Superman #1 featured Reviews 

Pick of the Week: “Superman” #1

By | July 12th, 2018
Posted in Pick of the Week, Reviews | % Comments

There’s always something significant about the launch of a new “Superman” comic. After all, he’s one of the world’s most iconic superheroes and the icon of DC – a new run should be treated with gravitas and respect. So what better comic for the pick of the week? Let’s see how it goes.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Joe Prado and Ivan Reis
Colored by Alex Sinclair
Lettered by Josh Reed

A bold new chapter for the greatest superhero of all time begins here as the superstar team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Ivan Reis begin their run on the all-new SUPERMAN! The fallout from the Man of Steel miniseries has Clark Kent looking at the world through new eyes…with new ideas about what Superman could and should do for the city of Metropolis and the planet Earth. His first job? Getting the planet back out of the Phantom Zone!

“Superman” #1 picks off where Brian Michael Bendis’ “Man of Steel” ended. Lois and Jon are somewhere in space with Jor-El, while Superman deals with the aftermath of Rogol Zaar’s attack. While new readers can pick up this issue and get caught up quickly enough, some might wonder what happened to the Fortress of Solitude, or why Clark is trying to reach Deputy Chief Moore. Fortunately, the opening pages provide enough of a recap to answer any burning questions.

This issue manages to balance several key aspects of a “Superman” comic. It’s full of both action and heart, superhuman feats and a very human emotional aspect. Bendis does a fine job showcasing multiple layers of Superman’s character in a single issue.

Which does bring us to the question everyone asked when it was announced he’d be writing the comic: does it have the style of dialogue he’s known for, and does it bog the comic down?

Surprisingly, the dialogue is mostly free from Bendis’ usual quirks of having characters constantly repeat and interrupt each other. There are a few moments where it happens, but they’re well-timed enough to add to the flow of the conversation, rather than interrupting it.

For instance, there’s a scene where Hal Jordan is listing everything the Guardians wanted him to check on, following the destruction of the Fortress of Solitude. As per Bendis’ style, he’s interrupted multiple times with characters telling him they took care of it, but in this situation it adds on to the size of the loss, destruction, and danger that the situation presents. It’s a timely use of the interruptions, rather than one that simply bogs down a conversation.

Speaking of dialogue, though, something does seem a bit off about his portrayal of Martian Manhunter. Seeing J’onn tell Superman that he needs to “take over all of it [the world]” seems very out of character, although perhaps that’s setting up a future plot point; it may be too early to call.

Additionally, credit must be given to that scene itself, where Superman keeps asking J’onn to “hold that thought” before flying off to quickly fix another disaster, from a burning building to a rampaging monster. Not only is it an amusing break in the conversation and nice recurring gag, but it illustrates how Superman is always watching out for people to save, as well as the extent of his speed and abilities. Even if the scene isn’t a good character moment for J’onn, it’s a great one for Clark.

On a similar note, we get emotion that contrasts with the action during the few moments of rest during “Superman” #1. There are two scenes where we see Clark just sitting at home, using moments of his loneliness to frame flashbacks to good times with his family. It wonderfully illustrates how much Clark’s family means to him, and provides a truly vulnerable and human moment to the otherwise superhuman hero.

Artistically, “Superman” #1 is, well… gorgeous. There’s no other way to put it. With Ivan Reis on the pencils and Joe Prado on ink, we get some incredibly solid artwork throughout the entire issue.

There are some stunning full-page spreads throughout this comic. We get Superman casually thwarting an invading alien armada, the twisting chaotic landscape of the Phantom Zone, and the majesty of glowing crystals against a stormy backdrop as a new Fortress of Solitude rises from the sea. Each one is fittingly epic, making great use of all the space of the pages, the size of the moment, and all the detail they can fit in.

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Even outside of the full-page spreads, though, we get some excellent illustrations, featuring designs that are filled with enough detail to make them pop, but clean enough to be visually pleasing. The work is especially strong with the individual character moments, where we get to see soft or hard expressions that bring out the full force of their emotions even in tiny ways. From the way Superman’s smile is drawn to the way he just glances to the side before rushing off to save people from another disaster, this Superman embodies the ideal of the character in everything he does.

Even quick moments in “Superman” #1 look fantastic. When Superman flies off to fight a dinosaur-like monster, it’s only for one panel, but there’s a dynamic power behind it, and the design of the monster is great. Similarly, every moment where he’s off saving someone has a real impact to it, and you realize that what is a life-changing moment for the characters he saves is just another brief moment between conversations for Superman, and just a quick panel in the comic for us.

However, as beautiful as the illustrations are, it’s the color work from Alex Sinclair that really adds to the emotion. The color choices here are fantastic, making great use of illumination and varying shades of light and dark to add to the power of each moment.

In one scene we’ll get dark shades and cold blues illuminated by shining crystals, or the inky coldness of space. But then the colors will turn soft and light as we see Clark’s flashback and thoughts of his family, providing a calming, comforting sensation that really illustrates how much he cares for his family.

In short, the artistic team is nothing short of exemplary. Whatever emotion they want to evoke comes through perfectly, and it’s a visual delight to read.

So of course I can recommend “Superman” #1. In spite of the many times Bendis has written painful dialogue in the past, the man knows storytelling, and the artistic team is excellent. This is a comic that captures the heart and soul of Superman, and shows us all the different facets of his life and personality. It gets him as a character in ways that many creators simply can’t grasp, and starts building a good story at the same time.

Final Verdict: 8.9 – An excellent look at Superman, a good start to a story, and a comic with fantastic artwork. A must-read for fans of Superman.


//TAGS | Pick of the Week

Robbie Pleasant

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