The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece: A Novel

Summary

From the Academy Award-winning actor and bestselling author comes a novel about the making of a star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film—and the humble comic books that inspired it. Funny, touching, and wonderfully thought-provoking, it also capturing the changes in America and American culture since World War II.

Part One of this story takes place in 1947. A troubled soldier, returning from the war, meets his talented five-year-old nephew, leaves an indelible impression, and then disappears for twenty-three years.

Cut to 1970. The nephew, now drawing underground comic books in Oakland, California, reconnects with his uncle and, remembering the comic book he saw when he was five, draws a new version with his uncle as a World War II fighting hero. 

Cut to the present day. A commercially successful director discovers the 1970 comic book and decides to turn it into a contemporary superhero movie.

Cue the cast. We meet the film’s extremely difficult male star, his wonderful leading lady, the eccentric writer/director, the producer, the gofer production assistant, and everyone else on both sides of the camera.

Bonus material: Interspersed throughout are three comic books that are featured in the story—all created by Tom Hanks himself—including the comic book that becomes the official tie-in to this novel’s “major motion picture masterpiece.”