I am going to review these 2 books together because both are homages to Silver age (1956-1970) Superman comics, yet one I like a lot and the other I am luke warm about at best. Let’s get the latter out of the way first:
ALL STAR SUPERMAN vol 1 (Hardcover)
I first read this several months ago as I was just getting back into superhero comics. I checked it out at the library. At the time I wasn’t at all up to date on the DC universe and wasn’t aware that the ALL STAR line took place in it’s own continuity. I was surprised by the tone of the book, a mix of silver age silliness with more serious fare. I recently checked it out again wanting to see if my opinion of it would improve, having since read and enjoyed a lot more of Grant Morrison’s work.
The first issue involves superman coming to terms with getting a lethal dose of solar radiation which in addition to killing him gives him at least one new power. This harkins back to several “imaginary stories” from the 50s where superman was going to buy it in one silly melodramatic way or another, and went about doing all kinds of gee whiz super stuff with his time remaining. Subsequent issues continue with this plot while bringing in other absurdities such as Atlas and Samson just showing up to Vie for Lois Lane’s affections, yet another callback to the silver age “Imaginary tales”.
Now I like silver age Superman comics. I read reprints of them as a kid, and have recently been enjoying the Showcase presents reprints, but I like them in kind of a historical context. In my opinion this sort of story does not work in a modern comic… at least not when done with such an incredibly straight face as writer Grant Morrison has done here. Still silly, but more enjoyable is the story in issue 3 which has Superman getting affected by black kryptonite. Under it’s effects he starts acting like Bizzarro, going on a rampage, and trying to kill Jimmy Olsen. If this stuff was all the book had to offer my review would be quite negative, fortunately there are some very good things about the book as well.
Issue 4 was very good, so good in fact that I think I will track down and buy the single issue. In it Lex Luthor Is sentenced to death, and grants Clark Kent an exclusive interview at the prison. It is such a good portrayal of Luthor, a genius for sure but also an arrogant blowhard, who can’t see the obvious when it stares him in the face. Likewise the way Clark Kent is portrayed in this series is probably the best to date. He really plays up the disheveled clumsy clark of the movies, managing to look rumpled and fat. One could almost believe glasses are a good disguise.
This brings me to the artwork. I am not really a fan. Frank Quitely’s character designs (aside from Clark and Luthor) don’t really appeal to me. To be blunt Lois Lane looks like a bitch, and Jimmy Olsen just looks plain weird. The inking/coloring by Jamie Grant is also quite unusual. It creates the appearance of artwork for a children’s storybook. again, technically well done, but not my cup of tea.
Overall I enjoyed half the issues in this collection enough that I may pick up some of the subsequent single issues at some point, but mostly out of curiosity. I can’t say for sure if I would have liked ALL STAR Superman better with a different artist or not. Overall I have to say:
MILEAGE MAY VARY
SUPREME: Story of the year (Trade paperback)
It is clear from reading this book that Writer Alan Moore has as much love for Silver age DC comics as Grant Morrison does, but he approaches the idea from a different angle. I suppse the premise of Supreme could be summed up this way. What if Superman became aware that he was a fictional character, and that his universe was malliable to the whims of the writers who shaped it?
Supreme follows the titular character through a series of encounters after he makes this discovery during a periodic reinvention of his comic. As the book progresses pieces of his memory return as broken continuity is mended. These memories are retold in the style of old comics, most of them parodying real superman stories from the silver age. There are analogs to Batman, and the legion of superheroesas well as a Lex Luthor-esque arch nemesis. The book also deftly parodies the comic book industry itself with these apocalyptic revisions, as well as the fact that Supreme’s secret identity is as a comic book artist!
In the wrong hands this coiuld be fanboy wanking garbage, but this is Alan Moore we are talking about. He could write a comic about the mating habits of elephant seals and I am certain it would be riveting. Supreme does not dissapoint.
The book contains the work of various artists appropriating the styles of the eras being depicted. The main “current” story thread is drawn by Rob “I can’t draw feet” Liefeld. Don’t let that scare you off though, it contrasts nicely with the older art and fits the story well.
I really liked Supreme, then again I like silver age superman comics, and got many of the references. Even so I think Moore’s writing is strong enough that anyone could enjoy it.
RECOMMENDED
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