This week, the fan-favorite creators of “Tiny Titans”, Art Baltazar and Franco, kickoff a brand new all ages title focusing an entirely different group of superheroes. “Superman Family Adventures” #1 re-introduces (they first appeared in “Tiny Titans” #50) the entire “tiny” versions of Superman, Supergirl, Superboy, and Krypto in an escapade that’s as funny as it is fun. Heck, they even manage to add one new member into the mix, which means that more happens in this all ages book than anything that’s happened in any Superman book in a long time.
Written by Art Baltazar and Franco
Illustrated by Art Baltazar– Superman’s closest allies take the stage like you have never seen before, from the Eisner Award-winning team of Art Baltazar and Franco (TINY TITANS)!
– Don’t miss the action-packed, history-making, super adventure awesomeness!!
– Classic Superman elements reinterpreted for all ages with the humor that only the creative team of TINY TITANS can bring!
I’ll take some heat for this, I know, but I’ve never read much of “Tiny Titans” outside the occasional issue here and there. I had nothing against the book, but as I’ve stated before, I haven’t read many DC books outside Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman since “Infinite Crisis” ended. But an impulse buy inspired by a surprisingly well-stocked dollar box at a local comic shop landed “Tiny Titans” #33 (the ‘All Robin Issue’) in my hands, and suddenly, my eyes were opened! But not nearly quick enough, because just as I’d finally decided it was time to pick up the book regularly, DC announced it was ending and that was pretty much that. Still, I picked up what I could, and sadly planned for the finale. But then, almost as if by fate, the last issue of the series saw Baltazar and Franco springboard an all-new Superman-focused follow-up project, and in just a few pages, they hooked me. I was committed to not making the same mistake twice. All that to say, I had high expectations for “Superman Family Adventures”, and am pleased to report that this first issue doesn’t disappoint.
In an effort to keep things positive, I’m going to avoid spending too much time on what I dislike about the current state of Superman affairs at DC, and simply point out the following: a) there’s very little fun in the core DC Superman books, b) the armor-like, redesign of his costume makes Superman look too regal and undermines just about everything he’s about, and c) the Superman books — Superman, Superboy, Supergirl — have no connection to one another despite obviously being related. DC’s New 52 reboot presented an incredible opportunity for DC to give readers something different, and in some cases, they have, sure. But Superman seems aimless and ownerless, and content to basically just do what we’ve seen done before.
Superman Family Adventures doesn’t necessarily present anything new or dramatically different, but it is a whole lot fun and manages to remind us why Superman is kind of a big deal in the first place. We like him because he’s a good guy — THE good guy! On top of that, he can fly, and stop meteors, and punch robots, and has a cool job, and cool friends, and oh yeah, did I mention that HE CAN FLY!? From the get go, Superman’s flying is actually presented as being awesome in Adventures and not ordinary. There’s no embarrassment about Superman being friendly, or having a somewhat absurd secret identity, or having a kid, girl, and dog version of himself zipping around, covering his back.
Baltazar and Franco handle Superman’s supporting cast perfectly. While I’m a fan of a lot of the soap opera-y aspects of 80s and 90s Superman comics, things got a little out of hand when we started getting entire issues and arcs dedicated to Cat Grant, Ron Troupe, and Perry White’s kids. In Adventures, we get Lois, Perry, and Jimmy doing exactly what we’d expect them to. And while this is obviously more of a streamlined, all ages take on the staff of the Daily Planet, Adventures’ take isn’t too far removed from Grant Morrision’s versions found in “All-Star Superman.”
Is “Superman Family Adventures” the Superman comic I want? No, not really. What I’m looking for is something closer to “All Star Superman”, the animated series, or the animated-inspired “Superman Adventures.” But the thing is, “Superman Family Adventures” isn’t really intended to be for me. It’s something else, and meant for someone else. Namely, my son. Each night, my wife and I read three books to my two year old boy just before he goes to bed. And despite our house being completely covered in them, I’ve never read him a single comic. Sure, he sees them around and knows the characters, but he’s never wanted me to read him one. But tonight, on his way back to his room, he noticed “Superman Family Adventures” and specifically asked for it to be his bedtime book, which makes this unquestionably the best Superman book. Even if it’s not the best one for me.
Final Verdict: 9 – Aw YEAH, UP UP and AWAY!
