Superman #1 – Review

By: George Pérez (writer), Jesús Merino (artist), Brian Buccellato (colorist)

The Story: Extra, extra, read all about it!  Superman realizes print media is dead!

The Review: In a lot of ways, Grant Morrison’s reconceptualization of Superman over in Action Comics feels slightly theoretical, almost like an Elseworlds tale in certain respects.  But we all know that however radical the characterization gets, it will have an impact on the Superman we eventually end up with in DC’s new continuity.  This issue offers us our first look at the Man of Steel’s new template.  Will we recognize him as the icon we love, even sans visible underpants?

You’ve already predicted the answer by now: yes and no.  Here, we see Superman do what he’s always done, and will likely always continue to do, best, which is protect the innocent in the most genial way possible (flying with a terrorist-driven tank on his shoulders) “Playtime’s over!  Drop your weapons…or I’ll toss this tin can into the Westside River!”).  He comes in full-body costumery, and he remains an enormously popular (read: tweeted) figure in Metropolis.

Keep in mind, though, that popularity rarely equates to being beloved.  We first see Superman from ground level, watching him float high in the night sky, glowering down at you.  It’s an unsettling difference from the perpetually sunny character we’ve come to expect, which may explain why Metropolis hasn’t completely embraced him with open arms.  When the truck he carries spontaneously combusts, one reporter (granted, one who previously hosted a smack-talk show) immediately concludes, “…Superman himself caused the massive explosion.”

What with all the media buzzing and gadding about during these scenes, it’s no wonder the issue ultimately becomes more of a story about journalism than a Superman adventure.  On the plus side, it allows supporting players Lois, Perry, and Jimmy to assert their presence early on, and it introduces a few new ones as well: internet whiz Miko, newly-installed publisher Ms. Izquierdo, and Morgan Edge, head of the global conglomerate that just acquired the Daily Planet.

This focus on the news drama also lets you see one of the more intriguing versions of Clark Kent.  Past Clarks really played up his bumbling, ingratiating, almost meek nature, but this one shows a farmer boy’s stubbornness in his resistance to work for a media network with a less than pristine reputation.  He actually comes off strident, berating Lois for selling out to the shady company.  But then you also get to see a very endearing penitence as he apologizes to her for his outburst, only to then get completely crushed when he finds that he comes too late.

This grounded storyline works fine on its own merits, but it doesn’t feel like the best choice for a debut Superman issue.  His battle with an unidentified flame creature feels like an accessory plotline, with hardly any tension or excitement of its own.  Between this and the scene of some alien blowing an extraterrestrial horn, you have no idea where this series plans to take our hero.

It’s no wonder Merino got chosen for this gig, as his work looks as close to Pérez’s iconic style without Pérez actually drawing the pages himself.  Merino has a solid grasp on the fundamentals; he delivers credible characters, a very old-school but dynamic rendering of action (the extraneous splashes and streaks for intense movement and impact), and straightforward paneling.  It all works well, but it doesn’t score points for riskiness.

Conclusion: The issue goes for an unexpectedly dramatic and interesting take on the titular character, but in a very cautious way.  What we need is less reportage, and more news-making material.

Grade: B-

– Minhquan Nguyen

Some Musings: – “I want the kind of detail and analysis…only print can offer!”  Honestly, about the only advantage print has over TV and digital is that it tends to be better edited and it’s finite.  The 24-hour news cycle has pretty much doomed quality reporting.

– Clark’s actually a pretty decent writer, judging from his “report” of his own battle.  I know many a journalist who can’t keep up an active, descriptive voice the way Clark does here.