Review: Superman Year One #1 (of 3)
With all the furor regarding the ongoing difficulties of Batman: Damned, DC steadfastly pushes ahead with it’s Black Label imprint. Yes there is another Bat book out there, even before Damned is done. To quell the almost all Batman /all the time that seems to be DC’s model of choice, we get another retelling of Superman’s early years.
Now I know what some of you will say, whats the point? It’s not that long ago we had the fantastic Superman: American Alien which covers similar ground, in intent if not in content as this series. Going back even further, there is the oft-cited as a misfire of John Byrne’s Man of Steel series, so readily alluded to in the recent Doomsday Clock issue. This though is a new origin for a new audience.
Frank Miller is the writer who is taking Clark through his early years. This though is a different Clark. Almost from the outset, there is a quiet arrogance to him, as he realises just how different he is from his adopted Ma and Pa, his school friends and the requisite bullies. This Clark isn’t as likeable as the Clark we are used too, and here is the rub of the book; keep things the same and people complain about buying a retread of story; write something new and people will complain that the book isn’t about “their” Superman. Miller, who made his name on Daredevil before helping Batman out of his camp history with the Dark Knight Returns and creator of indie hits Sin City and 300, had been seen as comic book royalty. Since then however, Miller has managed to split opinions most recently with DKIII. Here though, it feels that there is a feeling of less is more. Rather than go for “out of the box” crazy, Miller’s writing feels restrained somewhat, exploring themes such as there is always a bully and no matter hard hard he tries, or hard he punches said bully, Clark may not be able to save all his friends. I have always liked Superman stories that question how much power the most powerful person on the planet can actually use.
Like Miller, artist John Romita Jr. has had a number of detractors for his sometimes heavy style. I, for one am a fan of JRJR, from way back when. I even enjoyed his Superman run on New 52. Also like Miller, the art carries a less is more feel. The usual heavy lines are waylaid in favour of thinner, smoother lines that help minimise the Italian elements that have been present in JRJR’s work since his last Amazing Spider-Man run. Romita Jr. gets to have fun, drawing lots of different environments, from Krypton to Smallville, to the football game, all structured brilliantly on the page through effective panels and camera angles. Some will no doubt complain about young Clark’s big head. For those, I would just mention Damian and leave it there. I am interested in how much Romita Jr.’s style has been minimised and wonder how much of an impact inker Danny Miki has been here. Superman has always been a sunny book, partly due to Smallville’s location in the DC America. Colorist Alex Sinclair does a fantastic job in delivering a sunny feel without being over bright, alluding to less is more again perhaps. I would like to say well done to the letterer of the book, but DC have failed to give credit on the review copy of the book, nor is this information on the DC website. Whomever completed letter duties, they have done a stellar job, given the sheer verbosity of the book.
As much as I enjoyed the book, it is not without some minor flaws. Lana fans may be up in arms that this Lana isn’t “their” Lana and Clark uses his powers in plain view of the town a number of times, with barely registering a glance. The changes in the origins are well nuanced, with additions, such as Clark joining the Navy, allowing for new situations to be added to the now familiar story. My only other concern is purely linguistic; as this book covers so much of Clark’s young life, how is it Year One? Seriously though, I am glad that DC are stepping back from Bat “everywhere” man and spending time with the instigator of superhero comics. Maybe, just maybe, this series will become a tour de force for Miller and Romita Jr.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Written by: Frank Miller
Art by; John Romita Jr.
Inks by: Danny Miki
Colors by; Alex Sinclair
Letters by; John Workman
Published by; DC Comics / Black Label
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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