About the Author

Michael Dahl is the prolific author of the bestselling Goodnight, Baseball picture book and more than 200 other books for children and young adults. He has won the Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award three times for his nonfiction, a Teachers' Choice Award from Learning Magazine, and a Seal of Excellence from the Creative Child Awards. Dahl currently lives in Minnesota. John Delaney is an award-winning storyboard artist, director, animator and design artist with over 20 years of experience in both live-action production and animation. For the past 15 years John has also worked as a comic book artist for DC Comics and Bongo Comics. He has pencilled a wide variety of characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Justice League, as well as shows like Dexter's Laboratory, Scooby-Doo, Futurama, the Simpsons, and many more. John Delaney is an award-winning storyboard artist, director, animator and design artist with over 20 years of experience in both live-action production and animation. For the past 15 years John has also worked as a comic book artist for DC Comics and Bongo Comics. He has pencilled a wide variety of characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Justice League, as well as shows like Dexter's Laboratory, Scooby-Doo, Futurama, the Simpsons, and many more. Lee Loughridge has been working in comics for more than fifteen years. He currently lives in sunny California in a tent on the beach.

Reviews

At first glance, these titles appear to be small, hardcover comics. They are, in fact, colorful, action-packed chapter books with loads of appeal. All are original, modern works, but firmly based on the comics that inspired them. The brevity of each volume results in a quick-moving plot with a minimum of development. The writing is generally clear and doesn't come across as dumbed down. Although background information about the characters is provided, it is assumed that readers are already fairly familiar with these well-known superheroes. Each title includes discussion questions and writing prompts, upping the classroom-connection opportunities. The bold, vibrant illustrations have a crisp, retro style that pairs nicely with the adventures. Sound effects are displayed in expressive fonts that stand out from the rest of the text. Light, brisk pleasure reading that students, particularly reluctant readers, will be clamoring for. -Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI-- "School Library Journal"

New Superman Series from Stone Arch Books Last Son of Krypton In this book: Years ago, on the distant planet Krypton, a scientist discovers that his world faces total destruction. Before the planet explodes, he sends his only son into outer space. The child's rocket crashes on a farm in the middle of a Kansas cornfield. A farmer and his wife discover the child and the strange powers that lie in the tiny hands of this last son of Krypton.-- "Book Bits for Kids Blog"

STAR REVIEW: These high-interest, low-level books will entice struggling readers, reluctant readers, and accomplished readers alike. The Man of Steel and Batman are back with exciting, colorful full-page illustrations in chapter book style. Last son of Krypton sets the background for Superman's epic adventures, with a plot true to the original Superman storyline. The Museum Monsters introduces readers to the adult reporter Clark Kent and his coworker, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. Batman continues his quest to rid Gotham City of crime. Emperor of the Airwaves involves a clever scheme by the Penguin and The Revenge of Clayface features Clayface and the Joker. "From the Desk of Clark Kent" highlights the end of each Superman book, and a confidential police file on the main criminal appears in the Batman titles. Added features include discussion questions and writing prompts. This set will be a must-have as it clearly features the "wow" factor of brightly colored illustrations to go along with the exciting plots and well-known characters. Glossary. Highly Recommended.-- "Library Media Connection"

This offering in Stone Arch's new DC Super Heroes series, a set of chapter books based on familiar comics characters, is as good a place as any for young readers to get to know the most famous superhero of them all, Superman. The story follows the established backstory of a boy named Kal-El sent to earth from the dying planet of Krypton, where he is plucked out of a Kansas cornfield by a friendly farmer couple and renamed Clark Kent. A handful of colored, full-page illustrations highlight the action and establish characters, and the basic text--gentle enough to be reassuring and exciting enough to hold attention--is livened up with the occasional sound effect, rendered much as it would be in a comics panel. While other volumes (starring Superman and Batman, and one with Wonder Woman on the way) might feature more superhero action and crime-fighting capers, this one has the bonus of being an ideal launching pad into the vast world of Superman comics. Discussion questions and writing prompts at the end help make this a nice choice for classrooms as well. -Ian Chipman-- "Booklist Online"