Superman gets Cocky.

In reading the new Action Comics #1, written by Grant Morrison, Superman has a different past history.  Clark Kent works for a rival newspaper and isn't -- yet, anyway -- infatuated with Lois Lane.  Gone, too, is his recognizable costume.  In his spare time, he's flying around in a short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans a la Superboy (before DC's New 52).  

To be honest, I'm not sure I like the "new" Superman.  And, actually, it seems that not many people in Metropolis do.  He's more like an outlaw (like Batman at his beginnings) than a revered superhero.   He seems arrogant, cocky, and not at all Superman-like.  For him, it's more like "Truth, Justice, and My Way."

While I don't mind messing with his origins and stories a bit in this revamped DCU, you can't really mess with the Superman legacy or what he stands for.  There's just something wrong about that.  Superman had and has a good heart, was/is caring, and was/is a do-gooder, and this new version is anything but.  

Superman Turns 700

Superman reached his 700th issue last week, following Batman's disappointing 700th the week before.  Ironically, Batman started in 1940 while Superman started in 1939.

Superman's milestone was much better than Batman's.  Both issues contained a few short stories starring the title character, but Superman's was tied to current storylines or past history, whereas Batman's were just random bullshit.  In fact, Superman #700 contained a story that teamed him up with the original Robin, Batman's former partner, in a story set back in time.  Batman/Bruce Wayne appeared briefly and his appearance here was still better than the stories from his own 700th issue.  It provided a fun reading, seeing Superman play the adult mentor to the teenage Robin.  This was my favorite story of the three; however, it was more of a story for Robin than Superman.  I love the original Robin, though, so I was content.

Another story within the issue focused on Superman's reunion with his wife, Lois Lane, after the events from the "War of the Supermen" and "New Krypton" sagas that have run in all of the Superman books over the past couple of years.   I appreciated being let into Superman's personal life, as it's something that we haven't had a glimpse of in quite some time.  It made him -- for lack of a better term -- "human."  (Although hearing Superman and Lois confess their love to one another over and over again got a bit redundant.)

The third and final story within Superman #700 lays the groundwork for the upcoming "Grounded" storyline that will see Superman walking across the U.S. from Philadelphia to Seattle, stopping at cities and small towns in between, so he can reconnect with his fan base on their level.   I like that this will give Superman a more personal approach, but he can't be there to save people's everyday lives.  Hello!  He's not Sup-- Well, I guess he is.  But still...

So, while $4.99 seems a little steep for what we got, it was money better spent than Batman #700.  It didn't suck.

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?