So I finished Superman for All Seasons yesterday. It was written by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale who wrote the great Batman graphic novels The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. Normally Superman is just a thorn in Batman’s side in the graphic novels I’ve read and this was the first true Superman one I’ve read. I’ve never been a huge Superman fan either. I enjoyed the movies and the cartoon shows, but Superman just never did it for me the way Batman did. But I figured with my favorite Batman writers at the helm, I’d enjoy their take on Superman.
So how was it? It was really, really good. Basically it’s a compilation of four short stories, each told from the perspective of someone in Superman’s life, including Pa Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang. Part of me missed having a longer storyarc throughout the whole novel, but each of the stories’ (I probably messed up that grammar, deal with it) themes were related enough to sustain the book as a whole narrative. I was surprised to see how emotionally connected I found myself with the characters, especially when it came to the relationship between Clark Kent and his adoptive father.
If anything, I’d probably compare this book to the movie Superman Returns. I know a lot of people hate that movie, and as much as I have to agree that it isn’t really a great Superman story (and whoever’s idea it was to give Superman a son should be shot) it really did work as a wonderful tribute to the character of Superman. In a way, this was probably the best possible book I could have read to be my initiation into Superman graphic novels. It really drove home what Superman stood for and everything he has to deal with. One of the problems I have with the character is that he is seemingly perfect. But when you get good writers behind him, they can turn my perceptions of the character upside down, making him a much richer character and therefore much more interesting to read.
Now I’m reading Batman: Haunted Knight, which is a compilation of three shorter Batman stories revolving around Halloween. But I’m always on the lookout for more good graphic novel reads, so recommend away!
Black Wade, pirate sex. Arrgghhh matey. GORGEOUS book, hardcover, amazing art, soooo expensive. I just petted it for a week because I didn’t want to open it when it arrived. The story? Meh, you read it for the pictures and I don’t mean that just in a pervy way, although that works as well. I should bring it when I come visit and you can read it. It doesn’t take long.
What happened to Superman’s neck? Too many steroids?
Wow, that is quite a cover!
Craiggers, I don’t know what this means, but when I attempted to access the link you provided, the firewall here at work blocked it saying there was a Virus alert, or something. Just wanted to make you aware.
Having gotten that bit o’fun out of the way, allow me to second your review. It was a unique take, I thought, going with the different perspectives.
And as for other reviews, well, I’ve already sent so many, any others I’d send now would probably be duplicates.
HUGS…
THIS should work as it’s from Amazon. The artwork in the book is just beautiful.
Thanks for the heads up Polt, changed the link.
Did you read “City of Glass” (graphic novel remix) by Paul Auster yet?!?!? It’s the only one I’ve ever “read” and it’s soooooooo GOOD.
Yup, I have “Black Wade” on my hard drive in a .pdf form. It’s really good. The art is truly amazing, but it kinda looks like sth from a Disney movie [but the creators were drawing childrens' books for about 20 years prior 2 drawing "Black Wade" so that kinda explains it] – “The Road To El Dorado” instantly came 2 my mind. It’s not overly sexual, but the sex scenes R really nice. Would love 2 buy it in hardcover some day. ;P
Craig you’re absolutely right that for much of the time of the DC canon, Batman was by far the most interesting and deep character and Superman was just about the least. The 60s and 70s especially were a low point (the silver age).
That changed a while ago. Perhaps when John Byrne jumped ship from Marvel and created the Man of Steel series. Superman is now as complex as his character should be — last of his race, never fully human nor fully kryptonian, carrying a unique burden.
Plus how can any gay man not be in love with Superman? Although frankly Tom Welling is so totally not my type, the moment in the credits of Smallville where he holds the boy in his arms to protect him from the meteorite always gets me. I would love to be held in Superman’s strong arms
(On the other hand, I would *not* enjoy suffering Lois’ fate in “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex” ….)
I really enjoyed “Y The Last Man”.
“Plus how can any gay man not be in love with Superman?”
I’m not in love with Superman…I mean in love with Effie White!
*I’m in love…