Hey everybody. I’m a week late on my reviews and such…sorry about that. I’ll get you up to speed on what I’m reading very soon but, in the meantime, I had a chance to read a new title this week and I thought I’d go into it a bit for you. I would like to apologize ahead of time for my cruddy writing (My computer keeps shutting down, so I’m going to blow through this without looking back).
To start off, I should admit that I haven’t read any Superman titles in a while. I normally get my Man of Steel fix when he flies into Gotham to team up with Bats. This being said, I don’t know too much about New Krypton or what the creator’s estate’s battle over the origin exactly affected, but I’m assuming it might have led in some way to SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN, by GEOFF JOHNS. On the other hand, I could be totally mistaken. Never the less…as of last week the comic is on its second issue. Get ready for a play –by—play!
(Spoiler Alert!) It starts out with Clark in Smallville realizing that he is vastly different from everyone else around him. He accidently breaks his friends arm while playing football, which causes him to use a bunch of lame excuses to withdraw from such activities. People start to think he’s scared of being injured, his friends stop asking him to play, and the alienation sets in. It’s revealed that Lana discovered his strength at a younger age after he shielded her from an oncoming plow in a wheat field. Later down the line she discovers his heat vision when she surprises him with a kiss. He decides it’s time to ask his parents why they think this is happening. They show him the rocket. Cue the Jor-El hologram. This is too much for Clark to take. Cue his heat vision again. This time it just refracts off the material on the ship. His father assures him that whatever’s happening, he is still their son (this, of course, being exactly what Clark needed to hear). After flying Lana out of the way of a tornado’s path, he decides his powers should go towards helping people. His mother makes him a suit from the indestructable blanket his birth parents wrapped him in as an infant (Before you point out an inconsistency, know that she replaced the use of a scissor with her son’s heat vision). She also fashions him glasses from the rocket’s windshield until he gets his rays under control. I thought it was very clever how Geoff gave a reason for his flamboyant apparel and made people think he was weak (In doing so this helped set Clark apart from the man he will become). Geoff also introduces a young Lex Luthor. He already thirsts for power and believes Smallville is holding him back. Clark realizes that they both feel different and tries to make friends with him to no avail.
The second issue begins with Clark feeling alone; this is when the Legion of Superheroes shows up from the year 3,000. They assure him that he is vastly important. To prove their claims they bring him into a future where everyone accepts him as a hero and he has impacted countless lives. The Legion explains that they would have never become what they are without his existence. It was an interesting little choice by Johns, but it made sense because it was something Clark needed to experience to set him on the right path. I am looking forward to see exactly where they take this. There are definitely parts that can be a little hokey, but to say it’s not entertaining would be a farce. If you’re a Superman fanboy I’m assuming this mini-series might be a must, but if you are just looking for something to read I suggest you give it a shot. It doesn’t hurt that Johns is good at what he does, and the artist, Gary Frank, makes Supes look like a young Christopher Reeve.
I’ll have something up shortly on the comics I’ve been keeping up with. Next time I’ll try and make it more of a bulleted editor’s letter and not so much my equivalent of a rambling John Madden (Laughs). Just wanted to rattle something out for you.–ExSleepyInk

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