Brad Ricca and Chalet Seidel, Westfield State assistant professor of English. (Photo by Casey Anne Dupelle, WSU)
WESTFIELD – Author and filmmaker Brad Ricca discussed his book Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster – The Creators of Superman at Westfield State University as part of a Guest Lecture Series on Monday evening in Scanlon Banquet Hall C. A question and answer session and book signing followed the discussion.
Super Boys tells true story of the creation of Superman. Ricca described how Superman’s alter-ego, Clark Kent was a portrait of the hero’s creators: frail, geeky, and afraid of girls. The pair, both sons of Jewish immigrants, famously signed away the rights to the character that would become an American icon. Ricca’s quest to solve the mysteries behind the Man of Steel’s creation took him everywhere from library archives to boarded-up high schools and secret, private collections and his book answers questions including the reasoning behind his costume and who the real-life inspiration was for Lois Lane.
Ricca’s award-winning film Last Son documents his journey to discovering Superman’s secrets. In addition to his work on Siegel and Shuster, Ricca is a widely published poet. His 2010 collection American Mastadon was published by Black Lawrence Press. His work has also appeared in The Kerf, The Coe Review, and, Black Dirt, and Albatross, among others.
Ricca’s lecture was co-sponsored by Westfield State University’s English department and Guest Lecture Series.
