Pro

-Geoff Johns is, without a doubt, creating the best origin story ever. Even better then Hal Jordan’s origin? Yes! Johns is creating the best take of an early Superman and he’s not doing it in a conventional manner.

-Most of this issue takes place at the Daily Planet, and it might be the best take of a newspaper organization ever. That is thanks in part to Gary Frank and his GORGEOUS art. It seems like the theme for this issue is ‘being busy’. Cause the moment we open to the first page, we see an amazing shot of Metropolis. Just as in Clark Kent’s first visit to the city, we are awe struck at what we’re seeing. There is just too much to talk about within these panels of the city. You could look at these panels for days and still see something new that’s happening in the backgrounds. Then you get to the Daily Planet, and it’s so busy, just like a real newspaper! It’s like there is nothing Frank can’t do to showcase in a comic book page. Whatever Geoff Johns tells him to draw, he makes it look beautiful.

-Going more with Frank, just some amazing character models in this. Sure Kent looks a lot like Christopher Reeves in this, but who cares? He has the body down on how Superman should look. Lois Lane and Cat Grant look gorgeous and they look unique from one another. So many times I see a comic artist draw women the exact same way. But now with Frank, he makes every model have a unique body structure as if there is a skeleton model underneath these characters. Then you have, quite possibly, the best page you’ll see in a comic this year. Sure Ivan Reis is doing amazing work right now with another Geoff Johns product. But I tell you, the page of Clark opening his shirt, and revealing his costume, might be the best looking page of a comic this year. I want a poster of that image, that’s how much I love it.

-I can’t downplay Johns writing in this though. Cause unlike in Blackest Night, Johns is telling a great story within this issue. Sure, so far none of these issues have a big thing in common. But that’s not the point for this mini, there is no omnipresent being or status quo changer in this. All this is, is Geoff Johns giving us little snippets of the early days of Superman. For this issue of Kent’s first adventure into Metropolis, is definitely one of the best. From Clark’s likable persona (and being naive) to Lois Lane being a tough woman; Johns has all of the personalities down. Probably the best take on Perry White as well, I loved anything that came out of his mouth in this issue. No sign of Luthor, physically, in this issue. But his presence is surely there and the tease of seeing Metallo in this….Gives me hope that we’ll see more of them in the future.

Con

None

This issue didn’t have the warmth or the feeling of home like the first issue. In fact, the first issue is probably better then this one. But this was my pick for the week for a variety of reasons. Mainly because of the amazing art by Gary Frank, who is becoming one of the best Superman artists period. But Johns tells an interesting ‘Day 1’ for Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. It’ll be interesting to see where the next issue jumps in time. Either way this has been a fantastic mini so far and even if it is the third issue, I’d say everyone should pick this up. You can enjoy it for what it is other then a mini. A nice, one shot like issue of the early days of Clark Kent.