Review of Gladiator by Phillip Wylie
So yeah. Turns out Superman is totally lifted from this book. Looking around it seems like people try to say that this is just a maybe, but let me tell you, this dude is exactly how early Superman was.
Allow me to expand on that. Our protagonist, Hugo Danner, has blue black hair, superhuman strength on the order of lifting and carrying at least four or five tons, bulletproof flesh, leaps tall buildings in a single bound, and outruns a train. There’s even elements in there that you can see developed into the Superman character. At one point he goes on about how if he had even one weakness, an Achilles heel, it would humanize him, allow people to connect with him. He also builds a sort of fortress deep in the woods, and while he swiftly destroys it upon discovery, it reminds me so much of the fortress of solitude that it ain’t even funny.
Published in 1930, the language is a little distracting, but it’s nothing too troublesome. The actual character of Hugo is quite different from Supes. Imagine Superman, only a bit bipolar, and not naive.
I don’t want to spoil the arc of the book, so if the following analysis is too vague, just go check it out from the library and come back. I’ll wait.
Ok, back? Good.
There are, in my opinion, three main concepts explored here.
Science defeated by mysticism
Individual defeated by the group
Exclusion from the group due to an unusual level of prowess
The big thing tying this all together is, naturally, frustration. Science, of which Hugo is presented as a pinnacle achievement, is constantly presented as potent but horribly naive when it comes to the staying power of religion, politics, greed, and other petty matters. Every scientist in the book seems to believe that simply showing a truth to someone should be enough, that all it takes is more evidence, but as Hugo discovers this just isn’t true. He is an honest thing, a sort of living truth, and despite his power he is incapable of correcting or energizing anything.
I have to say that the hardest part is knowing that we still live in this world. Religion, mysticism, and plain old corruption continue to trump reason and, quite frankly, good will.
It’s a very depressing read, but I still recommend it.