Becoming Superman: My Journey From Poverty to Hollywood

Straczynski (Babylon 5; Changeling) tells all in this half-shocking, half-juicy memoir of growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive household and his path to becoming a television, movie, and comic book writer. Straczynski was raised in poverty in a family that saw more than its share of trauma: domestic violence, alcoholism, incest, murder, and even war crimes. The clan moved frequently to chase jobs and escape debt collectors, resulting in numerous school changes for Straczynski and his sisters. Despite the continuous upheaval, Straczynski earned two bachelor’s degrees and began his writing career in the late 1970s. His work has resulted in hundreds of hours of television and five movies, plus more than 15 years’ worth of releasing comics with publishers such as Top Cow, Image, DC, and Marvel. Straczynski holds court in this book, spinning one tale after another about his family, other writers, and the movie, television, and publishing industries.