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maukingbird's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A really fascinating and engaging superhero epic that should be considered a lot more groundbreaking than it is. It tackles mature themes, deep moral quandaries, and realistic effects of super powered beings imposing their will on the world with all their good intentions and lack of foresight. The kind of stuff that's been done to death by now in comics, television, and film, but... Squadron Supreme kind of got there first? But a year or so later a little book called Watchmen came out and took it to deeper, darker extremes.
Ironic, then, that a DC book would ellipse a Marvel book paving very similar ground, considering the Marvel book in question is made up of analogues of DC's Justice League heroes and villains.
When I'm not distracting myself trying to figure out who is an analogue of who, the story itself does a great job of making me care about these characters on their own without my having to mentally graft their DC faces and personalities onto them. They're not just empty cyphers doing DC cosplay. They have their own history and even deeper ties to the Marvel Universe at whole. The book does a good job of standing on its own without requiring "homework" to be read. (not that that stopped me from reading as much of their prior appearances as I could before diving in, but that's just how my brain wants to work)
It's a good PG-13 antidote to the (sometimes difficult to digest) R-rated content of Watchmen. They're not the same but I think they deserve to be talked about in the same breath more often. They both take comic book tropes down dark and thought provoking alleyways. Squadron Supreme just does it without all the nihilism.
Ironic, then, that a DC book would ellipse a Marvel book paving very similar ground, considering the Marvel book in question is made up of analogues of DC's Justice League heroes and villains.
When I'm not distracting myself trying to figure out who is an analogue of who, the story itself does a great job of making me care about these characters on their own without my having to mentally graft their DC faces and personalities onto them. They're not just empty cyphers doing DC cosplay. They have their own history and even deeper ties to the Marvel Universe at whole. The book does a good job of standing on its own without requiring "homework" to be read. (not that that stopped me from reading as much of their prior appearances as I could before diving in, but that's just how my brain wants to work)
It's a good PG-13 antidote to the (sometimes difficult to digest) R-rated content of Watchmen. They're not the same but I think they deserve to be talked about in the same breath more often. They both take comic book tropes down dark and thought provoking alleyways. Squadron Supreme just does it without all the nihilism.
dollcoven's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
When America is at the brink of collapse, a group of superheroes - the Squadron Supreme - take it upon themselves to create a utopia within a year.
I feel like this book can be summed up with this clip from the cartoon Chowder: https://youtu.be/TIZneWRGxZ8?si=sv9rIgW6ADQQTcDi
This book's themes predate a few other comics which ended up being more famous (Marvels, Kingdom Come, Watchmen). I've only read Watchmen but I can definitely see how Squadron Supreme walked so Watchmen could run.
This book is a powerful modern fable about how imperfect we all are, superpowers or no, and that the best intentions can't prevent a person from making terrible decisions.
The only possible downside to this book that I think might keeping its accessibility to readers at large is that it's written in the old school comic book style; that is, lots of thought bubbles and lots of overexplaining of action that we can see is drawn on the page. But is it truly a downside when that's also part of it's charm, a bit? I myself am not a huge fan of that writing style but I couldn't help but be hooked.
I feel like this book can be summed up with this clip from the cartoon Chowder: https://youtu.be/TIZneWRGxZ8?si=sv9rIgW6ADQQTcDi
This book's themes predate a few other comics which ended up being more famous (Marvels, Kingdom Come, Watchmen). I've only read Watchmen but I can definitely see how Squadron Supreme walked so Watchmen could run.
This book is a powerful modern fable about how imperfect we all are, superpowers or no, and that the best intentions can't prevent a person from making terrible decisions.
The only possible downside to this book that I think might keeping its accessibility to readers at large is that it's written in the old school comic book style; that is, lots of thought bubbles and lots of overexplaining of action that we can see is drawn on the page. But is it truly a downside when that's also part of it's charm, a bit? I myself am not a huge fan of that writing style but I couldn't help but be hooked.
heregrim's review
3.0
If Marvel wrote DC's Justice League is the basic premise of this comic and I liked the distopian feel of the comic. The story itself, although well written didn't keep me turning pages waiting to see what would happen, but the over all plot was well done.
scottpm's review
5.0
Written when graphic novels were novels with graphics Squadron Supreme reins supreme. This feels like Mark Greunwald's legacy work and the content still resonates today. Despite the 80's writing and story telling style this is still a must read for comic fans.
rayaan54's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
matt4hire's review
4.0
It's interesting to finally read what's considered the original "superheroes become totalitarians" story, along with Miracleman. While it's not awful, it's not great, either. The art's quite good in spots and the story's got some fun ideas, though the ending's fairly rushed.
andrewgraphics's review
2.0
Over written, over wrought, over long; woodenly illustrated...
Honestly not sure what all the fuss has been about. This came out the same year as Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, but even without those as comparisons this is a horrible attempt to show how bad good intentions might get.
Honestly not sure what all the fuss has been about. This came out the same year as Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, but even without those as comparisons this is a horrible attempt to show how bad good intentions might get.
pipelonco's review against another edition
4.5
tantas impresionantes ideas novedosas y que luego DC explotaria a futuro,mucha riqueza etica para discutir y debatir cuan amoral se vuelve un acto que deberia ser moralmente aprobado cuando juegas con las leyes como si no existiesen si solo quitara esos puntos que busca ser un comic convencional de la edad de plata como menciones a otros comics o un innecesario crossover pero si quitas eso mantiene de forma efectiva la narrativa de mundo ya existente y que seguira existiendo,nighthawk el mejor personaje
heregrim's review against another edition
3.0
If Marvel wrote DC's Justice League is the basic premise of this comic and I liked the distopian feel of the comic. The story itself, although well written didn't keep me turning pages waiting to see what would happen, but the over all plot was well done.
nearit's review against another edition
3.0
Gruenwald's commitment to real world power relation and unreal character dynamics is earnest and unwavering, and while this might mean that Squadron Supreme plods when you want it to soar, the seriousness of intent still raises the book above some of its lesser imitators, naming no names (Kingdom Come).
The gym-worthy heroes and imaginary technologies in this book are all put to work tackling some unresolved questions about power and liberty, and while fresh answers are in short supply you can't help but admire the energy of the effort.
Well, I couldn't any way. You're free to disagree for now - we'll fix that later.
The gym-worthy heroes and imaginary technologies in this book are all put to work tackling some unresolved questions about power and liberty, and while fresh answers are in short supply you can't help but admire the energy of the effort.
Well, I couldn't any way. You're free to disagree for now - we'll fix that later.