Have you ever read a book that you don't want to end? And then when it does end, you don't have the words to express just how powerful and impactful the book was? Well, that's exactly how I feel about BECOMING SUPERMAN.
I'm not normally a fan of celebrity autobiographies but I had to make an exception for BECOMING SUPERMAN. And oh wow, am I glad I did! BECOMING SUPERMAN introduces us to J. Michael Straczynski's family history, weaving in his career highs and lows. The details of Straczynski's childhood are sobering at best, horrifying most of the time. The poverty, abuse, and attempts at indoctrination that he faced are almost beyond my comprehension, despite the fact I've worked with children dealing with poverty and/or abuse for over 20 years. The resilience Straczynski shows is both amazing and inspiring.
Readers should be warned that there are many potential trigger factors involving abuse, neglect, and poverty. Straczynski's childhood was not an easy one and yet he also gives us insight into the things that helped him rise above it. Comics, particularly Superman, helped him think beyond what he was currently dealing with and he threw himself into his writing even as he struggled to improve and hone those skills.
The tv series, Babylon 5, remains even till today the greatest television scifi series ever (yes, even better than Star Trek, although Star Trek was definitely groundbreaking). J. Michael Straczynski created Babylon 5 and brought this phenomenal storyline to life, cementing my appreciation for science fiction permanently. However, Babylon 5 isn't his only career success nor is it even as amazing as his own personal story. If you love Babylon 5, science fiction, or even just one heck of a good autobiography about surviving and thriving despite a tough childhood, then BECOMING SUPERMAN is a must-read for you.
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