Superhero: A Novel by Tim Blake Nelson (Review)

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Tim Blake Nelson is a highly respected character actor known for his diverse roles in Hollywood, but he’s also a novelist. His second novel, Superhero, recently came out. It’s a fictional story inspired by real events, focusing on a famous actor, Peter Compton, who takes on a massive comic book movie role while struggling with personal issues. Nelson uses his own experiences and those of people he knows to create a funny and insightful look inside the often-strange world of Hollywood.

It’s no surprise Peter Compton is based on real people – Nelson admits he combined four individuals into one character (originally, it was just based on one). Still, it’s fun to guess which famous actors inspired specific behaviors in the story. For example, which star purchased a restaurant to keep a key crew member on a film? Or, who sparked the viral meltdown that’s central to Peter’s story? Nelson insists everything in the story is true – either he lived it himself or heard it from someone who did. I won’t share my own guesses, though I have a few, because I’d rather avoid getting a call from a lawyer.

Anyone who talks to or watches Nelson will quickly understand the origins of his character, Superhero: he’s articulate, bright, and genuinely passionate about acting and creating believable characters. He describes his character, Peter, as a classic figure, inspired by ancient Greek tragedies, but admits Peter is difficult to like. This seems intentional—Peter’s arrogance is his downfall, though he’d never acknowledge it, and it makes him rather unpleasant. Spending time with Peter can be challenging, almost as if Nelson took inspiration from the Coen brothers’ knack for creating fascinating, yet deeply unlikeable, characters.

Nelson has a clear passion for language, which might be surprising considering some of the characters he creates on screen – ‘The Leader’ feels much more like him than Delmar O’Donnel from O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He often slows down to describe things in detail because he wants to emphasize their importance. Everything, from detailed notes on photography to the history of the hero Major Machina, is carefully constructed, intentionally going against the typical fast-paced, surface-level approach of many popular movies. This tension is a central theme throughout the work, explored by the characters themselves. Even though he enjoys the genre, you get the feeling that Nelson is deeply intrigued by this very conflict.

The film relies heavily on dialogue, giving it a very cinematic feel – even though the director claims it wasn’t intentionally designed that way. Knowing the director’s experience as a playwright helps explain this approach. While some scenes move quickly, the lack of clear speaker identification can sometimes make the conversations a little hard to follow.

This novel is both funny and insightful, with a genuine emotional core despite moments of playful cynicism. Nelson’s writing is assured and knowledgeable, like that of a true professional. While he understandably keeps some details vague, the result is a rare and fascinating glimpse into the world of Hollywood – a story that’s surprisingly straightforward and deeply engaging.

Rating: 4/5

Superhero is available to buy now from Unnamed Press.

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2025-12-05 22:11