Review: Superman #1

Synopsis:

Can you breath fresh life into an 80-year-old character without changing that character’s dynamic? So many lazy writers rely on gimmicks and cheap publicity grabs to sell their material (not just comics but also in films, novels and Broadway plays.) Yet a good writer can take any material and make it seem fresh. Here we see Bendis at his best. Superman is never easy to write for. He’s got no flaws the way humans have and he tries so hard to care for the entire human race. Too good to be true and thus it’s difficult to show real conflict. But this scribe makes it look easy. We have all the basics in play. Destruction of Krypton, raised in Smallville, you are here for a reason, base of operations in Metropolis. All the original 80-year-old Superman tropes, and yet, it’s fresh!

The Creative Team:

Bendis begins this issue after a newly vanquished villain (Rogol Zaar) has been imprisoned to the Phantom Zone. Kal-El has lost the only device with which to communicate with his family. Lois and Jon have gone with the image of Jor-El on a mission for Superman junior to find his place in this world, against Kal’s wishes. As Superman tries to think of a way to locate his long-lost wife and child, he reminisces about things normal parents go through. His son not wanting to go to school, his wife getting a scoop on his arch-nemesis, and the loss of his home away from home: The Fortress of Solitude. Great stuff includes the Martian Manhunter consoling Kal, reminding him that he’s not the only one to lose his entire race. He also makes Kal a proposal that is surely tempting and is in keeping with the Superman as Christ allegory, ala Jesus temptation by Satan in the desert. and the proposed location for the new Fortress of Solitude.

Ivan Reis and Joe Prado have some big shoes to fill: Joe Shuster, Wayne Boring, Curt Swan, Neal Adams et al. Can they be the artists that will define the Man of Steel for this generation? They’re off to a good start. Their Superman is majestic, confident and ready to take on the rogues gallery, including the newest member of that group of ne’er do wells, Rogol Zaar. Clark is his usual mild-mannered self with just a twinkle in his eye and a slight smirk that let’s us know that he is actually super-confident and the mild-mannered act is the disguise a’la the David Carradine speech in Kill Bill Vol. 2.Â Kal-El is the real person and Clark Kent the fictional. All of this shines forth in their treatment of the worlds first Superhero, may they continue the artistic duties for the Man of Tomorrow for many years to come. Highlights include the opening splash of Kal-El searching for his family against the backdrop of the Dominators and the splash of the Fortress of Solitude.

In Conclusion:

A great intro to what could be an awesome story. I’m sure that Bendis has some extraordinary things in store for the man of steel following the first part of the Unity saga. I loved the set up and the situation that the man of steel finds himself in is relatable. The pacing is good and the build up to the end of issue one is truly memorable. And the twist at the end blew me away, I totally wasn’t expecting…to be continued. ****1/2 (9.4 rating)

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Writer – Brian Michael Bendis
Art – Ivan Reis, Joe Prado
Colors – Alex Sinclair
Letters – Josh Reed
Publisher – DC

Author Profile

Kevin Given

Kevin Given has studied with â€œ Longridge Writers Group â€ and â€œ Writerâ€™s Boot Camp â€ a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the â€œ Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter â€ franchise which includes novels and comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of â€œ Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter â€ # 1 and â€œ Files of Karl Vincent â€ # 1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series â€œ Dracula Rising â€ (working title) and developing â€œ Foul Blood â€ into comic book form. Don't forget to check out the YouTube show " Comics: Let's Talk " hosted by Kevin Given