Superman Earth One volume 1 by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis

I’ve never been a big reader of Superman. I don’t really understand how such a strong character can have truly challenging obstacles to face as to make him believable; he’s just too overpowered. All things being equal though, there are stories that make Superman a great character, All Star Superman was one, and Superman: Red Son is another. This book is a third. What all of these stories share is taking of the preconceived notions of what Superman is, and spinning them into something unique. JMS does this in this story quite well. He takes the mythology we all know, (Clark Kent being found as a child, being abnormally strong, and standing up as a protector and doing the right thing), and modernizes and tweaks it so that it feels fresh and new.

From a narrative point of view, JMS rocks the scripting. He introduces the character at a moment where he is uncertain of who he is, who he wants to be and what he wants to achieve, making him instantly relatable. The easy hook would have been starting the book off with a bang, showing Superman in action, which is a great hook for getting readers set for an action filled adventure, but at the cost of setting the reader apart from character. By narrowing in on the quiet, small moments, JMS allows the reader to connect with the character, and allows them to generate a vested interest in Clark Kent as he goes from drifting twenty-something to grounded reporter and hero.

It’s impressive how effortless JMS makes storytelling appear in this book. Everything is pitch perfect as it builds towards its eventual ending. He deftly introduces the character and his emotional state of mind, while fleshing out his history in flashbacks, all while building to an explosive final act and satisfying conclusion. He manages to give each secondary character their moment to shine, while still keeping their ‘screen time’ organic feeling. You don’t realize how much more adapt a master is at writing well-constructed narrative compared to the average writer until you experience it. The only reason I bring this up is that I just spent the evening reading comics, (and there were some good ones in the pile), finishing off with this graphic novel, and the amount of satisfaction I received by reading the book was immense in comparison. It took me a few moments to figure out why, and then it hit me: the pacing was perfect. So perfect that I’ve made a mental note to re-read this story when I want to study story structure more, as it sits head and shoulders above most.

The story itself is a great introduction to the character of Superman, and does not rely on the reader having any prior knowledge. The book opens with Clark Kent riding the train into the big city after living his whole life in a small, rural farming community. He admits to his new landlord he has no idea what his plans are, and we watch as he searches for belonging. It is quickly revealed that Kent is exceptionally good at whatever he does, but he is unable to choose what he wants to pursue. He eventually begins to slowly gravitate toward his future, and we learn about his origin and growing up with his Earth parents. By the time a threat arrives, causing Kent to have to decide if he should show the world what he has the ability to do, we have seen him start to understand himself after wrestling with knowing what he can do and what he wants to do, while this new threat forces him to decide what kinds of rights and responsibilities he has.

The story is one about growing up and finding your footing. It also has the uplifting message that many Superman stories have: you shape your destiny and because of this, you can never lose faith in who you are or stop believing in what is right. This is a message that can feel far too boy scout in a Superman story when it’s done wrong, but in JMS’ hands, it rings true. In his dedication JMS writes “that [the Superman] symbol means that all things are possible” and this story embodies that message in a way that does not preach, but inspires. You can’t help but be lifted up as you read the sage words of Jonathan Kent as he speaks to young Clark, and then see Clark take those words to heart when he faces adversity.

There is a lot I could say about the wonderful art of Shane Davis, who knows how to convey emotion so well as to not need dialog to explain what people are thinking, but I think I’ll let those that read the book discover it for themselves. All I’ll say is that he can do a lot of things well, and he helps make this book a full package.

I went into this book expecting a good story, and I ended up getting something even better. JMS hit all the right notes, and he managed to capture the essence of a character that often feels old and uninspired, and breathe new life into him. I plan on reading the book over again before the month’s out, and the idea of that excites me.

Indestructible Hulk # 1-5 by Mark Waid and Leinil Yu

I’m kind of a borderline Hulk fan. For the longest time I didn’t really see why he was anything more than a throw away character, but slowly, Hulk has been seeping into my comic reading, and I’ve grown to quite like him as a character. The first real appealing moment for me was Jason Aaron’s recent run on Incredible Hulk, where he had Dr. Bruce Banner and the Hulk entity spilt into two beings, with the story told from the Hulk’s point of view. The Hulk was finally free to be happy, and Banner had gone completely mad scientist. The second time I connected with Hulk was reading Hulk Grey by Loeb and Sale, as they recounted Banner’s early days as the Hulk and what it cost him and who it impacted (and Sale’s art was to die for). The third Hulk story that I read and loved, and finally cementing my appreciation for the character, was an old storyline of Peter David’s where the Hulk becomes a Vas Vegas casino leg breaker, and while a bit cornball, was fun and entertaining. 

All of this to say that I recently decided to give the new Indestructible Hulk series a try.

The fascinating thing about Hulk is how new writers are able to take a character that could easily be a one trick pony and find something new to say about the character. Waid’s new spin on the character is that Bruce Banner has finally come to terms with the fact that the monster is part of who he is, (as Waid puts it “Being the Hulk is a chronic condition, like diabetes or cancer or M.S. The secret to living with it isn’t obsessing over a cure. It’s managing what exists.”), and he needs to use his time as Banner to do good. To accomplish this, Banner makes a deal with S.H.E.I.L.D. to get state-of-the-art lab space and funding in return for them being able to use the Hulk as weapon when they require it. As a premise it’s brilliant, and it got me extremely excited and expectant of great things to come.

The first issue is mostly a conversation between Banner and Maria Hill of S.H.I.E.L.D. about Banner’s proposal, and while there is also a large action scene, it was the discussion setting up the premise of the book that sticks out for me. So much so in fact, that when I read references to the action scene in later issues I didn’t even remember it happening and worried that I had somehow skipped an issue.

The second issue was a solid little story that further defined what Waid wants to say during his run on the book. The main feature is Banner prepping a new invention and Tony Stark butting heads with Banner, with Stark realizing in the end that Banner is much more brilliant that Stark ever gave him credit for. The issue is a stand out for me, especially as it shows Stark’s easily shattered confidence in himself, as he must at one point excuse himself from Banner’s presence and, looking at himself in the mirror, reminds himself that at least he’s still rich even if he isn’t the genius that Banner is. It’s interesting that Stark has really taken over the role of most brilliant mind from Reed Richards, and this book suggests that they could easily take that title away from him and shift it once again, onto the head of Bruce Banner.

The rest of the issues build a bit more on the grand plan of having Banner atone for the damage he wreaks as Hulk, but mostly just turn into a bunch of issues of Hulk smashing things. The action sequences are well choreographed and rendered by Yu, but for me, they didn’t excite me nearly as much as the first two issues did simply because it’s the cerebral part of Hulk stories I enjoy more than the all-out action scenes.

The first few issues suggested that Waid had a very focused story he wanted to tell, but looking back on issue one through five as a whole, I feel that there are elements introduced that don’t really pay off because there simply isn’t room to tell those stories plus have the Hulk let loose. The elements that I currently feel have been left on the back burner will hopefully be dealt with soon, so I’m definitely in for a few more issues to see if the title delivers what it suggested it was going to. The big storyline I want to see continued is the group of scientists that have been gathered to work under Banner, as they clearly all have interesting backstories and some have potentially nefarious reasons for wanting to work with Banner, and yet as soon as they are introduced they are left alone until it’s convenient to mention them again.  The other element, is the introduction of R.O.B., a floating robot orb that would probably be at home in another Portal sequel, that has been put in place by S.H.I.E.L.D. to monitor Banner and the Hulk, and seems to mostly be used by Waid as a running gag, as it is destroyed over and over again. As humor, I felt if fell a bit flat, but if there is another reason for it existing, then I’m all for that being revealed soon.

Indestructible Hulk has the potential to be a great series, and right now it’s keeping me engaged enough to stick around, especially since Walt Simonson coming on art duties for a run is just starting, so I’m in this for at least a few months more. I do really hope that the initial premise that was so well laid out in the first issue really blossoms into something great, but for now, it’s going to be a matter of waiting and seeing.

Martian Manhunter (1988) 4 issue mini-series by J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Badger

While in Vegas, I popped into a local comic book store –Alternate Reality Comics- as I am want to do in a new city and picked up the 1988 Martian Manhunter mini-series the owner had bagged up as a complete set and had placed in the front of the store. I had no idea what it was going to be about, but for the price I figured it’d be worth checking out an old school J’onn J’onnzz (Martian Manhunter’s name) comic. I’ve been in love with the character ever since reading an issue of Adventures in the DC Universe that featured him when I was a kid and figured it was worth a shot. Little did I know that this series was actually going to be the one that that first showed us J’onn’s previous life on Mars and why he is who he is! Even though I knew all this before, it thrilled me to actually be reading the story that told of his past, and when I finished reading it, it felt like I had just found a fascinating antiquity with a metal detector when all I expected were a few bottle caps.

The story starts with J’onn seeking help from Batman, as he thinks he is being chased by a demon. Batman deduces it’s a fever dream caused by J’onn absorbing a harmful virus that had recently threatened to kill the human race, but J’onn’s immune system shouldn’t have been hurt by. Soon after J’onn is again fleeing, and continues to do so with no real advances to the plot for the total run of the first two issues. It was at this point I felt I had been duped into reading another go-nowhere limited series with an inane plot from a bygone age of comics, and if it wasn’t for it being a Sunday and having nothing better to do than read comics and eat Twizzlers, I probably would have stopped.

Thankfully I didn’t, as the last two issues actually become something wonderful. [Here come SPOLIERS, but I figure no one is going to track this down to read, as I doubt it’s collected anywhere, so no big deal. Plus everyone has known Martian Manhunter’s backstory for almost 25 years now, so this isn’t going to come as a shock to anyone who may care.] We find out in the last two issues that much of what shaped J’onn J’onnzz was put into his head by a well-meaning scientist who helped him bury his grief so J’onn could move forward with his new life on Earth -his passion to protect the earth, and his physical appearance primarily- since his past on Mars was so horrible he could never move forward. We also find out that the demon that has been chasing him is actually the Mars god of death, who needs J’onn to go back to his home world to help free the ghosts of the J’onn’s species, who all died from a horrible plague. With the scientist’s help (the man who initially pulled J’onn to Earth), J’onn is able to go back to Mars and confront his past that he had originally buried under false memories and amnesia. There we learn that the Martian race all died of a plague, including his wife and child, and when the plague victims died their bodies were burned (explaining Martian Manhunter’s fear of fire). We also see J’onn’s true form, which he from this story on keeps whenever he is not in public, and only switches to the more Burroughs-esque classic martian shape when he is out performing his duties for the Justice League. Finally, by confronting his memories, he is able to let go of the past and accept his family’s death, which releases the spirits of his race from their limbo state and finally move on to heaven.

The story had an enjoyable last act in my opinion, and DeMatteis does a surprisingly good job at capturing the need to let go of the past, and reminds us to remember the dead, but not cling to them, lest it consume you. For all of his overly wordy dialogue boxes, and 80’s-tastic repetition of phrases to ‘drive home the point’, the final issue’s look at the above mentioned themes and more straightforward writing make the final product stand out more than the sum of its parts. The same goes for the art. Badger has a Bill Sienkiewicz look to the pages that feature surreal imagery and foreshadowing, although his depictions of people are not nearly of that same caliber. Overall, his art took some getting used to, and as the book transitioned from a mood piece full of foreshadowing to a clear cut finale, his art became more grounded and enjoyable. Through the course of reading the book, I went from feeling the art was functional to feeling like I wouldn’t mind reading a few more books with him on pencils.

There is an interesting pattern to my reading of this book. I started by being unimpressed by any portion of it, and after it hit the midway point, it started to capture me, and every portion of the book –plot, scripted narration, and art- got better. Overall, I’m glad I stumbled upon it and I’m excited to have it in my collection just for the impact it had on the Manhunter’s life, but at the same time I’d be hard pressed to suggest anyone take the time to track the series down. It’s a piece of comic book history that added some great ideas to the Martian Manhunter canon, but it is perfectly good to leave it as a foundational stone and not bother digging it up to place in a display case.