#Epting

[shezanenigma]

Book Review: Idol Truth

Idol Truth 

by Leif Garrett

💎💎💎💎💎

5 Diamond Read

Idol Truth vividly captures the 70’s intoxicating allure and the pressure-cooker environment that comes with teenage stardom. It gives an honest look at the life of a teen idol in the 70’s and 80’s which probably are still true today.

Before reading his memoir, I thought Leif Garrett was primarily a singer who dabbled in acting. I had no idea he started out as an actor. Like others, I wish there had been more in-depth details, especially about his experiences making movies like The Outsiders. However, Leif seems to be a straightforward, no-nonsense storyteller. The format of his memoir reflects this style—he simply presents the facts. I find it believable and appreciate that he doesn’t hold anything back or try to sugarcoat things. He examines his life honestly, sharing both the highs and lows. He names names and speaks openly about the adults who failed him during his upbringing. While he doesn't come across as bitter, he acknowledges moments of bitterness but accepts that the past cannot be changed. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from his memoir, but I was pleasantly surprised by its depth and honesty.

After reading Idol Truth, I can see how Leif transitioned as a person. He doesn’t explicitly say he was full of himself as a teen idol, but we can infer it from his stories. He describes the shift when his fame diminished—not quite a dose of reality, since being a teen idol was his reality, but a new, harsher reality when he was no longer in demand. He was essentially a product, and when interest waned, he was shelved, which brought about a significant change in his life. I believe he was a shy kid because he often seemed to follow others. He admits feeling like a fraud at times, and through his memoir, it struck me that he was probably cocky. I can see why he was cast as Bob in The Outsiders; it was a role he could easily fit into. Not that he treated people with disdain, but he definitely felt superior at times in his early life, a result of being told and treated as such during his childhood.

What sets Idol Truth apart from other celebrity memoirs is Leif's unflinching account of his struggles with addiction and the impact it had on his life and career. He does not shy away from detailing the depths of his substance abuse and the painful and bumpy journey to recovery. His story is a stark reminder of the often unseen and heavy price of fame, especially for impressionable teens trying to fit into an adult world, making it a poignant read.

My only wish was that Leif had narrated the memoir himself. I find memoirs narrated by the actual person writing them to be more sincere and passionate.

I give Idol Truth a 5 Diamond review. It is a moving and eye-opening memoir. Leif Garrett's ability to convey his truth makes this book a standout. It's a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and overcome, making Idol Truth a compelling and rewarding read for anyone interested in the complexities of fame and the redemptive power of honesty.

[magnetothemagnificent]

It is *so* funny when I see Stucky fans whose only Marvel exposure is the MCU refer to Ed Brubaker as "a Captain America writer" like. Guys. Ed Brubaker isn't just "a Captain America writer". He is the reason the Winter Soldier exists. He loved Bucky Barnes as a character so much and was so upset that he was killed off that he became a comics writer and eventually wrote a storyline with Steve Epting where Bucky Barnes was actually alive and the Winter Soldier, eventually reunited with Steve Rogers, and eventually became the new Captain America. Ed Brubaker aged Bucky Barnes up so that he and Steve would only be three years apart, he's one of the main reasons the Stucky fandom is what it is today. Know your history, guys lmfao, he isn't "a Captain America writer", he's the reason for your existence.

[steveepting]

Cap + Wolverine 1946

[spaceshiprocket]

Spider-man by Steve Epting

[ungoliantschilde]

Hellboy, by Steve Epting.

[bringbackwendellvaughn]

[a-bucky-a-day]

| FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER (2020) #5

By Derek Landy and Federico Vicentini

[pulpsandcomics2]

Black Widow

[wwprice1]

Awesome art by Steve Epting!

[vertigoartgore]

2004's Thor Vol.2 #80-85 (LGY : #582-587) covers by Steve Epting, Laura Martin & Frank D'Armata. Source Source Source Source Source

[artverso]

Steve Epting - Emma Frost (White Queen)

[karenxmenfan]

Lorna Dane, Polaris (20/x)

[steveepting]

Venom

[spaceshiprocket]

Wonder Woman by Steve Epting

[ungoliantschilde]

Ghost Rider, by Steve Epting.

[a-bucky-a-day]

| CAPTAIN AMERICA (2005)#14

By Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting