Rating: 
Summary: Concerned about bias
Review: ... If you want a guide to Superman's current activities, then this is the book for you. It is very detailed, well written, and brightly illustrated with what I feel to be a very refreshing take on Superman, the stylings of Superman artist Ed McGuiness, who is featured prominently. Granted, this book can hardly be considered the Ultimate guide in a literal sense, considering the fact that Superman began his career in the early 20th century, but nonetheless it does an excellant job in giving you a real feel for the breadth and width of the legendary Man of Steel. As a veteran and current reader of the Superman titles I can wholeheartedly recommend this book as a great starting point for any novice or an enjoyable read for an established fan. It is very up to date, right up to this months current story line (August 2002), and compliments the other titles in this series very well. In comparison to the other "Ultimate Guide To" books; Spider-man, Batman, X-men, the Superman title stands out to me as the most fun and the best written. If you are looking for something dealing with Superman's famed and storied past, and are not interested in his current activities, then I encourage you to pick up the archives that DC offers, as well as the Trade Paperbacks: "Superman in the Fifties", "Superman in the sixties", and so on. The value of this book should not be based on an unsound bias toward anything new and unconventional, but rather on the quality and quantity that is most assuredly captured within the pages of this publication.
Rating: 
Summary: A Picturial View of the Man of Steel
Review: DK's series on the DC universe shows its strengths in this text on our favorite Man from Krypton. As usual, the people involved have done their homework and research well. The hours put into this text show. The pictures are fun visually, but I am concerned that a few of the photos might be intense for the under twelve set. Remember, a great many of these books will be sold at Costco, Sam's Club and a few other general outlets where some parents may not check out the books. Still, it is a vast improvement over the Batman book, which was slightly more intense. For the fans of the comic since 1986 (when the fictional character was overhauled), this book is all comprehensive and forgetting little that has happened in the comic since then. I would have liked to have seen Superman from the different interpretations given a few pages apiece (Superman in the live action the Adventures of Superman, Superman in the Superfriends, Superman in the Superboy show, Superman in Lois and Clark, etc. .) I also found myself wishing for a few pages of the pre-Crisis history. Like a page on the five types of Kryptonite (green, red, white, blue, and jewel), and other nostaligic trivia of the past. I loved the illustrations for Krypton and various other detailed graphic pages. And I especially enjoyed the six pages on the back which gave a good breakdown over the past fifty years and gave an excellent overview for those of us older fans. I look forward to the next book on the Justice League coming in November. Sincerely, JThree
Rating: 
Summary: Though colorful...has a grey shadow over it
Review: For a person who grew up with the man of steel, this guide was supposed to be his bible. But unfortunately, the grey side to this seemingly colorful book is that it is more objective than subjective. Turning the man of steel into a historical figure(even though he IS a historical figure). It basically states out the facts which have transpired in Supermans life and is almost similar to reading my history book in highschool. To a Superman fan, this guide might prove to be a disappointment but if you just need to know what big "S" has been doing all throughout these years, this book will do it for ya!
Rating:
Summary: Character Leadership Education
Review: I gave this book to my sons and daughter as a role model thing for teaching character, figuring I couldn't go wrong, as this would be good, clean reading. And I was not wrong in that respect. I actually then read through the book myself. Though I found it to be a good first start, I and even one of my sons came away with the impression that more information about character and leadership was needed in order to understand what in heavens name character and leadership are really all about. I have since then read Norman Thomas Remick's book that is all about understanding character and leadership and traditional American values, "West Point: Character Leadership Education, A Book From The Reading And Writing Of Thomas Jefferson", and found it to be excellent --- a great followup to Scott Beatty's "Superman" --- and a kind of "Harry Potter" type of book without the witchcraft and wizardry but with true little known facts from throughout civilization. I felt I needed to tell everyone about Mr. Remick's book while I was taking the trouble to tell everyone how much my kids and I enjoyed Mr. Beatty's "Superman" because I was so impressed with both of them.
Rating:
Summary: Good reference for the beginning Superman fan
Review: I got this book as a Christmas present from a co-worker who rightly assumed I was a Superman fan (based on little things like the statue on my desk, my keychain, my pens, the floormats in my car, etc.). It's a good book, but it's really for the Superman novice. The book contains a lot of illustrations punctuated by brief text blocks explaining a character or event or place in Superman's life. The diagrams of places like the Fortress of Solitude were probably my favorite bit, since those were the only bits I hadn't seen before. There was also a timeline at the end that encapsulated major events in the Superman mythos since his creation in 1938 -- a good addition. I would have liked to have seen it go a step further -- maybe a brief segment on the Superman creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, or on the cultural impact the character has had over the last 60+ years. He is, after all, along with Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny, one of the most famous fictional characters in existence. I can understand the omission, though, since this is clearly a book intended for younger readers. If you're a longtime Superman fan, you won't find much new in here, but it's still a nice keepsake. It's best for parents whose kids may just be getting into comics and superheroes and wants to know more about the Man of Steel -- for them, it's probably the best one-stop reference available.
Rating:
Summary: A must for any Superman fan...
Review: I have been a lifelong fan of Superman. However, I never had the time or money that would allow me to get into the comic book aspect of the franchise. Curiousity finally got the better of me, and I set out to learn more based on how Superman has been perceived through comics. When I received this book, I was blown away at how great it was. Through beautiful illustrations and a detailed account of comic book history, I was able to learn everything I never knew about the Man of Steel. Every aspect of the character is shown in this book, and then some. I loved the way that the book went through Superman's history in chronological order. This made it very easy to learn about Superman's history. I especially enjoyed the detailed section of all the super villans that Superman has encountered. That was one area that I was seriously lacking in. Of course I had heard the names before - Doomsday, Brainiac, Metallo, etc. However, I never knew about their abilities, or what happened when they faced off with Superman. Every major villan is described in detail, which gives you a full understanding of each one. Now maybe I think more of this book than others, because I am a comic book novice. However, ths book was very satisfying to me, and I recommend it to anyone who has always liked Superman, but still has alot to learn.
Rating: 
Summary: I guess it's okay--if you like the newer Superman.
Review: I should have read some of the earlier reviews on this Website. This book may serve fans of the newer Superman, but it does little for the fans of the older Superman.
Superman comics lost my readership in 1970, when everything turned bigger and shinier. Except for the first 7 pages of the chronology in the back, this book deals exclusively with the additions to the Superman legend which have taken place then. The illustrations and the text are supposed to impress the reader with how great Metropolis is, what a giant corporation LexCorp is, and how terrifying the villains are.
I would gladly trade in all this hyperbole for the writing style of the earlier writers.
Rating:
Summary: Not just for kids.
Review: I thought this book was just for kids- it is not. It was an invaluable tool for catching up with a lot of the stories and plotlines that I had missed. I hope to one day see one done for all the major DCU characters.
Rating:
Summary: Best Suited for Younger Readers
Review: I'd like to start off by saying this book deserves a 3 1/2 star rating.
The Ultimate Guide hardly lives up to its title. I am a serious Superman fan and was rather disapointed. Although richly illustrated and explained, this book was really full of information I already knew. It's very evident that Scott Beatty went to great lengths to research this, but I was rather underwhelmed.
However, this book is PERFECT for younger fans. Children will love the rich illustrations and, although some explanations for storylines will go over their heads, it will stil be a home run for any littler ones.
One thing I did like about this book is the timeline of Superman's career, located in the back of the book. Year by year, it gives a synopsis of key storylines in events, all the way from 1938 until now. That's useful for any Superfan.
So, if you're a parents looking for a wonderful book for your young Superfan, this is the one for you. But if you're already a serious collector, this book doesn't offer much. Try "Superman: The Complete History" by Les Daniels instead.
Rating:
Summary: Gregg Avedon as Superman
Review: I've always been a fan of Superman and the integrity by which he lives in spirit for all of us to aspire to. This book is a nice introduction to Superman and the story behind the man of steel. On a side note about the upcoming Superman film which is being directed by Brett Ratner: I've seen cover model and aspiring actor Gregg Avedon over the years, knowing he would make the perfect man of steel. This is the opportunity for America to realize their favorite superhero in physical form at a time when the words "Truth, Justice, and The American Way" mean more than ever. I certainly hope Gregg gets the opportunity. Back to the book: I would certainly reccommend this overall simple guide to anyone who wants to have cliff notes packed together in one simple, well illustrated, and affordable book.
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