This past week I had the opportunity to pick up two "Super" books that I have been pretty curious about: Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis and the first issue of Superboy by Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo. The timing was fortuitous–I had just finished Lemire's Essex County for my last article and while I had enjoyed exactly one issue of JMS's run on Superman, I was still looking for some book–any book–of his that I could be excited about. DC had been marketing Superman: Earth One pretty aggressively, and the art look pretty compelling and I had some Amazon credit, so it seemed like a natural choice.
I was really interested to see what two "first chapters" would look like from the two very different creators. And while, yes, Superboy is definitely not Superman, there are some core themes that are part of both stories, and while it was clear that both creators were going to do their own thing with these characters, there were bound to be some similarities as well. Let's start with Supeman: Earth One, shall we?
Now…look. I don't hate JMS. I really don't. Like, when I was a kid, I used to actually chat with him on message boards about The Real Ghostbusters cartoon on freakin' Compuserve. It's just that, for whatever reason, I just haven't really found myself drawn to his latest material. The only time my wife and I ever really argue is when I start dissing Babylon 5 (which she loves) and I still remember the reaction I got from the guys when I was on the podcast show and tore in to that one issue of Thor. It's not…look, it's nothing personal, okay?
I went into Superman: Earth One with an extremely open mind–I wanted it to be good. I wanted to see the "good" JMS, the one whose talents are admired by so many people whom I admire, whose mastery of story, pacing and character have made him one of the biggest names in the business.
Superman: Earth One did not blow me away, but as far as a retelling…or…whatever it was, a "recontextualization" of the Superman myth, maybe? Whatever it was…it wasn't enough to make me change my mind about his current work. I don't even know what the point of this book is, to be honest. At first, I thought Earth One was our Earth, but since I can't take a flight to Metropolis, it clearly wasn't that. I did a bit of digging, and apparently, Earth-One was created by the events that happened in 52 . I gotta tell you–I read every single issue of 52 when it came out and I totally forgot about this. According to this wikipedia page, the Earth One books are kinda like Marvel's Ultimate books, where creators can re-introduce characters for a "new generation" of readers. (While I was able to resist a truckload of snarky comments, I think it would have been cool if this book were available to download onto my iPad, which would have really driven that point home.) I think DC should have made it clear what "Earth One" was all about in some kind of forward to the book, just to give us old comic book reading fogies some context, you know?
There are some good concepts here: Clark does actually do what I always wished he would have done — try jobs other than being a reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper. There are a few pages that show Clark being offered all kinds of jobs after proving himself to skeptical managers: he tries his hand at football (excelling in every position), he solves crazy science problems, he helps make tall buildings, which, I assume, will be leapt over at some point, he plays baseball…he does all kinds of things that he'd excel at, thanks to his physical strength and superior intellect. Watching all of this happen was cool; I really liked it, and if this were a weekly series, it would have been great to spend a bit more time on those adventures. Indeed, as I write this, I feel like Clark's attempts to find himself during his initial weeks in Metropolis were given short shrift–I think those stories could have been really interesting, a really fun way to understand who this new Clark Kent was. As it is, we kind of only get a nod to these other opportunities and the story sort of dives into the familiar a bit too eagerly, once Clark makes it to the Daily Planet.
It is here where I found some tension between Geoff Johns' Superman: Secret Origin and this book. Like, I don't know–I really don't know–what this book does that Johns didn't already do with that excellent run with Gary Frank. Daily Planet all in shambles in a world that doesn't read newspapers? Check. Slightly more interesting Jim "Don't call me Jimmy" Olsen? Check. Hot headed Lois Lane? Check. Like…down the line, the world that JMS creates has a distinctly familiar feel to it if you had already read Johns take on all of this. I mean, the only thing that feels really different is Clark himself, who feels more like a brooding Bruce Wayne than the amiable farm boy Clark Kent. The way Shane Davis draws Clark…he's just not really a nice guy, you know? Maybe that's too strong–he just broods, he just seems…depressed and kinda stoned most of the time. There's none of the optimism of the "classic" Clark Kent that I think is very much part of what Superman is all about. The full page of Clark smiling at himself in the mirror is terribly uncomfortable, and..well, it's just really strange drawing. When I say strange, I guess I mean "bad," I'll just say it: it's bad.
The rest of the book is really kind of boring. Large scale alien invasion for no reason (though I will be the first to admit that the bad guy is pretty cool), Clark finally puts on the outfit, Superman flies and saves the day. And how does Clark get his job at the Daily Planet? He arrives with the big Superman interview in hand. He did his own interview. Wow. Really? Like…he's that guy? Total jerk maneuver, if you ask me, but, then again, maybe I am old fashioned? I do know that it doesn't make him look like he's trying to make Superman approachable, which is maybe JMS's fresh new take. Well, not that fresh–the line about his secret identity being a mask? Just saw that in Superman/Batman; Superman says the same thing to Dick about Bruce.
Like I said earlier, I don't get this book. I really don't. The cover makes Clark look like a mutant, with these spooky glowing eyes, and he looks like he's dressed in one of those terrible Marvel-branded hoodies that are being advertised these days. (Josh made a great joke about them a few podcasts ago, cracked me up.) The book is dark, it's red, it's not that heavy, and it's $20. I just…I don't get who this is for. A new generation of readers is not going to go pick up a $20 hardcover. They're not–they're spending their money on manga and iPhone apps.
I don't know–this book just…it takes itself far–far–too seriously. Superman the character is serious, sure, but the book Superman, at the end of the day, is not about the character–it's about the hope he inspires in normal everyday people. But JMS seems hell-bent on denying this–remember how Superman was supposedly going to let that woman jump to her death in the regular series? That's not Superman. That's not a hero. JMS goes to great pains to show, after Superman saves the day, just how much the public distrusts Superman. Nah–it's not that they don't trust Superman, they don't trust what JMS is doing with the character.
So apparently this book did so well that JMS is doing a sequel to Superman: Earth One. I don't know what Dan DiDio is smoking, but I guess he's rolling it in $100 bills. The only silver lining to this news is that JMS is no longer going to do the Wonder Woman and Superman comic books. That's good news. We don't need any more instances of this brooding, self-absorbed Superman poisoning a legacy that has inspired generations of readers.
Lest you think I am going to end this article on a down note, let's jump right over to Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo's work on Superboy #1, with a fantastic, wonderful cover by Rafael Alberquerque. I was not sure what I was going to think of this book; while I enjoyed Essex County, it certainly wasn't an uplifting tale. However, I am glad I had just read that tome–Lemire gives that work a bit of a nod with the kid running around in a mask and cape, not unlike the Lester Papineau from "Tales of the Farm", the first book in the series.
The comic is fun from the start. I mean, you know you're in for a good time when The Phantom Stranger shows up four pages in! Conner is back in Smallville, going to high school and just living his life a bit. (Though, honestly, I kinda thought that Conner was in his 20s by now.) Even though I don't have much of a history with the character, Lemire gives us enough backstory (while driving the main plot) to make new readers comfortable, while making sure long-time fans are satisfied. We get several "first issue" plot points, an over the top battle, and a wonderful cliffhanger with a rather startlingly gorgeous full page shot of Poison Ivy. The book is a total gas–it's over the top, it's intimate, it's funny, it's engaging…it's just a celebration of what this kind of story can be.
Like Ultimate Spider-Man, Superboy manages to balance the requirements of a serious storyline with serious consequences with fun character moments that keep the story moving. Lemire does that in just a few panels–The Phantom Stranger's tells us something serious, meanwhile Krypto is growling, then sniffing the Stranger to make sure he's okay. It's just expert storytelling, with Lemire setting up the scene and Pier Gallo, whose work I have never experienced before, finishing things up with gorgeous art. I cannot wait to see where this book goes–it's a wonderfully, unexpectedly strong start, and I can already tell I will be looking forward to this book as much as I did with Adventure Comics when Johns and Manapul were on the series.
So, I know–it's not fair, or even cool, of me to compare a 136 page hardcover trade with a 22 page comic book; these are just two totally different things, totally different beasts. Actually, no, that's crap–I don't believe it either. Both of these books are introducing a new status quo, a new paradigm, for existing characters. We have two writers who are doing their best to redefine a character the way they think they should be defined, and we have two artists who are doing their best to deliver on that vision. From a totally artistic point of view, both graphically and dramatically, Superboy #1, is more successful, hands-down. Superman: Earth One…you know why I didn't like it? It just took itself too damn seriously. It sucked all the fun out of what Superman is all about. I wasn't inspired at the end of this $20 disaster. I didn't say to myself, "Oh man, I hope they make another one, I can't wait to see what happens next in this crazy new version of Superman!" I was like, "Wow, glad that nightmare is over." Not so with Superboy #1. Totally different reaction.
I am not going to hammer this anymore. Maybe you liked the JMS story–and please, if you did, tell me what I missed in the comments section–that's totally cool; I like tons of stuff that other folks hate. I guess I can appreciate the different take, but I think it went overboard. Yes, I get it–Earth One books are devoid of "cumbersome continuity." But that's not the only thing Superman: Earth One is devoid of–it's devoid of a soul, it's devoid of the spirit, the hope, the optimism that defines Superman. It's not about a guy with powers. It's about the relationships he makes, the lesson he learns–the joys of being human. Jeff Lemire got this in 22 pages. I'm not sure Straczynski will ever get it, no matter how many pages he gets.
Addendum: Chris Rohling has a nice, thoughtful take on Superman: Earth One here and points out other areas where the book succeeds, and includes some nice insights on the art, as well. While I was impatient with the "reluctant hero" aspect of the story, Chris rightly points out that we've not seen this before, really, and JMS is to be commended for exploring that angle.
Mike Romo is an actor-slash-writer living in Los Angeles. He usually likes almost everything. Send him email, but stay for the twitter! If you live in LA, drop him a line–we're trying to arrange some kind of Southern California iFanboy meetup before the year's end!
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I thought this was exactly what DC said it was from the begining, a reimagined(which is a word i hate) take on the mythology of Superman. I also didn’t think it was a jerk move to get the interview. Thats how you play the game in the press. Get out there and get the story. Lois would have kicked clark square in the teeth if it meant she could have gotten an exclusive before him. I thought it made clark seem just like he’s always seemed, like a guy who works at a newspaper. I don’t know who this book is for really but I do know that I enjoyed it and I’m excited about the Earth One Batman for sure.
Thanks for saving me the work in reviewing Superman: Earth One on my own. You absolutely nailed it. The only thing you didn’t mention that I might have was the trade dress. C’mon, DC! You give the writer/artist team way more space than you do for the title, but their names can’t be seen unless you turn the book? What’s the point? When I saw the size of the title font, I asked my wife, "What do you think the name of this book is?" Her response: "Earth One." I love love love me a good Supes story, but this was, as Mike put it so well, totally unnecessary.
I was wondering whether or not to buy "Earth One," Romes, and you saved me the trouble. Thank you, sir.
Who is Earth One for? Well, for starters it’s probably not for people who are trying to figure out where it fits in the Multiverse. As for who it is for, I thought it was pretty simple the second I read the preview pages–it’s for people who’ve never read the character, maybe thought he was too lame, and the book is the Superman mythos and putting a new spin on them that would make Superman relatable to teens and young adults. I also didn’t see it as joyless or bleak at all.
Also–I never saw the problem with the jumper scene in JMS’ title. Granted, it is a scene done in four or five pages that Morrison was able to do in two or three panels, but the actual action Superman takes made perfect sense. If he just plucked her down from the building, it’s more likely she would have just jumped again when she was sure that someone couldn’t do that to her again–but with Superman talking to her, listening to her, and trying to tell her that if you think there is even the slightest possibility that things could get better, she should keep living and take his hand, that’s actually helping someone, truly saving someone’s life. I’ll admit there have been some odd, slightly awkward scenes in JMS’ run so far, but that definitely was not.
Dammit, Romo. You scooped me! I was cooking up an article just like this for GuerrillaGeek but it’s fun to see a different opinion. I mostly enjoyed Earth one, but found the phototraced art to be a bit of a hindrance to the overall package. I thought it was a really great decision to have the reason that Clark wants to be in journalism is that it’s the one thing he’s not naturally good at.
Long story short, great column. Love yours every week.
I know I said it on Twitter already, but thanks for linking to my article! You guys are kinda the ones who inspired me to start writing reviews and columns and what not. (specifically You, Paul and Josh.)
I only have a number one priority when reading comic books, and that is to answer the question "Am I having fun reading this comic book?" Fortunately, my answer for this book was yes. I don’t look on every little detail of a book just to enjoy it on its whole. Sure, there are times I do it, but mostly only when it insults my intelligence as a reader, or when it just plain bad. I enjoyed this book, because I just took it as it is: a modern take on the tale of Superman, and that’s exactly the feel that I got from the story, with or without the emo hoodie. JMS took full use of the opportunity to weave a story unburdened by continuity, and made his own that added some freshness to the tale of the man of steel. I’m not a fan of JMS (especially with the BND debacle!), but I must say, this was an okay work. And if anything else, I thought the art by Shane Davis was the major draw for this book. There are some parts that looked a little bit off but for the most part, it’s an art explosion of goodness. But, that’s just my own opinion. To each their own. If you go into reading this book, already waiting to compare it to other retelling of Superman’s origin, or thinking about who is writing the story, or thinking about its necessity as another Superman origin story, then you’ve already doomed it to your satisfaction even before reading it.
@xeno Apparently OMD/BND was not JMS’ decision and he even wanted his name taken off the last issue or something like that. There are plenty of things to hold against him, but I don’t think that’s one of them.
I guess i’m with you Mike; disliked Earth One and loved Superboy. @Roivampire i have to agree with mike in that what clark does is a dick move, and while yes that is how you play the game in the press, i don’t think that’s neccesarily what clark would do. One of the key moments from this book is when Superman watches Jim stand up to the aliens, and I thought, jeez, here is a perfect scene for Lois and would have worked great into getting lois the story, and yes that scene has been done to death, but Lois is who makes clark feel the most human, and to brush off this potential relationship seems really odd. sure you could say that, hey they have the sequel, but why leave something so important to the Superman mythos to a sequel?
And this leads me to my next point is on @Xeno brings up. i feel the same way about reading a comic, do i have fun? With Earth One i didn’t and it was because of those details that i think the books misses (like the lois piece) a lot of the sould Mike mentions in his article. Yes this is a reimaging of Superman, but they guy is THE superhero. he’s the oldest, the one that every single hero is based off and when you reimage him you are going to leave out certain aspects that character has been known for for over 70 years? that just doesn’t make sense to me. it’s not continuity i am talking aobut here it’s essence, its soul.
You bring up some interesting points about EARTH ONE, Mike, and I agree with a good portion of them. But I didn’t dislike it as much as you did. I didn’t like it much, either. I was actually pretty ambivalent about it. Some stuff I liked, more stuff I didn’t, and overall I didn’t feel strongly about it either way. Although I probably dislike it more the more I think about it. I wasn’t able to put my finger on what was so "off" about it until I read this article – I think you’re totally right the tone is way off for a Superman book. I think that was what was subconciously unsettling me.
A couple of points:
– I had no problem whatsoever with Clark getting the scoop on Lois with the Superman interview because that’s pretty much been the way it happened since the MAN OF STEEL mini-series in 1986. He scooped her there too. That seems right to me. Clark’s got to start winning Lois’ respect somehow.
– Throw continuity out the window. Throw your need to order the book in your head out the window. The intention of the Earth One books is to create stories where those considerations aren’t a factor. Stories that can be given to people who don’t read comics but might want to read a Superman (or later, a Batman) story. DC didn’t mention that on the book itself because they didn’t have to, and it would defeat the purpose, in catering to hardcore comics fans, if they did. DC has been fairly upfront about what the Earth One books are since they were announced.
@Connor wow, did not know that re: the man of steel, thanks!
I just don’t think the interview was a dick move. he did what he had to do to get the job that he wanted and he didn’t steal it from anyone really. It’s like calling Shane Battier a dick for sinking a 3 pointer in the first minute of the Rockets game. Thats his job y’know.
when i started reading i started out thinking "of course clark kent is going to be superman what else was he going to do."
i did not think this was going to be good. it didn’t preorder. i read me friends copy.
the begining scene when you look all the order pathsin life he could have chosen. it really stuck with me.
becoming Superman is not the easiy choice. but it the right Choice and that so hard.
i was wowed.
i actually like that this clark kent and superman are not yet "done" he is still growing not only phyically but emotionally.
but this has to be more growth in to the man that is superman, in the second he just cannot stay were he is now.
i liked the idea when i finished the story and put i on my shelf that this is were he starts and he finishes like all star.
Couldn’t agree with Conor more Mike. I didn’t dislike Superman: Earth One as you did but you did put a finer point on the bits I didn’t think worked as much as they were intended. Maybe my my perspective was tempered by the Titantically awful (IMO) Superman run JMS is currently helming. What I was disappointed in was how similar it was to almost every retelling of the Superman origin in recent memory. I felt that the characterizations rang hollow and were ineffective at best. The only piece that I found dissimilar to every other origin was the alien conquest. Needless to say I wasn’t clamoring to find out what will happen next.
As far as Superboy #1, it was great. It was in the vain of Geoff Johns’ Adventure comics Superboy, which I loved. It was fun, interesting and very emdearing. It balanced plot and tone very nicely. It is the polar opposite of Superman: Earth One.
I actually REALLY didn’t like the alien invasion part of the story.
@conor: Nor did I. I thought it was way too drawn out and didn’t amount to any measurable result.