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4.55 AVERAGE
4.55 AVERAGE
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Stunning. I don't even like superhero stories, much less Superman (everyone thinks he's boring, and I'm usually inclined to agree with that), but this book, in the hands of Yang and Gurihiru, is so much more than that. It's Superman, yes, but it builds his story in a way I hadn't really thought about--that is, Clark fighting what it means to be an alien, to not fit in, and his fears about that, and how that parallels with the Chinese American family--especially Roberta--trying to fit in to their new life and the perceptions that come with it.
The book doesn't shy away from some absolutely brutal, heartbreaking considerations. Mr Lee is absolutely furiously upset when his African American neighbors stop to help him put out the burning cross on his lawn, a dark thing to contemplate. Or, smaller things, like how misunderstandings can blossom if left unchecked into something that seems so irrecoverable.
The artwork is Absolutely Jaw Dropping Stunning. Characters are remarkably drawn, with crisp clean lines and effortless poses. Smiles in particular are delightful to look at, and the way they stand so comfortably in each scene. The colors are bright and poppy, the way a comic book should be. Superman in particular has gorgeous baby blue eyes and his little forelock curl is maddeningly precious.
Pacing is a touch bizarre as characters are captured and rescued with the flip of a page, but that feels more like a comic book style reflection, kinda like the old Doctor Who serials. All in all, it's a minor quibble compared to the emotionally driven characters, thought-encouraging plot, and a beautifully written history explanation in the back of the book.
Highly, highly recommended for all its very relevant aspects.
It almost makes me want to read more Superman stories.
...er, almost.
The book doesn't shy away from some absolutely brutal, heartbreaking considerations. Mr Lee is absolutely furiously upset when his African American neighbors stop to help him put out the burning cross on his lawn, a dark thing to contemplate. Or, smaller things, like how misunderstandings can blossom if left unchecked into something that seems so irrecoverable.
The artwork is Absolutely Jaw Dropping Stunning. Characters are remarkably drawn, with crisp clean lines and effortless poses. Smiles in particular are delightful to look at, and the way they stand so comfortably in each scene. The colors are bright and poppy, the way a comic book should be. Superman in particular has gorgeous baby blue eyes and his little forelock curl is maddeningly precious.
Pacing is a touch bizarre as characters are captured and rescued with the flip of a page, but that feels more like a comic book style reflection, kinda like the old Doctor Who serials. All in all, it's a minor quibble compared to the emotionally driven characters, thought-encouraging plot, and a beautifully written history explanation in the back of the book.
Highly, highly recommended for all its very relevant aspects.
It almost makes me want to read more Superman stories.
...er, almost.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was good and I liked it, but I didn't expect it to be so young-skewing. It's definitely a middle grade book. Older teenagers and adults can read and enjoy it, but it's not really an all-ages read. Aside from that, it was really well done.
I went into this with no background, and it was a fun read that way, but I wish I would have read the historical context/afterword from Yang at the back of the book first. Better yet, I wish they would have included that up front as a foreword instead. I was expecting a Superman comic here, with Superman and Lois as the focus, but the main characters are actually Roberta and Tommy Lee, whose family is moving to central Metropolis after living in Chinatown for years when their father gets a job with the health department. It takes place in 1946, just after the war. It's also essentially a comics retelling of a sixteen episode radio broadcast that aired in 1946, and which had an actual demonstrable negative effect on the membership of the Klan. Sometimes there is such a thing as bad publicity. You can listen to all sixteen episodes of "Clan of the Fiery Cross" on YouTube.
My favorite part about this comic is that it does well what all great Superman comics do well, which is use his alien nature in an interesting way. Superman is the ultimate immigrant, and Yang plays it smart by having him go on a bit of an emotional journey throughout the comic. At the start, he doesn't yet have all his full Superman powers, and hasn't accepted his identity as someone from another planet. He's haunted by visions of his dead Kryptonian parents until he accepts his identity. It juuust borders on the edge of obvious, which is why I say this is a kid's book more than anything, but it still works well because the emotions feel earned and personal to Superman/Clark.
Worth noting, I loved the art by Gurihiru. He also did Yang's Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, and his aesthetic as an artist worked really well for Superman.
[3.5 stars]
I went into this with no background, and it was a fun read that way, but I wish I would have read the historical context/afterword from Yang at the back of the book first. Better yet, I wish they would have included that up front as a foreword instead. I was expecting a Superman comic here, with Superman and Lois as the focus, but the main characters are actually Roberta and Tommy Lee, whose family is moving to central Metropolis after living in Chinatown for years when their father gets a job with the health department. It takes place in 1946, just after the war. It's also essentially a comics retelling of a sixteen episode radio broadcast that aired in 1946, and which had an actual demonstrable negative effect on the membership of the Klan. Sometimes there is such a thing as bad publicity. You can listen to all sixteen episodes of "Clan of the Fiery Cross" on YouTube.
My favorite part about this comic is that it does well what all great Superman comics do well, which is use his alien nature in an interesting way. Superman is the ultimate immigrant, and Yang plays it smart by having him go on a bit of an emotional journey throughout the comic. At the start, he doesn't yet have all his full Superman powers, and hasn't accepted his identity as someone from another planet. He's haunted by visions of his dead Kryptonian parents until he accepts his identity. It juuust borders on the edge of obvious, which is why I say this is a kid's book more than anything, but it still works well because the emotions feel earned and personal to Superman/Clark.
Worth noting, I loved the art by Gurihiru. He also did Yang's Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, and his aesthetic as an artist worked really well for Superman.
[3.5 stars]
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Does what it says in the title.
Solid Superman story and when the Boy Scout wasn't on page it read like a YA coming of age period piece (complimentary).
Solid Superman story and when the Boy Scout wasn't on page it read like a YA coming of age period piece (complimentary).