Superman #41 Cover Reviews 

A New Direction and Mystery Unfolds in the Captivating “Superman” #41 [Review]

By | June 26th, 2015
Posted in Reviews | % Comments

Before Clark Kent is outed as the Man of Steel, “Superman” #41 flashes back to the machinations of the mystery person behind the unveiling. Writer Gene Luen Yang melds the classic with the new in his debut issue as the title’s new writer, with the artistic team of John Romita, Jr., Klaus Janson, and Dean White succeeding magnificently in bringing Yang’s compelling story to life.

Written by Gene Luen Yang
Illustrated by John Romita, Jr.

The epic new storyline “TRUTH” continues with the debut of the amazing new creative team of new writer Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) and continuing artists John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson! What will happen when the big secret is revealed?

We’ve already seen the ramifications of Clark’s outing in other Supes titles but not the road to that revelation. In “Superman” #41, the issue is aptly titled “Before Truth”. Someone is giving Clark anonymous tips through anonymous text messages, which sends him and his best friend Jimmy Olsen on risky adventures. As Jimmy and Lois both say in separate scenes, anonymous tips “almost never work out”. They may be wrong this time because this tipster is assisting in the eventual writing of the story of the century: revealing the man behind the cape of the world’s most powerful superhero.

Gene Luen Yang focuses on the classic core characters of Clark, Jimmy, and Lois. Whether you’re new to Superman comics or revere him as your favorite superhero, “Superman” #41 is an example of why Clark and his supporting cast is so appealing. The opening page is the only one that takes place in the present and it shows a smiling, carefree Clark. This is a man with confidence and a smile that is both infectious and reassuring. He isn’t the only captivating character in the issue. As the story progresses, you can understand why Jimmy would follow Clark into a villain’s nest and risk his life. He knows Clark would do anything to protect Jimmy or any other innocent person. The playful banter they have while spying on a villain is proof of a naturally close bond. During his run, Geoff Johns wrote the issue with Clark revealing his secret to Jimmy, which only enhanced the characters and their interaction. Lois only has a few moments in the book but her tenacity, intelligence, and idealism (which matches Clark’s) is succinctly and winsomely on display. Yang is fascinated by these characters and is already enjoying his stay in Metropolis.

The balance between action, mystery, and characterization is accomplished successfully in “Superman” #41. Based on his first issue, Yang can write exciting action-packed heroics while also making humans (and an alien) feel very human on the page. Clark is perturbed yet calm as he attempts to understand the mystery engulfing him and we get to see how the enigmas piling up are not only affecting him, but his friends as well. When Superman fights the bad guys, the situations and a certain machine involved are inventive yet not grim and gritty. There’s a fun air to this book that permeates every aspect of Yang’s writing.

That sense of fun and adventure is even more pronounced in John Romita, Jr.’s art. The opening page is simple, yet magnificent in the way it has Clark riding an airplane with confidence and poise. Instead of being mistaken for a plane, he now has to rely on the contraption to get around. Despite the obstacle of losing his powers, this lone page sent in the present day highlights the reaction Clark has to every situation throughout this issue: a sincere sense of calm. Whether receiving a bombshell of a text or rescuing a woman from danger, Romita’s pencils exhibit a hero who appears powerful and authoritative in both body and mind. A hero is exciting and attractive when they express confidence and quick-thinking. Romita’s Clark has all those qualities which are evident through body language and highly nuanced facial expressions that show a deep understanding of Yang’s story and the character of Superman.

Klaus Janson’s inking style is distinctive only to him and he makes every page of “Superman” #41 that much more impressive. Heavy, detailed inks in the issue’s very first panel lend an air of gravitas that is also contained in Romita’s pencils. This is just one example of why both these men complement each other so well. Their collaboration engenders a vibrancy that is displayed in the motion of every page and the characters’ actions. Janson’s inks express just the right amount of mystery and danger in the action scenes without overwhelming with darkness. Clark’s emotions are visibly highlighted to make them that much more pronounced while retaining the subtlety of Romita’s pencils. Janson does the same with Jimmy and Lois, yet is more conservative when he’s inking them. This gives Clark’s closest friends a much brighter aura than Clark. They are people who are clearly more transparent than Clark and it shows wonderfully in Janson’s inks.

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The colors in “Superman” #41 are just as nuanced, subtle, and fun as the rest of the issue’s artistic contributions. Dean White opens the issue with a sky containing glorious shades of blue that whips by as Superman rides a plane. The confrontation in a villain’s hideaway has muted realistic tones that suddenly appear lit up with an orange hue that matches Jimmy’s hair. Yellow, orange, and the neon blue circuitry of a monstrous machine light up a scene that becomes more exciting than it would have if it didn’t have the privilege of being colored by White. He brings a dynamism and beauty to a scene that is unexpected and lovingly detailed.

Yang has successfully enticed us with the first chapter of a story that describes the how and why of Superman’s secret becoming common knowledge to every being in the universe. Yang’s own unique voice is clear on every page while retaining a familiarity that fans of the character (no matter the medium that introduced him to them) will find refreshing and fun. Romita and Janson have already had time with the character during Geoff Johns’ run and their art seems to have become stronger and just a bit different. That could partly be the result of new colorist Dean White but it most definitely has to do with Yang’s engaging, mystery-tinged story. The first part of “Before Truth” has a sensational beginning in “Superman” #41 and the mystery isn’t the only thing that’s going to keep readers coming back for the next chapter. It’s strong characterization.

Final Verdict: 9.0 – Yang has succeeded in leaping into the world of superheroics and has the good fortune of working with such wonderful artists as Romita, Jr., Janson, and White.


Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley lives in sunny Southern California and has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in English literature. He considers comic books the highest form of literature and has declared them the Great American Art Form. He has been reading comics since age eight and his passion for comic books and his obsession for Batman knows no bounds. If he isn’t reading or writing about comics, he’s usually at the gym or eating delectable food. He runs the website Comics Authority with his fiancé Don and can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

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