SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #1 (OF 6)

Review by: BC1

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Size: pages
Price: 3.99

Between this book and Blackest Night: Superman, what an awesome week for the Man of Steel.  Both of these books really hit upon what makes this character the way he is, and that is his origin point.  But, obviously, Secret Origin does much more with this.

Is there any new ground here?  No.  We all know the story, and Johns knows better than to upend it, at least at this point.    What Johns is doing, though, is taking it back to the very beginning and making this “his” Superman.  Where Byrne’s Man of Steel and Waid’s Birthright mostly fast-forwarded past the kid years, Johns is firmly setting his story in this era.  He’s pulling in elements from Superman’s past that have been left out for a long time as well as using some ideas that were introduced in the Smallville show and building a Superman that is much more consistent with the current one that Johns has been using since he started on the character.

We get the usual cast of characters: Ma and Pa Kent, Lana Lang, Pete Ross, and Lex Luthor (a concept that’s been used both in Birthright and in Smallville).  We see Clark discover each of his well known powers.  We get the basics of Clark’s origin and end with a scene that we haven’t been able to have in a long time.  So, the necessaries are out of the way, and the rest of the story will develop his character further and take us through his youth.

While Johns’ work is very good, Gary Frank’s art shines through here.  Just look at the cover.  A very traditional looking Middle American scene, with a mom, dad, and son with their farm in the background.  But dad looks a little more pensive than he should in this scene, and mom’s smile does not show over her whole face.  What’s going through their heads?  Also notice the subtle darkening of the upper sky, a reminder of “the other half” of this story.  The rest of the book is like modernized Norman Rockwell art, depicting a traditional American small town with all the normal facets (farms, high school, kids playing football, county fair, corn fields).  And that’s Frank’s angle, reminding us of where this boy’s roots are.

If the first issue is any indication, this is going to become the new definitive origin story.  Definitely check this out, whether this is your first time down this Memory Lane or you’re making a return trip.    

Story: 4 - Very Good
Art: 5 - Excellent

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