DC Comics has released a six page preview from “Superman: Year One #1”, the first issue in Frank Miller and John Romita Jr’s upcoming miniseries retelling Superman’s origin story.
Having spent his entire life in the small farming town of Smallville, 18-year-old Clark Kent is ready to start blazing his own path. But rather than going to college like his parents had hoped, he enlists in the Navy, wanting to see more of the planet on which he’s found himself. It’s an important, defining moment for the eventual superhero, and one that’s unique to Miller and Romita’s take on the character.
But even with Clark’s amazing powers – or perhaps because of them – danger likely awaits. His parents can’t help but worry, even if they realize that they need to let Clark go. In fact, it’s worth considering who is actually making the harder choice: the super-powered young man choosing to serve his country… or the parents who have kept him from harm accepting the need to let him find his own way in a world that can be cruel to anyone seen as different or foreign?
“Superman: Year One #1” by Frank Miller, John Romita Jr., Danny Miki and Alex Sinclair is available in print and digital on June 19, 2019. Order the first issue for Kindle or Apple Books now.
I hope this turns out well. I was skeptical at first (and I’m still skeptical because it’s Frank Miller writing Superman). However, I’m feeling somewhat hopeful that this might be a unique take on Clark Kent/Superman. As long as Frank Miller doesn’t go off the wall then I think things might be okay. As I said in another post, I like that Clark Kent will join the military as it makes him even more relatable than he already is. And as another fellow-Superman-fan here stated, it shows Superman’s patriotism. So this is a good point that I hope plays out… Read more »
I totally agree with you GodzillaofSteel.
I’m also wondering if while Clark is at basic training, will he meet General Sam Lane?
That’s a good question. Although, General Sam Lane is in the Army, whereas Clark Kent will be enlisting in the Navy and going on to be a Navy SEAL. So I doubt they’d cross paths during Clark’s time in Navy SEAL training. However, it’s possible that they could encounter each other when Clark is at his first duty station after his initial SEAL training. Well…..this is fictional writing….so anything is possible, LOL. If they take this angle and have Clark meet General Sam Lane, I think it’s going to be very interesting.
I forgot that General Lane is a Army General, but what you said is very true GodzillaofSteel. They could write them meeting each other at some point. It’s going to be interesting to see this new take on Superman. I’m definitely looking forward to where this Superman story goes.
This is insane. Everyone had a meltdown when Superman was forced to kill one person to save the entire human race in ‘Man of Steel’, yet now fans are supposed to be fine with the idea of him voluntarily joining the military – an organisation where killing people is a core part of the job description? I wish Frank Miller would just lay off Superman. ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ was great, but basically everything he’s done in the past 20 years has been appalling. He’s been horribly disrespectful of the character in the past, and I don’t trust him to… Read more »
The Military, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are all part of protecting the safety of the United States of America. They are america’s line of defense against the bad guys. Without them, America would not be safe. They deserve respect. Their job is to protect the country . And if that means going to war for the protection of the United States of America, then they will go to war. They deserve respect
I forgot to mention the Marines. They also serve in protecting the United States of America, and they deserve respect as well.
To say that killing is part of the military’s job description is not disrespectful. It’s factual. An average person may want to join the military for noble reasons, and if they do, then good for them. But Superman – in any form that I have understood the character in the many years since my childhood – believes life is sacred and you should not kill. In all the stories I have read since the 1970s, his code against killing is one of the most obvious and defining things about him. He has broken that code on a couple of occasions… Read more »
I never said that it wasn’t factual. Of course that they are trained for killing. But it is only in defense of the United States of America. To say that killing is the core part of the job description, is inaccurate. They are also trained in search and rescue missions and in responding to natural disasters. Web surveillance for national security and medical missions like fighting Ebola. Trained in medicine. We don’t know what superman will be doing in the Armed Forces for this comic. He could be joining for the reasons that I have stated as far as we… Read more »
Doesn’t matter what his reasons are, nor even if his own duties involve pulling the trigger. He says he wants to serve in the navy. Well, the navy fires guns, torpedoes and missiles. Even if he’s only scrubbing the decks or serving food in the mess, he’s still part of an organisation that kills, and that makes him an accessory to the killing. Again: Superman would never do that. As for all the other, peaceful stuff that the military does, none of that changes the fact that, no matter what specific mission it’s on at any given time, if there’s… Read more »
As I said before, we don’t know his reasons for joining yet. For all we know he’s joining to prevent the loss of more arm service members in an upcoming war. And for all we know he might not have all of his powers yet. If that’s the case, then he can’t do the search and rescue option by himself. But if he has his super strength and invulnerability,he might decide to help with those powers. As for the killing part of the armed forces, I say again, its only in defense of the United States of America. If it… Read more »
1) Miller isn’t that clever and you KNOW the only reason he’s having Clark in the military is a desperate attempt to capitalize on the current climate of “military people are treated as heroes” that America is currently experiencing. 2) LarGand is 100% correct, Superman shouldn’t be in the military. Siding with, assisting, and advising are all fine but not enlisting. He’s above that. It’s the exact same reason he’s not a cop, yet helps out the MPD all the time. The only reason Miller went with “Military” is what I said above. People had issues because of Zod in… Read more »
Respect plays a major part of this issue. The arm forces are not mercenaries nor are they arms dealers. To call them “an organization that kills” I find highly offensive. They deserve respect. All the soldiers and vets who have served and sacrificed deserve respect regardless of who is running the country. Politics has nothing to do with that. Their job is to train soldiers so that they can protect the country. Yes they are trained in killing, but that’s not all that they’re trained in. As I said before they are also trained in medicine, cyber protection, search and… Read more »
And to add on to what I was saying about Superman joining the armed forces. He stands for Truth, Justice, and the American way. So maybe this version of young Clark Kent enlisted in the armed forces because he figures the best way to stand for the American way, is to serve his country. To serve the country that stands for freedom. That’s a major core part of Superman’s beliefs. He stands for freedom. He’s a patriot. I just can’t see or understand what is so wrong about that. To serve the country that’s all about freedom. And maybe this… Read more »
This dialogue is absolutely atrocious.
Frank lost his mojo long ago and this is just hammering that fact home.
The dialogue does seem dry. I’m only able to see one page though. I think my internet connection is a bit slow right now.
Just finished reading the preview pages. Yeah, dialogue is dry.