Scan barcode
tmwebb3's review
5.0
Definitive Superman origin. Liked how it looked, old fashioned but with better panels. Loved the story and how it connected to a post 9/11 world.
clarks_dad's review
4.0
A good story that resonates with the Superman Returns film. All of the adventure and fun of a superman story are present, but I just didn't like the characterization very much. Clark seems a little cocky and arrogant. Confident in his powers and his ability to just change the world. To me, Superman is by nature a brooding and solitary figure who is struggling just to fit in. I didn't like all the side-panel smirks he was giving people who said ironic things about his identity every four or five pages.
Other than that, there are some real genius innovations in this retelling of the origin of the Man of Steel, including showing Clark's formative years as an investigative reporter prior to working at the Planet. Commentary on Clark's university years, and early run-ins with Lex Luthor.
This retelling makes a lot of sense and it updates the Man of Steel for the 21st century, but he deals with no large scale personal problems. Everything seems external and epic, which is the story's [b:saving grace|130916|The Saving Graces A Novel|Patricia Gaffney|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171995451s/130916.jpg|126092]. Luthor's research into Kryptonian technology is well told and his intellectual stature is appealing. He is portrayed as the smartest man on earth, certainly a more worthy adversary for Superman than a bumbling old man whose only power seems his ability to spend ungodly amounts of money on anti-Superman research which always seems to fail.
Other than that, there are some real genius innovations in this retelling of the origin of the Man of Steel, including showing Clark's formative years as an investigative reporter prior to working at the Planet. Commentary on Clark's university years, and early run-ins with Lex Luthor.
This retelling makes a lot of sense and it updates the Man of Steel for the 21st century, but he deals with no large scale personal problems. Everything seems external and epic, which is the story's [b:saving grace|130916|The Saving Graces A Novel|Patricia Gaffney|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171995451s/130916.jpg|126092]. Luthor's research into Kryptonian technology is well told and his intellectual stature is appealing. He is portrayed as the smartest man on earth, certainly a more worthy adversary for Superman than a bumbling old man whose only power seems his ability to spend ungodly amounts of money on anti-Superman research which always seems to fail.
rainsyreads's review
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? No
4.0
montresaur's review
4.0
The second-best Superman comic, after Grant Morrison's All-Star version, and in many respects a better choice for readers disinterested in the Superman perceived as old-fashioned and associated with decades of impenetrable (& frequently nonsensical) continuity. Birthright is a sleek, smart update, paying due respect to the important tropes without being strangled by them.
Waid's writing deftly handles the cast, with standouts being his sympathetic depiction of Lex Luthor and his "special-needs parents by-way-of the X-Files" version of the Kents. His version of Clark is also impressive, noble and decent without hokeyness, and appropriately downtrodden while disguised in Metropolis without being the clown of the Donner/Singer movies. Yu provides impressive, believable art that grounds the story in realism, but gets a fun chance to breathe with the outlandish designs of Kryptonians sporadically appearing through the story.
Birthright isn't quite as charming as All-Star Superman, but it finishes a strong second because of its accessibility and timeliness, thereby providing a perfect counterpoint to All-Star's timeless celebratory version of the mythos.
Waid's writing deftly handles the cast, with standouts being his sympathetic depiction of Lex Luthor and his "special-needs parents by-way-of the X-Files" version of the Kents. His version of Clark is also impressive, noble and decent without hokeyness, and appropriately downtrodden while disguised in Metropolis without being the clown of the Donner/Singer movies. Yu provides impressive, believable art that grounds the story in realism, but gets a fun chance to breathe with the outlandish designs of Kryptonians sporadically appearing through the story.
Birthright isn't quite as charming as All-Star Superman, but it finishes a strong second because of its accessibility and timeliness, thereby providing a perfect counterpoint to All-Star's timeless celebratory version of the mythos.
karliclover's review
5.0
This was a really good book. There are basically two parts: The beginnings of Clark moving to Metropolis and becoming Superman, and how Lex Luthor became the man he is today.
I liked the experiments Clark had to conduct with being a superhero. And there's one scene where he's in Africa and he's wrestling with a lion. I don't know, I like little things like that.
At first, I was confused as to why Mark Waid put that thing with the African tribes in here at all, bt now I see that it has to do with introducing the reader to who Clark Kent is as a person.
I felt bad for Lex in the flashbacks. He was a kid who grew up in a city that wasn't ready for any kind of genius.
And the ending was very sweet and very touching.
I liked the experiments Clark had to conduct with being a superhero. And there's one scene where he's in Africa and he's wrestling with a lion. I don't know, I like little things like that.
At first, I was confused as to why Mark Waid put that thing with the African tribes in here at all, bt now I see that it has to do with introducing the reader to who Clark Kent is as a person.
I felt bad for Lex in the flashbacks. He was a kid who grew up in a city that wasn't ready for any kind of genius.
And the ending was very sweet and very touching.
cassie_grace's review
3.0
It’s a Superman origin story, as if we don’t have enough of those. It’s fine for what it is.
ark07's review
5.0
Me ha gustado muchísimo, simple, cuadra con todo lo que se del refilón de Superman y lo deja todo muy claro, incluyendo toda la personalidad de Clark. Además he leído ya algunos comics dibujados con Leinil Yu y es que no hay color, aquí está increíble comparado con otros más actuales, no se si es un cambio de estilo o cosa del colorista pero menuda diferencia
fisk42's review
4.0
Couldn't stand All-Star Superman, and so after reading that I was thinking Superman might not be for me. Waid showed me the error of my ways. This was a very enjoyable Superman.
midnighterbae's review
5.0
Definitive origin story for Superman. Mark Waid really shows what makes Clark Kent/Superman tick. Leinil Yu handles both the action and character moments with great aplomb. For a new comics/Superman fan, I'd recommend this over All Star Superman. It's much more accessible.