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One of the Funniest Novels Ever

A Book Review of Superfolks by Robert Mayer

What is the funniest novel ever? There really is no right or wrong answer because the answer is relative to each individual person.

For my money the funniest novel I ve ever read is “Superfolks” by Robert Mayer. The premise for the book takes place in the near future. In it most of the classic super hero es on Earth have retired, been killed, or forced out of the public eye. The story follows Indigo, formerly the world s greatest superhero and protector. Now retired Indigo has put the life of a hero behind him, and has put on a beer belly and works in an office. His powers are a little tiny flicker of what they used to be, which he believes is caused by aging.

Our hero begins suffering a mid-life crisis and co-incidentally his powers begin to return at the same time. Living under the name David Brinkley, Indigo has built up a career and has a wife he is about to start a family with. Torn between his current life and former hero status Brinkley decides to go back to his former stomping grounds of New York City after he rediscovers the ability to fly, and he notices a trail of suspicious crime.

This journey leads him out of retirement and into confrontations with zany villains, a homosexual Peter Pan, and satirical spoofs of classic superhero es, including an incestuous spoof of Captain Marvel and Mary Marvel.

The book itself contains a lot of over the edge humor, dark humor, adult content, and serious touching moments. There are a few aspects that make this book unsuitable for young readers. All in all it was pretty funny and enjoyable for me as an adult though. The book gives a very unique perspective of what it really means to be a hero .

Originally published in 1977 by The Dial Press the book was rejected by the literary world and the author was laughed at and ridiculed. Eventually it was revealed that the author was merely ahead of his time. This book ended up influencing and inspiring later classics such as The Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, “The Dark Knight Returns” by Frank Miller, and the humor aspects were used as the inspiration for the beloved Disney family film, “The Incredibles”. The book has been reprinted in recent years by St. Martin s Press of New York featuring a new forward by Grant Morrison and fantastic cover by zany super hero artist Mike Allred.

If you enjoy your books with a lot of goofy humor, a little kinky sex, a quirky hero and deep emotional content than I suggest you pick up this book “Superfolks” by Robert Mayer and give it a try.

Article Published: Saturday 7th April 2007