Super-Folks is a 1977 novel by Robert Mayer that satirizes the superhero genre for a more adult audience than for whom the genre had been previously been intended. The novel's protagonist is a Superman analogue named David Brinkley (no relation); although his superhero codename is never fully given, various intelligence agencies refer to him as "Indigo" (the color of his mask) and "der Ubermensch", and the original book jacket refers to him as "Everyman". He hails from the planet Cronk and is vulnerable to the substance Cronkite (again, no relation), in an obvious reference to Superman's home of Krypton and weakness to Kryptonite.
The novel was influential on many writers of superhero comic books in the 1980s and 1990s, notably Alan Moore and Kurt Busiek. Although the book's pop culture references clearly date it to the 1970s, its influence on the deconstruction of the superhero genre is still felt through Moore's Watchmen and Miracleman. The book was out of print for several years. It was reprinted in 2003 in limited quantities by About Comics with a new cover by Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons and an introduction by Busiek. It is slated to be again reprinted in 2005 by St. Martin's Griffin with a new cover by Mike Allred and an introduction by Grant Morrison.
Plot summary
Brinkley lost his superhuman powers due to the influence of an unknown enemy, and all of the other superheroes (Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, and Snoopy, among others) have retired, disappeared, or died. Brinkley's powers gradually return, years later, in the midst of a mid-life crisis. The return of his powers is later revealed to be a CIA-sponsored attempt to lure him out of retirement so that they can assassinate him as required by a nuclear disarmament treaty with the USSR.
With the assistance of the institutionalized Captain Mantra (Captain Marvel) and a grown-up, flamboyantly gay Peter Pan, he relearns how to use his powers and ultimately defeats his enemies: gigolo "Stretch" O'Toole, aka Elastic Man (Plastic Man); the incest-born Demoniac (Captain Marvel Jr.); and the millionaire Powell Pugh, a.k.a. the alien elf Pxyzsyzygy (Lex Luthor/Mr. Mxyzptlk).
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