Man of Steel 1

Happened all the time in 60's and 7

So after last weeks review of the original comic Superman comic book, and the first comic book to feature a superhero, there were many changes to the man of steel over the years. His powers expanded to include flight after the 1940's serial shorts. More power were added in the what is now called by historians the Silver Age. The Golden age started with Superman and led into the Silver Age. For some comic book aficionados, the Silver age began with the creation of legacy heroes such as Barry Allen as the new Flash. Others say it was the creation of the Fantastic Four, which created flawed characters, something that really hadn't been seen before. To be honest, I think the Silver age really begins with Fantastic Four, as many of Marvel's new creations and revamping of old heroes such as Captain America and Namor, paved the way for superheroes to again become popular compared to horror and love comics (Yes I will be getting to the Golden Age versions of both of those characters soon). However the Silver age made Superman into something truly beyond mortal man. He was able to juggle planets, something he did regularly. If you don't believe me google superman moving planet. So when after Crisis on Infinite Earths, a miniseries that is awesome, and I will get to eventually, but complicated and rendered largely redundant due to new developments such as Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis. So while I will get to those eventually, Superman's origin was updated and retold in the fantastic series Man of Steel number 1.

Squeeee!

Man that cover is badass, showing Krypton being destroyed, with Superman's birth matrix being launched away. This story is told in what is really a four part story. The first part shows the Jor-El and his wife Lara. Krypton is depicted as a cold society, one that while having far superior technology and resources, is dying and sterile. The artwork really sells this for me as we first see Jor-El walking down hallways to see his son in his birthing matrix. He tells Lara that the planet is dying, and to save their son, he must send Kal-El away to a distant planet called earth. Lara is horrified at the though. The fact that they are so primitive and backwards compared to Krypton. Lara is shocked at the savage man of earth, with his skin feeling air on it, and touching unprocessed soil. Jor-El says that Kal-El will gain extraordinary powers from the yellow sun, and that when the child matures, "He will become the supreme being on that planet, almost a god!" Avoiding the fact that this seems really ubermenschian, they have no choice as the planet begins to die, releasing deadly radiation from the core as they launch Kal-El away, and then dying togethor in a moment of actual connection and emotion, something that seems almost forbidden to their society. The final page is probably one of my all time favorite pieces of comic book artwork, as we see Krypton exploding as the rocket flies away.

The Death of Krypton

 The artwork is especially good. It is far better than the first origin's art, but also really is one of the few art pieces of Krypton dying that I really like. It also works by showing us the cataclysm that will shape Superman, before transitioning to a moment of happiness for Clark Kent, as he leads Smallville high's football team to victory. While the rest of the team sits on the sidelines he is cheered on by everyone. His adopted father, Jonathan Kent, goes to show him the birthing matrix, and tells him how he came to be found on the planet. After being found, the baby is taken as the Kent's own and with a harsh winter do one knows that the baby is adopted. Clarks powers are later revealed over time, first in an incident were young clark is run over by a bull and completely unharmed. Other powers are later seen as well. Super-strength comes next, then the famous x-ray vision, and finally flight. This includes most of Superman's famous power set, although heat vision, and super-speed are not shown in this issue. After hearing about his power's, Clark examines the rocket ship as Pa Kent tells him about his responsibility as an American.

No, I have no idea what is in this comic

 

Clark is then shown woozy, a fact that is Chekhov's gunned by the yellow streak seen hitting the rocket ship in panel two of the page showing Kal-El's escape from Krypton. The streak was a chunk of kryptonite, setting up Superman's vulnerability to the stuff. This part ends with Clark telling his parents how selfish he has been with his power's and how he needs to help others. I really like the speech even if it is a bit preachy, as this is the Superman audiences know today, instead of the one who chucked people hundreds of feat and told women he saved to "save the questions." He seems concerned about how he should help others, setting up other story conflicts, such as those seen in Does the World need Superman (Which I hated) and Whats so Funny about Truth, Justice, and the American Way (Which I will be reviewing soon.) Those stories are important because unlike most superheroes, Superman is basically a freaking god. Most stories can be solved with him just beating up the villain. Superman's best stories are about how he deals with things like why he won't kill, and why he should or should not help people. These are moral issues, as he is rarely a vulnerable character. Why Superman does what he does is more important than how, unlike say Batman or Captain America, where how they beat foes more powerful than they are, which is interesting and creates conflict.

Its a bird, It's a Plane, It's a brown wearing man!

Anyways, Chapter Two, which is really part three showing Martha Kent is updating her scrapbook of Clark's deeds over the last seven years. In the seven year's Clark has saved hundreds of people without revealing any identity. As Pa Kent opens the paper however he is shocked to find out that Clark has been discovered saving a new space plane, with blurry pictures all over the front of the paper. Clark comes home, going to his room, where his parents find him much to their surprise. Clark recounts saving the plane and how he leapt into the air and was able to save them. He lets the plane lower slowly, as everyone stares in amazement. Once the plane is on the ground, Clark meets Lois Lane, immediately becomes smitten and then is ambushed by the surround crowd of people. They all want a piece of this new man, which quickly overwhelms Clark.

The Original Whiny Superman.

He is scared by the fact that they all want something from him, and this is what causes him to adopt his mysterious identity, at his fathers suggestion. I really like how Clark flies to a mountain in Tibet as his moment of panic. Clark is unwilling to be used by people, something I find kind of admirable, although it does change in some later stories. I also like the fact that he is getting support from his family this entire comic, instead of them being dead in the original origin story. Its also amusing to me that Jonathan is the one to give him the idea for a costume, which is just a bit strange. I guess when you raise an alien baby you get used to weirdness.


The final part of the series shows the creation of the superman costume, first with the logo, and then Ma Kent sewing the cloak. Clark's disguise at the planet is shown as well, with his hair slicked back and glasses, he does look very different, a nice touch. He then banters with his family on the various pieces, before finally revealing the costume of Superman in a final splash panel, saying that when it is not a job for Clark Kent, it will be a job for Superman!

Not one who I hate.

I really like this origin story for its really good connection with the past mythologies of superman, as well as the fact that all of the modern day elements that I grew up with and saw in adaptions are there. This is the story I recommend for someone to read as the origin story for Superman. It is well written, has a quick pace, covers all the major points, from how Superman came to earth, that kryptonite affects him, what types of powers he has, and why he does what he does. I highly recommend this issue also on the grounds of the artwork. These are really iconic depictions, from the appearance of the costume, to the destruction of Krypton. It also is one issue that runs only 31 pages, yet covers all the essential elements of the mythos. I found mine in the trade paperback Superman the Greatest Stories Ever Told. Next week I will review Whats so Funny about Truth, Justice, and the American Way  as not only has it been adapted (and quite well in my opinion), but is also a fundamental story for understanding why Superman is one of the most important characters ever created.