Superman's Origin Gets A Breath of New Life

Throughout my many, many years of reading comics (from about ages 10-24), I never really got into reading Superman in the comics. I liked him as a character...but his storylines never seemed to interest me. Now getting back into comics as an older adult, it seems that DC Comics has finally given Superman the storylines he's always deserved. I currently read all of his titles, from his self-titled series to Action Comics. They all offer a unique and interesting perspective to the Superman universe.

I've recently picked up the first two issues to DC Comics' new mini-series, Superman: Secret Origin. I wasn't sure how interesting it would be given that I'm already familiar with Superman's origin, life in Smallville, move to Metropolis, etc. Plus, the story's been done before, several times. This one, though, thankfully brings something new to the table, as one would only expect from writer Geoff Johns.

Johns shows Clark Kent as being like any other kid. He delves into Clark's uncertainty of himself and his abilities, his fear of hurting people, his fear of fitting in, his fear of being adopted, and his fear of being from another planet. He's your everyday naive kid with a good heart that doesn't want to hurt other people's feelings. Johns also moves along the storyline at a quick pace so as to not lose readers already familiar with Superman's secret origin. Each issue is a totally new part of Clark's life as a kid. The first issue of the mini-series deals with Clark learning of his extraterrestrial origins, discovering his abilities, and meeting the teenage Lex Luthor at a county fair. The second is Clark's first meeting with the Legion of Superheroes and donning his Superboy persona and costume.

Geoff Johns also adds new information about Clark as an adolescent boy, his first meetings with his friends and foes, and discovering his powers. Case in point: Clark accidentally discovers his heat vision power when he gets excited from Lana Lang kissing him.

In addition to the fantastic writing, there's the art. Gary Frank does a beautiful job bringing the characters of the Superman mythos to life. His rendition of Clark Kent looks exactly like a young Christopher Reeve who, as you know, played Superman in the original Superman movies. (And, if you don't know that, WTF?) It's remarkable. And Clark's facial expressions really complement Johns' comfortable writing style and help to move along the storyline.

Whoever thought they've seen all there is to see about Superman's secret origin should give this new mini-series a try. You'll discover something you never knew before...and get a great storytelling experience. What do you have to lose?