2011 Comic Book News Archives
June 30, 2011: Two New Men of Steel, But Only One's a Keeper
By Tom SpeelmanThe new Superman movie, "Man of Steel" is due out next year. As a reboot ala "Batman Begins," it aims to reinvigorate Superman, the world's first and foremost superhero.
I was a bit of a late Superman convert. I only saw the Christopher Reeve movies last year, but I still have fond memories of watching the '90s cartoon in reruns on Cartoon Network. I also read Geoff Johns' and Gary Frank's Superman: Brainiac storyline and enjoyed it very much.
So, armed with those memories, I sought out two books DC published that redefine Superman's origin. Granted, almost everyone in history knows the origin story. Grant Morrison managed to tell it in 8 words over 4 panels in All-Star Superman #1! Still, both of these are worth checking out, one more so than the other.
First up is "Superman: Earth One", a 136-page hardcover, original graphic novel. It's written by J. Michael Straczynski who wrote a highly enjoyable and nuanced 6-year run on "The Amazing Spider-Man". The "Earth One" part reflects how this is the start of DC's line of the same name, which they've touted the line as a chance to have fan-favorite creators (like Straczynski) tell stories about their iconic heroes without the baggage of their 75+ year history.
Straczynski, a lifelong fan, wrote on DC's blog, The Source, that "as a kid growing up on the mean streets of New Jersey, Superman was an icon for me" and how he always keeps the famous S logo somewhere on him. Clearly, he has a lot invested emotionally and spiritually in the character. Yet, despite that passion and a clear desire to make things new, "Earth One" somehow winds up a variation of what we already know.
Inspiration from Smallville and Superman Returns is evident, particularly in Shane Davis' artwork. His Clark is a mix of Tom Welling and Brandon Routh. That's not a bad thing; both Davis' artwork and Straczynski's script are very tight and streamlined. Clark doesn't even don the tights until halfway through the story, a move as unprecedented as it is original. And unlike Smallville, you can actually see Clark decked out in red and blue.
In fact, this Clark could almost be a stand-in for Hamlet: a boy on the verge of manhood, unsure of himself and how he fits in the world, and with no father (real or adopted; no Pa Kent here) for his guidance. Even when he dons his signature suit, tie, and dorky glasses, he still looks ill-fitted for the part, in a series of panels wonderfully drawn by Davis.
Another twist here is that Tyrell, the main villain, turns out to be responsible for Krypton's destruction. Besides his stupid name, he has a stupid appearance, looking like a member of KISS painted blue and white with mechanical wings. Despite that his motives, backstory, and dialogue are interesting and really click while being read.
The key phrase there is "while being read." Ultimately, Tyrell fails to make a lasting impression. The book explicitly states an outsider gave Tyrell's people the weapons to destroy Krypton, something that reinforces Tyrell's disposability and weakens his impact. It's also such obvious sequel setup that it's eye-rolling.
While Straczynski and Davis were busy carving out a new vision, another team worked hard to refurbish the one we already had. DC wunderkind Geoff Johns left a 28-issue run on Action Comics to do the 6-issue "Superman: Secret Origin" with frequent Action collaborators, penciller Gary Frank and inker Jon Sibal. This book is now in hardcover. This series is meant to update the origin after the events of Johns' Infinite Crisis miniseries. It's a simple job and this book does it really well.
Johns broke into comics after working as assistant to Richard Donner. He mixes the film series set into motion by his mentor with the various TV series and cartoons, even my beloved '90s version, as well as pre-Crisis aspects of the character. Donner, however, dominates: Frank's Superman, lithe and graceful as he is, looks like the late Christopher Reeve and Clark's dialogue reads like it's been lifted straight from his mouth.
But Johns, rather than paying tribute, fuses all the homaging with his own original ideas. Sgt. John Corben becomes the supervillain Metallo per orders of General Sam Lane. Rudy Jones, a.k.a. the Parasite, is a greedy Daily Planet janitor who is exposed to toxic waste derived from Kryptonite. Lionel Luthor is a raging drunk. Lex himself feels not just superior to everyone around him, but also embittered and spiteful. In chapter 2, when he and Clark are still in high school, he responds to Clark's invitation to hang with a snooty, arrogant "Why would we do that?" beautifully captured by Frank and letterer Steve Wands. This Lex is later established to hate not just Superman but anyone who isn't him or one of his worshippers. This provides a sharp contrast to the charitable persona that he presents, even picking one random citizen of Metropolis every day to change their life. Coincidentally, that's what makes him indirectly responsible for the creation of the Parasite. It's characterization like that, and not just providing an entry point for a bigger baddie, that make Lex a better character than Tyrell, and is ultimately what holds "Secret Origin" up. Every good hero needs a good villain. Tyrell isn't it.
To sum it up, despite great innovation and an obvious creative passion, "Earth One" suffers from a weak villain and a too-narrow scope. Both it and "Origin" have a clear goal, but "Origin" incorporates a large chunk of the familiar Superman characters and mythos to do so, something "Earth One" doesn't do in its quest to rewrite it all.
As comics readers know, Johns has a bit of a reputation for controversial story lines. Remember when Superboy-Prime punched a wall? But with "Secret Origin," he's made a tight, fast crowd-pleaser that everyone, hardcore fan or casual reader alike, can enjoy. Even with the brand new Superman due to roll out in September, this is still a great book. So check it out and go up, up, and away.
Tom Speelman
2011 Comic News
Listed below are all the Comic News items archived for 2011.- January 5, 2011: Fan Letters Return to DC Comic Books
- January 5, 2011: Details and Cover Image for Action Comics #900
- January 5, 2011: DC Comics Look at Superman in 2011
- January 6, 2011: Chris Roberson on Writing Superman
- January 7, 2011: Supergirl and Superboy vs Doomsday
- January 11, 2011: Eclipso Rises in Epic JLA Saga
- January 12, 2011: Superman in Des Moines, Iowa
- January 20, 2011: DC Comics Drops Comics Code Authority
- February 1, 2011: DC Joins Forces with Hero Initiative
- February 1, 2011: Reign of Doomsday
- February 2, 2011: Superman Variant Cover for DC Universe Online Legends #1
- February 2, 2011: Joe Shuster Award Nominees Announced for 2011
- February 10, 2011: Superman Skips Omaha in Grounded Comic Story
- February 11, 2011: A Call to Arms! - Dark Knight Over Metropolis
- February 21, 2011: DC Wins Big in 2010 Diamond Gem Awards
- February 24, 2011: Roberson Talks About Grounded Superman Comics
- March 1, 2011: Eddie Berganza Talks Reign of Doomsday
- March 7, 2011: Meet New Action Comics Artist Kenneth Rocafort
- March 10, 2011: Jeff Lemire Talks Superboy vs. Doomsday
- March 11, 2011: Cullen Bunn Talks Superman/Batman
- March 23, 2011: Paul Cornell Talks Action Comics #900
- March 23, 2011: James Robinson Talks Doomsday vs. JLA
- March 24, 2011: No Love for Lois Lane: Girl Reporter
- March 27, 2011: MegaCon Panel - A Spotlight on DC Comics
- March 28, 2011: A Look at Action Comics #900 and Superman After Grounded
- March 30, 2011: Paul Cornell Talks Action Comics
- March 31, 2011: Details on Action Comics #900 Short Stories
- March 31, 2011: Panini Comics Presents Special Superman Comic in Brazil
- April 4, 2011: Retro-Active Superman Comics
- April 7, 2011: Paul Cornell Talks Action Comics
- April 7, 2011: Kelly Sue DeConnick on Writing Supergirl
- April 8, 2011: Utah Comic Stores Prepare for Superman
- April 14, 2011: Tiny Titans Turns the DC Universe Pink
- April 26, 2011: Lost Mastermind Takes on Superman in Action Comics #900
- April 26, 2011: Pete Woods Talks Action Comics #900
- April 28, 2011: Superman Renounces U.S. Citizenship
- May 3, 2011: Happy 73rd Birthday Superman!
- May 4, 2011: Jeff Lemire's Superboy Nominated for Eisner Award
- May 5, 2011: Young Justice Part of Free Comic Book Day Sampler
- May 8, 2011: Superman Rated No. 1 Comic Book Superhero
- May 9, 2011: Paul Cornell Talk About Reign of Doomsdays
- May 12, 2011: DC Announces Superman Beyond One-Shot
- May 12, 2011: Marty Pasko Talks Retro-Active Superman
- May 23, 2011: Bombshell Superman Announcement Coming From DC
- May 25, 2011: Joshua Hale Fialkov Puts the Crime in Superman/Batman
- May 31, 2011: DC Comics to Relaunch DC Universe
- June 2, 2011: DC Comics Announces Printed/Digital Combo Packs
- June 2, 2011: Dan DiDio's Open Letter to Comic Book Fans
- June 6, 2011: George Perez to Write Superman #1?
- June 8, 2011: New-Look Superboy and Teen Titans
- June 9, 2011: New-Look Superman, Supergirl and Superboy
- June 10, 2011: DC Comics Announces Relaunch of Superman Titles
- June 10, 2011: Brett Booth Talks Relaunch of Teen Titans
- June 13, 2011: Grant Morrison Talks Action Comics Relaunch
- June 16, 2011: Missed Opportunity - Supergirl in the 9th Grade
- June 16, 2011: Berganza and Harras Talk New DCU
- June 17, 2011: The Marriage of Lois & Clark - Is it Over?
- June 20, 2011: Kelly Sue DeConnick Talks Supergirl
- June 21, 2011: Christopher Jones Talks Young Justice Comic
- June 22, 2011: New Contents Announced for Superman #712
- June 24, 2011: Can DC Comics Relaunch On Schedule This September?
- June 30, 2011: DC Comics - The New 52 Presentation
- June 30, 2011: Two New Men of Steel, But Only One's a Keeper
- July 1, 2011: DC's FAQ For The New 52
- July 6, 2011: Tom DeFalco Talks Superman Beyond
- July 7, 2011: DC Comics Announces SDCC Schedule
- July 7, 2011: Lobdell and Booth Talk Relaunching Teen Titans
- July 7, 2011: Comic Books - Digital vs Print
- July 11, 2011: Join the Justice League at Comic Con
- July 11, 2011: Brandon T. Snider Talks DC Comics: The Ultimate Character Guide
- July 13, 2011: Grant Morrison's Bruce Springsteen Superman
- July 13, 2011: DC's The New 52 Free Sampler Comic
- July 13, 2011: New Justice League Artwork on SDCC Souvenir Book
- July 14, 2011: Justice League and Teen Titans Comics for October
- July 15, 2011: Exclusive Interview with Joshua Hale Fialkov
- July 18, 2011: DC Comics Introduces the New Superman
- July 18, 2011: Dan DiDio on Making Superman More Accessible
- July 18, 2011: Green & Johnson Talk Supergirl
- July 18, 2011: Hardcover Publication of DC: The New 52
- July 18, 2011: Another Look at New Action Comics #1
- July 19, 2011: DiDio and Lee Discuss Superman, Marriage, Death and More
- July 19, 2011: David Goyer Talks Superman and "Action Comics #900"
- July 19, 2011: Grant Morrison Talks "Action Comics"
- July 21, 2011: SDCC - Grant Morrison Panel
- July 21, 2011: Lois Lane's New Boyfriend Revealed
- July 22, 2011: SDCC - Superman Panel Report
- July 24, 2011: Superman Family Preview Art from Comic Con
- July 25, 2011: Lobdell Talks "Superboy" and "Teen Titans"
- July 25, 2011: Mahmud Asrar on Supergirl's New Costume
- July 28, 2011: Grant Morrison Says We Should Emulate Superman
- July 30, 2011: Superman 101 Digital Comics Sale
- July 30, 2011: New DC Comics House Ads and Preview Art
- August 1, 2011: Jim Lee Talks "Justice League #1"
- August 2, 2011: "Justice League #1" Variant Covers
- August 3, 2011: Grant Morrison Talks Superman and "Action Comics #1"
- August 5, 2011: JMS Talks "Superman: Earth One" and Sequel
- August 9, 2011: "Action Comics #10" Sells for Record Price
- August 11, 2011: Three Comic Book Covers for November Releases
- August 14, 2011: Jim Lee's Rejected "Action Comics #1" Covers
- August 17, 2011: DC Comics The New 52 TV Commercial
- August 23, 2011: DC Pre-Order Sales Rise as Comic Stores Die
- August 23, 2011: Rags Morales Talks Action Comics
- August 23, 2011: Chris Roberson Talks Superman, Sharif, Grounded and More
- August 25, 2011: Interior Artwork from Superboy #2
- August 27, 2011: Don't Be Afraid of the Relaunch
- August 29, 2011: Grant Morrison on Reinventing Superman
- August 31, 2011: Geoff Johns and Jim Lee on ABC News
- August 31, 2011: It's Here! DC Comics - The New 52
- September 3, 2011: Super Sneak Peek Action Comics #1
- September 7, 2011: DC Reveals Variant Cover for Action Comics #2
- September 12, 2011: Justice League #1 is Top-Selling Comic Book of 2011
- September 13, 2011: Chris Conroy Talks Superboy and Teen Titans
- September 19, 2011: Johnson and Green Talk Supergirl #1
- September 20, 2011: DC Comics Panels at New York Comic Con
- September 27, 2011: All 52 First Issues of DC's New Comics Sell Out
- September 29, 2011: Grant Morrison Talks Action Comics
- September 29, 2011: DC Brings Graphic Novels to New Kindle Fire
- September 29, 2011: The Changing Face of Clark Kent in Superman #1
- September 30, 2011: Giffen & Jurgens to Replace George Perez on Superman
- October 3, 2011: Grant Morrison Looks at Action Comics #2
- October 9, 2011: Andy Kubert on Action Comics
- October 11, 2011: Green and Johnson Talk Supergirl
- October 11, 2011: Nicolas Cage Copy of Action Comics #1 at Auction
- October 13, 2011: DC Sells Over 5 Million Comics in 6 Weeks
- October 16, 2011: Superman Panel at New York Comic Con
- October 17, 2011: Dan Jurgens Explains New Superman Direction
- October 26, 2011: The Superman Comic Marvel Wanted to Publish
- October 26, 2011: Jim Lee on Why You Should Read Comic Books
- November 1, 2011: If you're not a comic book reader, why not?
- November 2, 2011: Nicola Scott Provides Art for Superman Comics
- November 2, 2011: Superman Plays Christmas Spirit in Batman: Noel
- November 4, 2011: DC Comics Overtakes Marvel For Top Sales
- November 8, 2011: Steel Debuts in Action Comics #4
- November 11, 2011: Lost & Found Action Comics #1 For Sale
- November 15, 2011: Supergirl is Still Relatable Say Writers
- November 22, 2011: DC Announces Launch of Amazon Storefront
- November 22, 2011: Dan Fraga Unveils Unpublished Superman Story
- November 22, 2011: Alvin Schwartz Dies Aged 95
- November 22, 2011: Best New Costume Design - Poll Position
- November 29, 2011: Superman Comic Set to Smash Expensive Record
- November 30, 2011: Action Comics #1 Smashes Expensive Record
- December 1, 2011: The Changing Face of Superman
- December 2, 2011: The Many Styles and Faces of Lois Lane
- December 6, 2011: Sholly Fisch Talks Action Comics Back-Up Stories
- December 12, 2011: DC Announces Superman Family Adventures Comic Book
- December 20, 2011: Johnson and Green Discuss Supergirl Comics
- December 20, 2011: Greg Weisman Talks Young Justice Comic Books
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