Finally got my copy of Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski & Shane Davis. Oh!!! So happy! 😀 Ever since I knew it was out in America a few weeks ago, I’ve been haunting Borders and Kinokuniya almost every week. I finally found it was in stock in Bugis Kinokuniya.
Read the whole book on my journey home from Bugis to Yew Tee. 😉 Speed reading is a gift. I’ll give it a more thorough read through tomorrow. But in the meantime I am posting my review for this book.
Comic Book Review
Comic Title: Superman: Earth One
Author/Illustrator: J. Michael Straczynski & Shane Davis
Summary: In an alternate world, 20 year old Clark Kent left for Metropolis to seek his fortune. His adoptive father, Jonathon Kent had passed away, leaving his adoptive mother in his care. As Clark seek to find his own way to live his life and provide for his mother, the alien being which had destroyed Clark’s home planet, Krypton, arrived on Earth to hunt down the last surviving Kryptonian. The time has come for Clark to prove his mantle. The time has come for Superman…
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Storyline
A gripping storyline that deals with adolescence choices, to follow one’s dreams over finding a more profitable job, finding one’s place in the world. The emergence of Superman, a new villian and the battle that follows.
A segment in the comic caught my eye:
Martha Kent: “When you raise a son up tall and strong, hearing ‘This is what I’d like to give you.’ Well that’s nice . But what you’ll really want to hear is ‘This is what I want. For me. To live the life and dreams I’ve always longed for.'”
Clark Kent: “But isn’t that being selfish?”
Martha Kent: “Oh Clark, that’s not selfish. That’s how futures get built.”
……..
Martha Kent: “So I want you to understand something Clark, and really believe in it, because I mean every word of it. I’ll be happy with whatever decision you make as long as you’re happy making it. Even if you decided that all you wanted was to be the best banjo player in the world. Because I love you son.”
Haiz…. the dream mother. Makes me want to go and dive head first into making a career in writing. But then, I have to be realistic. I’ve a family to support and I am no Superman whose IQ is so high that he got his pick of jobs to choose from. Guess I’ll just work and write fiction at the same time. But I digress, continuing on with the review….
The storyline for much of the comic is piognant and nostalgic, especially for those that read the first and other versions of Superman comics. You can literally see the storyline diverging from the original Superman comics. This new alternate Superman is similar… yet different. And I totally liked it.
4 out of 5 Stars
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Artwork
Of course, artwork is one of the most important factor of a comic book. It is the first lasting impression that the reader will get after all. How do I rate it?
The drawing is clear and concise. Theme is a bit dark and gritty, giving an overall ‘COOL’ factor. I can literally see the characters in the comic coming alive. Though the colors bears a dark tone, as are most of comics of this genre, they are colorful and eye catching.
The shadowing of the illustration gives the whole comic a solid and distinctive appearance 😉 As one of my favorite TV character would say. ‘It’s Cool.’
5 out of 5 Stars
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