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rhganci's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5 STARS) There has to be a certain magnitude to Superman's villains, as he is the most magnanimous of the DC superheroes. In this first Superman story of the New 52, Superman deals with other survivors of destroyed civilizations, confronts Metropolis' public opinion towards him and his powers, and tries to remember where he's been over the span of a few weeks. In the end, the story communicates well Superman as an adherent to a warrior-servant's code, but falters in delivering a coherent narrative with a few too many explanations in the final 10 pages.
The story's chief concern is whether or not the city of Metropolis can trust Superman to be a benevolent protector, or if his presence makes more trouble than it's worth. The three-in-one villain gets parsed out evenly through the first three parts of the arc, and while I do enjoy the freak-of-the-week approach to comic storytelling, these freaks have no pretext outside the "call of the wild" issued from the Himalayas in the volume's opening pages. I understood that the city was in peril, and that Superman's objective was to save the city from that threat, but Perez's handling of the story did little to go beyond that. Most of the weight of the story's focus came from supporting cast members, especially Lois Lane and the smarmy Billy McCoy. Their sort of overwatch of Superman's doings really held the disconnectedness of the storytelling together and effected the story's main communication about heroism, ethics, and intentions. Other notable aspects include: the non-love story between Clark and Heather, which received no introduction, and a wildly dismissive conclusion; the cliffhanger with Superman dropping Billy McCoy from the Daily Planet building, which would have been really painful to have to wait a month to follow up on; the arrival of Supergirl and the nicely handled tie-in with Kara's throwdown in New York City (my favorite moment of the volume).
The artwork was terrific, with the new Super-suit and its blue-with-red-accents really being a nice move for the character model. The close ups were really expressive, especially at the story's most intense moments, and while Superman's fights and their scale can get a little hard to follow due to their scopes, at no point did I fall out of touch with the action, especially during the flight sequences in and out of space. All in all, while the storytelling lurched a bit and I really didn't get the sense of Superman's urgency or circumstances that I'd like to in an A-list book like this, the supporting cast really helped the story to communicate the city's regard for their protector--before, during, and after being imperiled--and helped to enmesh Superman in his new circumstances in Metropolis, as a Kryptonian alongside Supergirl, and as a Lois-less Clark Kent. The backup feature promises more post-colonial goodness to follow, and as with all of the other volumes 1 I have read, I look forward to the next story with Superman.
The story's chief concern is whether or not the city of Metropolis can trust Superman to be a benevolent protector, or if his presence makes more trouble than it's worth. The three-in-one villain gets parsed out evenly through the first three parts of the arc, and while I do enjoy the freak-of-the-week approach to comic storytelling, these freaks have no pretext outside the "call of the wild" issued from the Himalayas in the volume's opening pages. I understood that the city was in peril, and that Superman's objective was to save the city from that threat, but Perez's handling of the story did little to go beyond that. Most of the weight of the story's focus came from supporting cast members, especially Lois Lane and the smarmy Billy McCoy. Their sort of overwatch of Superman's doings really held the disconnectedness of the storytelling together and effected the story's main communication about heroism, ethics, and intentions. Other notable aspects include: the non-love story between Clark and Heather, which received no introduction, and a wildly dismissive conclusion; the cliffhanger with Superman dropping Billy McCoy from the Daily Planet building, which would have been really painful to have to wait a month to follow up on; the arrival of Supergirl and the nicely handled tie-in with Kara's throwdown in New York City (my favorite moment of the volume).
The artwork was terrific, with the new Super-suit and its blue-with-red-accents really being a nice move for the character model. The close ups were really expressive, especially at the story's most intense moments, and while Superman's fights and their scale can get a little hard to follow due to their scopes, at no point did I fall out of touch with the action, especially during the flight sequences in and out of space. All in all, while the storytelling lurched a bit and I really didn't get the sense of Superman's urgency or circumstances that I'd like to in an A-list book like this, the supporting cast really helped the story to communicate the city's regard for their protector--before, during, and after being imperiled--and helped to enmesh Superman in his new circumstances in Metropolis, as a Kryptonian alongside Supergirl, and as a Lois-less Clark Kent. The backup feature promises more post-colonial goodness to follow, and as with all of the other volumes 1 I have read, I look forward to the next story with Superman.
arrik's review
3.0
Well Superman is my favorite and I used to collect his comics, so with the New 52 I wanted to try again. I picked up both Action comics and Superman titles. I get this is roughly five years after Action Comics. We are thrust into an established hero. That's fine. Things are definitely different in metropolis. The overall story of the big villain was just okay. I was with it until the little bugs somehow replicated Superman with no explanation as to how or that they were even capable of doing that, after manifesting as fire, invisible, and ice creatures. I like the struggle Superman has, though, with just recently gaining acceptance and then these series of events.calls into question how beneficial it is to have him around.
However, what i didn't like the most about this book is the exposition by the characters. There was so much of it, it was almost intolerable. I don't need Superman to verbalize everything he is doing as he's doing it. It's as bad as having him say to the bad guy "and now my heat vision will burn you" as he blasts him, and "this burst of super breath will surely blow you away from harming the people around me, giving me an opportunity to get them to safety". It really is that bad at times. And when it is not Superman himself verbalizing those things, it is the reporter for Lois' news station telling the reader. Too much! Sometimes the art needs and can speak for itself
Il Ike this title, though, a bit better than Action comics, whose writing and style is so jumbled I can hardly follow it. At least we had a complete story here. Though Clark acts a little too whiny over the situation going on with Lois and the Daily planet than I'd like! all the dynamics in his secret identity are interesting. If I had to pick a Superman title to keep, I'd pick this over Action Comics.
However, what i didn't like the most about this book is the exposition by the characters. There was so much of it, it was almost intolerable. I don't need Superman to verbalize everything he is doing as he's doing it. It's as bad as having him say to the bad guy "and now my heat vision will burn you" as he blasts him, and "this burst of super breath will surely blow you away from harming the people around me, giving me an opportunity to get them to safety". It really is that bad at times. And when it is not Superman himself verbalizing those things, it is the reporter for Lois' news station telling the reader. Too much! Sometimes the art needs and can speak for itself
Il Ike this title, though, a bit better than Action comics, whose writing and style is so jumbled I can hardly follow it. At least we had a complete story here. Though Clark acts a little too whiny over the situation going on with Lois and the Daily planet than I'd like! all the dynamics in his secret identity are interesting. If I had to pick a Superman title to keep, I'd pick this over Action Comics.
jammasterjamie's review
3.0
I'll admit a bias because I'm an old George Perez fan, but I really enjoyed this story a lot - Just some good old Superman style fun. The new take on Clark's relationships with his friends and co-workers is interesting enough to keep me wanting more, and the action sequences were impeccably drawn. Fun read. My wife is looking to get into Superman, though, and I would not start her with this book, nor with that hack Morrison's Action Comics. I was thinking maybe starting her fresh with Superman: Earth One - She won't know the differences anyhow, and it was a more engaging story with exceptional art.
calistareads's review
3.0
This starts Superman's story over, but not from the beginning. Here Lois and Clark are not even really close at all. I'm like why? Why do that? We know they are together, so just start with them together. I didn't like that.
I didn't really like this nano villain thing. It was something, but... I don't really feel this has captured the best spirit of Superman. It's better than Zac Snyder's movie which should have been called something since it wasn't Superman. So, it's better than that. I don't really feel strongly for this or against it. It was a quick read with good art.
I didn't really like this nano villain thing. It was something, but... I don't really feel this has captured the best spirit of Superman. It's better than Zac Snyder's movie which should have been called something since it wasn't Superman. So, it's better than that. I don't really feel strongly for this or against it. It was a quick read with good art.
coltonh's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rhganci's review
3.0
(3.5 STARS) There has to be a certain magnitude to Superman's villains, as he is the most magnanimous of the DC superheroes. In this first Superman story of the New 52, Superman deals with other survivors of destroyed civilizations, confronts Metropolis' public opinion towards him and his powers, and tries to remember where he's been over the span of a few weeks. In the end, the story communicates well Superman as an adherent to a warrior-servant's code, but falters in delivering a coherent narrative with a few too many explanations in the final 10 pages.
The story's chief concern is whether or not the city of Metropolis can trust Superman to be a benevolent protector, or if his presence makes more trouble than it's worth. The three-in-one villain gets parsed out evenly through the first three parts of the arc, and while I do enjoy the freak-of-the-week approach to comic storytelling, these freaks have no pretext outside the "call of the wild" issued from the Himalayas in the volume's opening pages. I understood that the city was in peril, and that Superman's objective was to save the city from that threat, but Perez's handling of the story did little to go beyond that. Most of the weight of the story's focus came from supporting cast members, especially Lois Lane and the smarmy Billy McCoy. Their sort of overwatch of Superman's doings really held the disconnectedness of the storytelling together and effected the story's main communication about heroism, ethics, and intentions. Other notable aspects include: the non-love story between Clark and Heather, which received no introduction, and a wildly dismissive conclusion; the cliffhanger with Superman dropping Billy McCoy from the Daily Planet building, which would have been really painful to have to wait a month to follow up on; the arrival of Supergirl and the nicely handled tie-in with Kara's throwdown in New York City (my favorite moment of the volume).
The artwork was terrific, with the new Super-suit and its blue-with-red-accents really being a nice move for the character model. The close ups were really expressive, especially at the story's most intense moments, and while Superman's fights and their scale can get a little hard to follow due to their scopes, at no point did I fall out of touch with the action, especially during the flight sequences in and out of space. All in all, while the storytelling lurched a bit and I really didn't get the sense of Superman's urgency or circumstances that I'd like to in an A-list book like this, the supporting cast really helped the story to communicate the city's regard for their protector--before, during, and after being imperiled--and helped to enmesh Superman in his new circumstances in Metropolis, as a Kryptonian alongside Supergirl, and as a Lois-less Clark Kent. The backup feature promises more post-colonial goodness to follow, and as with all of the other volumes 1 I have read, I look forward to the next story with Superman.
The story's chief concern is whether or not the city of Metropolis can trust Superman to be a benevolent protector, or if his presence makes more trouble than it's worth. The three-in-one villain gets parsed out evenly through the first three parts of the arc, and while I do enjoy the freak-of-the-week approach to comic storytelling, these freaks have no pretext outside the "call of the wild" issued from the Himalayas in the volume's opening pages. I understood that the city was in peril, and that Superman's objective was to save the city from that threat, but Perez's handling of the story did little to go beyond that. Most of the weight of the story's focus came from supporting cast members, especially Lois Lane and the smarmy Billy McCoy. Their sort of overwatch of Superman's doings really held the disconnectedness of the storytelling together and effected the story's main communication about heroism, ethics, and intentions. Other notable aspects include: the non-love story between Clark and Heather, which received no introduction, and a wildly dismissive conclusion; the cliffhanger with Superman dropping Billy McCoy from the Daily Planet building, which would have been really painful to have to wait a month to follow up on; the arrival of Supergirl and the nicely handled tie-in with Kara's throwdown in New York City (my favorite moment of the volume).
The artwork was terrific, with the new Super-suit and its blue-with-red-accents really being a nice move for the character model. The close ups were really expressive, especially at the story's most intense moments, and while Superman's fights and their scale can get a little hard to follow due to their scopes, at no point did I fall out of touch with the action, especially during the flight sequences in and out of space. All in all, while the storytelling lurched a bit and I really didn't get the sense of Superman's urgency or circumstances that I'd like to in an A-list book like this, the supporting cast really helped the story to communicate the city's regard for their protector--before, during, and after being imperiled--and helped to enmesh Superman in his new circumstances in Metropolis, as a Kryptonian alongside Supergirl, and as a Lois-less Clark Kent. The backup feature promises more post-colonial goodness to follow, and as with all of the other volumes 1 I have read, I look forward to the next story with Superman.
cdinkel91's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not really knowledgable about Superman but I liked this volume. It was a nice complete story but suuuuuper dense at times. Some pages the word balloons outnumbered panels.
shannonleighd's review against another edition
1.0
Superman is so boring. And WHINY.
Oh my god, boohoo your job is moving buildings. And you're an all-powerful alien but you don't fit in and can't go home because your home planet was destroyed. Oh, and Lois is boinking some other dude and thinks you're a weird loner nerd.
Why don't you build a bridge and get over it.
Update - I finally got around to finishing this. I liked rogue murderous Superman so much more, so it figures
Boooo.
Oh my god, boohoo your job is moving buildings. And you're an all-powerful alien but you don't fit in and can't go home because your home planet was destroyed. Oh, and Lois is boinking some other dude and thinks you're a weird loner nerd.
Why don't you build a bridge and get over it.
Update - I finally got around to finishing this. I liked rogue murderous Superman so much more, so it figures
Spoiler
that he's an impostor.Boooo.