/source/Dial_Press) | pub_date = 1977 | english_pub_date = | media_type = | pages = | isbn = 0-207-95814-9 | oclc = 2646306 | dewey = | congress = | preceded_by = | followed_by = }} '''''Superfolks''''' (also ''Super-Folks'' in its original cover art) is a 1977 [novel](/source/novel) by {{ill|Robert Mayer (journalist)|lt=Robert Mayer|fr|Robert Mayer (écrivain)}}. The novel [satirizes](/source/satire) the [superhero](/source/superhero) and [comic book](/source/comic_book) genres, and was aimed at a more adult audience than those genres typically attracted. ''Superfolks'' also examines comic book conventions and clichés from a more serious, "literary" perspective. The novel was influential on many writers of superhero [comic book](/source/comic_book)s in the 1980s and 1990s, notably [Kurt Busiek](/source/Kurt_Busiek) and [Grant Morrison](/source/Grant_Morrison), the latter of whom brought the novel back to prominence in 1990 when he suggested that it had been a major influence on [Alan Moore](/source/Alan_Moore)'s ''[Watchmen](/source/Watchmen)'', ''[Marvelman](/source/Marvelman)'', and ''[Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?](/source/Superman%3A_Whatever_Happened_to_the_Man_of_Tomorrow%3F)'', a claim Moore has generally downplayed.{{cite web |url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/alan-moore-and-superfolks-part-2-the-case-for-the-defence/ |title=Alan Moore and Super Folks, A Case for the Defense |date=11 November 2012 |accessdate=August 21, 2015}} ==Publication history== A modest success upon publication (also featured as a special [book club](/source/Book_sales_club) edition), ''Superfolks'' eventually fell out of print. It was republished in 2003 in limited quantities by [About Comics](/source/About_Comics) with a new cover by ''Watchmen'' artist [Dave Gibbons](/source/Dave_Gibbons) and an introduction by [Busiek](/source/Kurt_Busiek).{{cite web |url=http://www.aboutcomics.com/superfolks.html |title=Introduction by Kurt Busiek |publisher=[About Comics](/source/About_Comics) |date= |accessdate=March 22, 2011 }} It was reprinted again in March 2005 by [St. Martin's Griffin](/source/St._Martin's_Griffin) with a new cover by [Mike Allred](/source/Mike_Allred) and an introduction by [Grant Morrison](/source/Grant_Morrison) ({{ISBN|0-312-33992-5}}). ==Plot synopsis== The novel's [protagonist](/source/protagonist) is a [Superman](/source/Superman) analogue named David Brinkley (a [tuckerization](/source/tuckerization) of TV newsman [David Brinkley](/source/David_Brinkley)). His superhero codename is never fully given: various [intelligence agencies](/source/intelligence_agencies) refer to him as "Indigo" (the color of his [mask](/source/mask)) and "der [Übermensch](/source/%C3%9Cbermensch)" (Overman) and the original book jacket refers to him as "[Everyman](/source/Everyman)." He hails from the planet Cronk and is vulnerable to the substance Cronkite (a play on both TV newsman [Walter Cronkite](/source/Walter_Cronkite), and Superman's home [Krypton](/source/Krypton_(planet)) and weakness to [Kryptonite](/source/Kryptonite)). David gradually loses his [superhuman](/source/superhuman) powers due to the influence of an unknown enemy, and all of the other superheroes (including, strangely, [Snoopy](/source/Snoopy)) retire, disappear, or die. It is later revealed that this is a plot made by the alien elf Pxyzsyzygy ([Mr. Mxyzptlk](/source/Mr._Mxyzptlk) by way of [Howard Hughes](/source/Howard_Hughes)) to kill all heroes. David's powers gradually return, years later, in the midst of a [mid-life crisis](/source/mid-life_crisis), and as criminals swarm [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan). The loss of David's powers is discovered to be because his enemies—unsure of his secret identity—have introduced minute amounts of Cronkite into many common products, as well as the water supply. The return of his powers is later revealed to be a [CIA](/source/CIA)-sponsored attempt to lure Brinkley out of retirement so that they can assassinate him as required by a [nuclear disarmament](/source/nuclear_disarmament) treaty with the [USSR](/source/USSR). With the assistance of the institutionalized Captain Mantra ([Captain Marvel](/source/Shazam_(DC_Comics))) and a grown-up, flamboyantly [gay](/source/gay) [Peter Pan](/source/Peter_Pan_(character)), David relearns how to use his powers and ultimately defeats his enemies: [gigolo](/source/gigolo) "Stretch" O'Toole, aka Elastic Man ([Plastic Man](/source/Plastic_Man)); the [incest](/source/incest)-born Demoniac (reminiscent of [Captain Marvel, Jr.](/source/Captain_Marvel%2C_Jr.) and [Black Adam](/source/Black_Adam)); and the millionaire Powell Pugh, a.k.a. the alien elf Pxyzsyzygy ([Mr. Mxyzptlk](/source/Mr._Mxyzptlk) by way of [Howard Hughes](/source/Howard_Hughes)). ==Characters== * David Brinkley/Rodney, the main character. A [Superman](/source/Superman) analog from Cronk, he is married and has two beautiful blonde children. By the end he has another child, a son, with his blue hair (and possibly some of his powers). * Billy Button, aka Captain Mantra, is an ex-superhero who claims to be crazy. Like [Captain Marvel](/source/Shazam_(DC_Comics)) he becomes a superhero after saying a magic word. In Button's case the word is "tomato-herring." * Mary Button, aka Mary Mantra, is an analog for [Mary Marvel](/source/Mary_Marvel) died before the story begins after being run over by a train. She and her brother, Billy, had a child (Near the end of the book, she is revealed to be a head [angel](/source/angel) in heaven). * Peter Pan is now older and [homosexual](/source/homosexual), and gave Rodney some tips on flying. * Demoniac, a villain who is the product of [incest](/source/incest) between Mary and Captain Mantra. He is a mix of [Captain Marvel, Jr.](/source/Captain_Marvel%2C_Jr.) and [Black Adam](/source/Black_Adam). * Elastic Man is an analog for [Plastic Man](/source/Plastic_Man), and serves as a villain for the series. * Pxyzsyzygy is an analog for [Mxyzptlk](/source/Mxyzptlk). He serves as the main villain for the story. ==Influence== [Grant Morrison](/source/Grant_Morrison) wrote an article in ''Speakeasy'' #111 and "[i]n the span of a few paragraphs, Morrison implies that Alan Moore stole the plots for 'Marvelman,' 'Watchmen,' and 'Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?' from Robert Mayer's relatively obscure novel."{{cite web |first=Timothy |last=Callahan |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22381 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804211450/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22381 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 4, 2009 |title=Marvelman Part One: Behold The Superman |work=When Worlds Collide |publisher=[Comic Book Resources](/source/Comic_Book_Resources) |date=August 3, 2009 |accessdate=March 22, 2011 }} When asked about the influence of ''Superfolks'', Moore said that he had read it at some point before writing ''[Marvelman](/source/Marvelman)'' but that "it was by no means the only influence, or even a major influence upon me output.{{sic}}" suggesting "I’d still say that Harvey Kurtzman’s ''[Superduperman](/source/Superduperman)'' probably had the preliminary influence, but I do remember ''Superfolks'' and finding some bits of it in that same sort of vein."{{cite web| first=Pádraig |last=Ó Méalóid |url=http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/boy-from-the-boroughs/ |title=Boy From The Boroughs |work=[3:AM Magazine](/source/3%3AAM_Magazine) |date=March 17, 2011 |accessdate=March 21, 2011 }} According to [Kurt Busiek](/source/Kurt_Busiek), "''Superfolks'' was a revelation, over time changing my outlook on both superheroes and on writing, and making it possible for me to write ''[Marvels](/source/Marvels)'', ''[Astro City](/source/Astro_City)'', ''[Superman: Secret Identity](/source/Superman%3A_Secret_Identity)'' and more."{{cite web |first= |url=http://busiek.com/site/2011/02/20/the-ferrets-tale/ |title=The Ferret's Tale |publisher=Busiek.com |date=February 20, 2011 |accessdate=March 22, 2011 }} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110826071930/http://robertmayerauthor.com/sitemap.aspx Superfolks] on Robert Mayer's site *[https://www.angelfire.com/mn/blaklion/superfolks.html John McDonagh's Superfolks annotations] *{{cite web |url=http://www.sequart.com/robertmayer.htm |title=Robert Mayer |publisher=[Sequart](/source/Sequart) |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724185046/http://www.sequart.com/robertmayer.htm |archivedate=July 24, 2008 }} * {{isfdb title|id=157276|title=Superfolks}} Category:1977 novels Category:Superhero novels Category:Crossover novels Category:Parody novels Category:Parodies of comics Category:Parodies of Superman --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Superfolks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfolks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfolks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.