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Superman Family
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« on: July 13, 2006, 06:56:07 AM » |
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Superman #654: A Review
First off, let’s give credit where credit is due…
“On Our Special Day” by Kurt Busiek & Carlos Pacheco Jesus Merino-inker Dave Stewart-colors Comicraft-letters Nachie Castro-associate editor Matt Idelson-editor Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
The Skinny: Before Lois & Clark can celebrate a very special occasion…Clark Kent must trudge through collecting a day’s worth of stories from news assignments no other reporter wants to cover, in order to get back on Perry White’s good side and land two hot scoops waiting on the backburner...while as Superman, contend with the repositioning of Intergang as a major threat in Metropolis once more. And what about the whispered hushes of “Ugly” Manheim’s return?!? Plus….a mystery South of Ayaguz, Kazakhstan!!!
Kurt Busiek’s first issue sets the tone for what I hope to be a very long run. All of the best elements that comprise a great Superman yarn lie within. Battles with souped-up supper baddies, hi-tech crooks, killer robots, killer pranksters and even….well, you’ll just have to see it for yourself! Best of all, the Man of Steel that dispatches our enemies is a powerful hero who exudes confidence in the middle of a crisis, lacking any doubt as to whom will come out on top!
The most sorely-missed and refreshing aspect of the book is the revitalization of Superman’s supporting cast. Clark, Lois, Jimmy and Perry all “sound” right. I never realized just how much I missed seeing anyone squirm under a cigar-chompin’, drill sergeant like Perry until just recently. Jimmy Olsen, while a bit of a smart-aleck is likeable and not ashamed to be Superman’s Pal. Lois is played as sharp of mind, funny, and sexy all the while deftly playing role-reversal with the Man of Steel in this issue. And it looks like we’ll get to see some old and new faces down the pike.
Busiek’s strength lies in not only fleshing out the characters that inhabit his books, but the world around them, as if a living, breathing thing….and it works well. Mix that with the best aspects of Pre-Crisis, Post-Crisis, the Animated Series, and a pinch of the heart and emotion found in “Superman: Secret Identity” and you have the makings of a winner.
Let me also take the time to say how outstanding the art was by Pacheco & Merino! A beautiful-looking book on the stands…if I ever saw one. The cover (a look at what happened after Superman crashes the car on the cover of Action Comics #1) stood out over anything else on the shelves. Admittedly, I’m not one that gives much of a fig when it comes to coloring and lettering in comics (in most cases) and that is a shame for they are the unsung heroes in comic book production. But I was really impressed with Dave Stewart’s work in this issue and it’s the first time since Lynn Varley and Dark Knight Returns that I stood up and took notice. The same goes for Comicraft on lettering…conveying the differents moods and illustrating the different characters’ voices distinctly enough to earn this fan’s appreciation.
All-in-all, this was an A+ issue in my opinion and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I have! Also, for the curious lurker that might be new to the board (after seeing Superman Returns) and the Man of Steel, give this issue a try if you’re curious to start reading about the adventures of the Last Son of Krypton.
Next Up: Superman #655
A powerful threat from beyond the stars awakens, and some faces from the past come back to Superman’s life!
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