Superman vs. Meshi #1
Scheduled to arrive in stores: September 5, 2023
Cover date: November 2023
“Superman vs. Meshi”
Writer: Satoshi Miyagawa
Artist: Kai Kitago
Reviewed by: Micah Pickering
When I first heard that Superman was being adapted into a manga, I was excited. It’s cool to see something as iconic as Superman reimagined in a new way. I would have never predicted the direction it would take (and that’s a good thing). I’ll be reviewing the first chapter which was just recently released in English on the DC Universe Infinite App.
Story – 3: “Superman Vs. Meshi” is a new manga series written by Satoshi Miyagawa, with art done by Kai Kitago. The premise is simple: Superman really likes the food at a restaurant in Japan. He wants to eat lunch there on a regular basis. With his incredible powers he can be there in no time at all. However, the problem is whether Superman can eat his food and make it back before his lunch hour at the Daily Planet ends.
I’ll admit that I was skeptical of the premise when I first heard about it. However, after giving it a chance I found myself oddly charmed by Superman doing something so mundane. This version of Superman has fun interactions with Lois Lane, Perry White, and the staff of the restaurant he visits. This Superman is a little quirky, and gives the reader an occasional fourth wall break. Those that enjoy slice of life manga and anime would be encouraged to give this story a try.
While I praised the concept of a Superman story where he focuses on something ordinary, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there actually was a battle with a supervillain. In the midst of Superman’s lunch break, Steppenwolf attacks Japan. Interestingly enough, Steppenwolf’s design in this series is similar to his appearance in the Justice League films. Part of me wonders if that was just a whim of the writer, or if that was suggested by DC. Either way it was a neat choice.
Art – 3: The artwork in this showcased what Superman would look like in anime form, and it did a great job of capturing Superman’s facial expressions throughout the story. It’s funny as I’m writing this “My Adventures with Superman” has debuted and many reviews enjoy it because it draws visual inspiration from anime and manga art styles. Who knows? We may be on the cusp of a stylistic revolution where popular western characters embrace the anime style.
All in all, this was a fun read. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it definitely brings something fresh and new to an iconic franchise.
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Nice review, Micah. This “Superman vs. Meshi” concept really fascinates me. I hope “My Adventures With Superman” will showcase at least ONE episode about “Superman vs. Meshi.” Maybe Metropolis could have a Japan-town area where Superman can go get Japanese food during his lunch hour. I’d love to see it for just at least one episode.