From the Academy Award-winning actor and best-selling author- 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, while 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 mdash, all created by Tom Hanks himself mdash, including the comic book that becomes the official tie-in to this novel's "major motion picture masterpiece".