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''Super Folks'' is a 1977 book by Robert Mayer, parodying the SuperHero genre in general with a middle-aged, retired superhero. The plot follows [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous David Brinkley]], once a superhero [[CaptainErsatz eerily similar to]] Franchise/{{Superman}}, who lost his powers and settled down to be [[JadedWashout cynical, jaded and world-weary]]. A resurgence in crime causes him to come out of retirement and try being a superhero once more.

Lots of gratuitous cameos ensue.
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!!This book provides examples of:
* AmbiguousGender: Subverted with Literature/PeterPan, who is almost always referred to as a male, until the ending, when Brinkley considers whether or not he may be a girl. The issue is never really addressed, and written off as [[StupidSexyFlanders wishful thinking]].
* BatmanGambit: Brinkley's ultimate plan to deal with the much stronger and still very young Demoniac relies on successfully [[spoiler:tricking him into thinking that's he's Captain Mantra, causing his foe to utter the name and render him mortal once again.]]
* BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler:Between Captain and Mary Mantra, resulting in the birth of Demoniac.]]
* TheCameo: This book's got everyone, from Series/{{Kojak}} to Literature/PeterPan to [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Elmer Fudd]]. But the ultimate example of a character who appears, onscreen, and has no place in the story except for shits and giggles, is [[Literature/TheCatcherInTheRye Holden Caulfield]]. The book is even quoted when describing him!
* CaptainErsatz: All over the place.
** The hero himself = Franchise/{{Superman}}.
** Captain Mantra = Captain Marvel
** Mary Mantra = Mary Marvel
** Elastic Man = Plastic Man
** Demoniac = Black Adam/Captain Marvel, Jr.
** Pxyzsyzygy = Mr. Mxyzptlk
** Also, numerous characters who are mentioned but don't appear resemble classic Superman villains, if only in name. These include Logar, the mad scientist ([[CutLexLuthorACheck Lex Luthor]]), Univac (Braniac), Oreo (Bizarro) and numerous others.
* EverybodysDeadDave: The book starts off listing superheroes and how they died. Superman? Kryptonite meteor landed on Metropolis. Franchise/{{Batman}} and Robin? Batmobile crashed into a bus. Radio/TheLoneRanger? Shot in the back after Tanto joined the [[MalcolmXerox "Red Power movement"]]. [[IAmNotShazam The Marvel family]]? [[DeathByIrony Struck by lightning]]. Only Franchise/WonderWoman's still alive, and [[StrawFeminist no one really likes her anymore]]. Even ''[[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]]:'' shot down by the Red Baron and [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated missing in action]] over France.
** Extended by the fact that the hero's name is David, so the line could actually have been said to him.
* ExpyCoexistence: Brinkley, Captain Mantra and Mary Mantra are based on Superman, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] and Mary Marvel respectively. Most [=DC=] characters, exist in this universe, though Supes and the Marvels are all dead.
* FantasyKitchenSink: InAWorld where Batman, Peter Pan and Porky Pig can coexist, there can be only one explanation...
* FlashSideways: Crashing through the barrier at the edge of the universe causes Brinkley to see possible versions of how his life could have turned out if he'd made different decisions.
* GoingCommando: The Lois Lane expy does it; giving those on the ground quite a show when her skirt turns into an ImprovisedParachute.
* GreatGazoo: A Mxyzptlk expy called Pxyzsyzygy.
* HotterAndSexier: The book deals greatly with David Brinkley's sexual experiences and how his powers contributed to them. While the source material has gotten increasingly HotterAndSexier over the years, never have they gone ''this'' in-depth...
* HumanAliens: As well as the people of Cronk looking like humans, humans also evolved independently on six other planets.
* ImprovisedParachute[=/=]ParachutePetticoat: The skirt of a female character acts as one when she is thrown off a skyscraper.
* JadedWashout: David Brinkley, who was practically Superman before settling down.
* KryptoniteFactor: David is weak against radioactive fragments of his home planet called cronkite.
* KryptoniteIsEverywhere: David is losing his powers because [[spoiler:Pxyzsyzygy has been putting cronkite all over the world.]]
* MassiveMultiplayerCrossover: [=DC=] superheroes, ''Series/{{Kojak}}'', ''Literature/PeterPan'' and Snoopy all exist, among others.
* NoNameGiven: We're never told Brinkley's superhero codename, though the original book jacket refers to him as Everyman.
* OddNameOut: "Beyond Edgeville the land gradually flattened, and was covered, in turn, by Nearville, Fairville, Floralville, Gardenville, Oakville, Pleasantville, Vistaville, Sunnyville, Strongville, Roseville, Middleville, Townville, Ladyville, Robinville, Flatville, Spudville, Branchville, Farville, Tideville, Oceanville, and Parsons Corners."
* PowerPerversionPotential: Whenever David uses his "[[XRayVision Gamma-eye vision]]" for the "[[ThePeepingTom wrong purpose]]", he is [[LaserGuidedKarma punished immediately]] by tripping or bumping into something. His high school yearbook picture was labelled [[TheKlutz clumsiest boy in class]].
* ReallyGetsAround: David's boyhood crush turns into a superhero prostitute. More than anything that moves, she seems to opt for [[SubvertedTrope Anything That Shoots Lazer Beams Out Of Its Eyes]].
* ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated: [[spoiler:Snoopy]]
* ShiplessFasterThanLightTravel: David can fly to the edge of the universe in a fairly short amount of time.
* SleepsWithEveryoneButYou: David's boyhood crush and former next-door neighbor turns out to have become a superhero groupie, sleeping with every known superhero, including Superman, Batman and Robin (at the same time!), and is implied to have particularly enjoyed her time with [[LesYay Wonder Woman]]. David alone has never slept with her, and feels left out.
* SmallUniverseAfterAll: Brinkley can fly to the edge of the universe in a reasonably short amount of time.
* SupermanSubstitute: David Brinkley has the origin and powers. Notable for being a case of ExpyCoexistence where he exists in the same world as Superman.
* ATrueStoryInMyUniverse: There's a mention of ''Film/InvasionOfTheBodysnatchers'' being a documentary and the ''Theatre/PeterPan'' stage play when the character exists in universe.
%%* YouKnowTheOne: To avoid saying the hero's codename.
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