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tmwebb3's review
4.0
Looked amazing, especially the prequel parts by Dustin Nguyen. Wraith/General Lane werw weak, and Superman was just ordinary. But all the side characters were great, especially Lois. All the variant covers were outstanding in the back.
isabellarobinson7's review
3.0
Rating: 3 stars
I went in expecting anatomy defying muscles and abs, and that's what I got. My brother told me this was his favourite Superman comic so I decided to give it a go, and while I never got used to the excessive info dumping right in the middle of a fight, it was pretty good otherwise.
I went in expecting anatomy defying muscles and abs, and that's what I got. My brother told me this was his favourite Superman comic so I decided to give it a go, and while I never got used to the excessive info dumping right in the middle of a fight, it was pretty good otherwise.
craicerjack's review
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
2.0
davybaby's review
3.0
Snyder is possibly my favorite comic writer, and unlike some of the other greats, it feels like his best work is still ahead of him. His quality is consistent enough that I can trust that I'll enjoy whatever I read, whether his stellar work on Batman, Swamp Thing, or American Vampire. His plotting is elegant, and he's a master of the symbolic anecdote-- a flashback or observation from a character that cuts to the heart of what makes these characters iconic.
Like any great storyteller, Snyder paints a faithful picture of our myths, but presents a new perspective to keep them fresh.
Jim Lee is the main artist in this collection, and his work is as dynamic and striking as ever. While Lee can't make a bad book good (as we learned in the Image uprising of the early 90s), his art is always great in that physics-defying superhero way. And unlike some of Lee's work with other writers, there are relatively few embarrassing pin-up shots of the female characters.
Most of the story focuses on Superman's confrontation with Wraith, a sort of dark alternate version of the man of steel. Also an alien, Wraith landed decades ago and became a tool of the US military. Wraith's nationalist dedication and willingness to follow orders become the main reason for the characters' clash.
As with all of Snyder's writing, an interesting exploration hides within the surface story: Wraith is the American hero that Siegel and Schuster originally dreamed up. He's dedicated to the Greatness of America, but not the whitewashed version of the 30s-50s. He follows orders and uses his nearly boundless power to fight for American supremacy, rather than the nebulous idea of the American Way. He represents the exact reason that Superman can't be an American property: to be truly moral, and therefore an actual superhero, a character must hold morality above any nation's political goals.
There's a lot more to the story, but the Wraith plot line is the big one. And as with most comic storylines, it is significantly weakened by needing to return to an Everything-is-the-Same equilibrium at the end of the run.
Superman Unchained is not my favorite of Snyder's work, but I'm not a big Superman fan, so that's to be expected. But it was still a fun ride, and if you're at all interested in Superman, I'd definitely give it a read.
Like any great storyteller, Snyder paints a faithful picture of our myths, but presents a new perspective to keep them fresh.
Jim Lee is the main artist in this collection, and his work is as dynamic and striking as ever. While Lee can't make a bad book good (as we learned in the Image uprising of the early 90s), his art is always great in that physics-defying superhero way. And unlike some of Lee's work with other writers, there are relatively few embarrassing pin-up shots of the female characters.
Most of the story focuses on Superman's confrontation with Wraith, a sort of dark alternate version of the man of steel. Also an alien, Wraith landed decades ago and became a tool of the US military. Wraith's nationalist dedication and willingness to follow orders become the main reason for the characters' clash.
As with all of Snyder's writing, an interesting exploration hides within the surface story: Wraith is the American hero that Siegel and Schuster originally dreamed up. He's dedicated to the Greatness of America, but not the whitewashed version of the 30s-50s. He follows orders and uses his nearly boundless power to fight for American supremacy, rather than the nebulous idea of the American Way. He represents the exact reason that Superman can't be an American property: to be truly moral, and therefore an actual superhero, a character must hold morality above any nation's political goals.
There's a lot more to the story, but the Wraith plot line is the big one. And as with most comic storylines, it is significantly weakened by needing to return to an Everything-is-the-Same equilibrium at the end of the run.
Superman Unchained is not my favorite of Snyder's work, but I'm not a big Superman fan, so that's to be expected. But it was still a fun ride, and if you're at all interested in Superman, I'd definitely give it a read.
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