SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #1 (OF 6)

Review by: flapjaxx

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Avg Rating: 4.7
 
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Size: pages
Price: 3.99

A pretty standard origin-retelling (at least so far), but it was handled just about perfectly. Everyone’s characterization is engaging. The pacing is excellent. Even though I’ve read about, heard about, and thought about this origin many times…it’s still a joy to see the origin reenacted again when the quality of the artistry behind it is so top-notch.

Johns’ excellent Secret Origin arc of Green Lantern served a clear purpose in current continuity, highlighting certain elements of Green Lantern lore that Johns was about to make more out of in the present day stories. I’m not sure that’s the case with Superman Secret Origin, but it doesn’t really hurt the concept much. This mini-series serves a purpose. To my knowledge there’s never really been an extended retelling of the origin all in one place, specifically a series that highlighted the Smallville years. (With Byrne’s Man of Steel, Superman’s meeting Batman by the third issue–and I don’t think Johns is going to fast-forward in time that quickly.) So forever more, readers will be able to pick up Superman Secret Origin if they’ve never read a Superman story before. It’s an ideal starting place.

I give the issue 4s, however, instead of 5s simply because I wasn’t completely blown away. The art was great…but there were a few spots where things looked a tiny bit “off”–especially young Clark’s maniacal smiling, which unintentionally looks a little…evil or something. And the writing, while it had a lot of nice moments, didn’t have any profound, drop-dead brilliant insights to share. Not that it needed to be anything “new”–it’s kind of the point here to retell what’s already known–but I gotta leave it at a 4, because there is simply another higher level of writing that this perfectly serviceable, well-done issue does not approach. (I mean, this is great, but it’s not as innovative as Alan Moore’s Superman stuff 😛 ;-))

Story: 4 - Very Good
Art: 4 - Very Good

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