SUPERMAN LAST SON
August 23rd 2012 23:30
Category: Graphic Novels/Comics
Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
Publisher: DC Comics
Production Team: Geoff Johns – writer, Richard Donner – writer, Adam Kubert – artist, Dave Stewart – colourist, Edgar Delgado – colourist & Rob Leigh - letterer
Cost: AU$6.99/US$12.99
“Look up in the sky, is it bird, is it a plane no its Superman!” Lines that are as iconic as the character they portray and probably known by a great deal of people around the world. Certainly as a superhero Superman is very much an archetype that has been deeply rooted into the public consciousness since he first appeared in the pages of Action Comics way back when. And he just seems to keep on powering on, although over the years he has been involved in some real lousy projects, the one that initially springs to mind is Superman & Batman vs. Aliens vs. Predators, a jumping on of a cash cow bandwagon if ever there was one and frankly a dilution of the credibility of DC Comics as a comic publisher.
Fortunately though there are works that redeem the character and the publisher, this particular work being one such tale. Now this particular graphic novel I managed to pick up whilst waiting for an appointment at a rather good price, it always a pleasure getting a bargain, even more so if turns out to be enjoyable. Brought to the audience by a creative team that includes the director of the very first Superman flick that featured Christopher Reeves in a role that he came to own, this work is very much in the vein of that original film and takes the story back to a time when the world believed a man could fly but when heroes where what could be defined as heroic in the modern sense of the word.
So does this mean this work is retro? If talking retro in terms of setting then no, if talking retro in terms of mood, themes and atmosphere then very much yes it is a retro work. Gone is the angst and seeking to appeal to certain audiences as well as highlighting current issues of the day, instead rather what we have is a work that seeks to tell an exciting story filled with action, high drama, some intrigue and pathos. This is what we as an audience want, this is what we expect and the production team has frankly delivered that in spades and then some with this work.
As far as the artwork in this graphic novel is concerned there is a high level of vibrancy and life within the images that gives this a truly cinematic feel. Superman’s cape flaps as he descends to the ground, the long coats of his opponents also shiver and flap as they fly or ‘stand’ in the air looking down on their foes. There is also great use of lighting…almost as if the whole story arc is following the arc of the sun with muted tones and bright light at key points indicating dawn, day and twilight at key points. Frankly my vernacular can’t convey just how great the art is…suffice it to say its damn good.
Gushing about the artwork aside no doubt you are wondering then just what exactly is going on in this particular little piece? What manner of dangers is Superman up against? Interestingly as I mentioned the story draws a lot on the original film and the actual origins of Superman…beginning with the sudden appearance of a strange rocket ship that appears one day suddenly over the skyline of Metropolis, home town of Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent. What does this mean, has some other being, another superhuman arrived in the heartland of America? As he gazes into the rocket and sees a young boy there is no doubt that Superman feels a sense of fission, that history is somehow repeating. This sense is further heightened when it is discovered that the boy from the rocket speaks fluent Kryptonian…
Is this child another survivor from that tragically doomed world? Certainly at the outset it would seem to be the case, but in reality it’s actually the opening gambit of a far more sinister scheme. The ship hasn’t been built on Krypton, Superman’s birthworld, but within the deeps of the Phantom Zone, the alternate dimension created by Jor-El, Superman’s father and a brilliant scientist. This is all part of a plan hatched by the infamous General Zod, a revolutionary who attempted to overthrow Krypton’s ruling council and was along with his allies imprisoned in the Phantom Zone by none other than Jor-El. Consequently General Zod doesn’t have fond memories of Jor-El and his son, Kal-El aka Superman aka Clark Kent.
Thus the young boy’s arrival is the harbinger of an impending invasion of the Earth from the Phantom Zone as General Zod and his lackeys break forth from the zone. Of course it isn’t all about catastrophe engineered by alien invaders or monstrous entities from alternate realities, there is also the fact that Superman feels somehow like a parent to this newcomer, that the child has raised in him a paternal instinct that he wishes to bring forth and for a while with the cooperation of Lois Lane his wife, he manages to do just this. Though it all ends rather poignantly as not only is the young boy, Lor-Zod is not only a harbinger but a key as well. Thus the story ends on a rather tragic note on the one hand, yet despite this Superman doesn’t give up either hope or rail against the ‘unfairness’ of it all. He moves forward, shoulders squared and ready to face what life has to offer…
Superman Last Son is a great read well worth tracking down and getting your hands on, especially if you can get it at a bargain basement price like I did.
Publisher: DC Comics
Production Team: Geoff Johns – writer, Richard Donner – writer, Adam Kubert – artist, Dave Stewart – colourist, Edgar Delgado – colourist & Rob Leigh - letterer
Cost: AU$6.99/US$12.99
“Look up in the sky, is it bird, is it a plane no its Superman!” Lines that are as iconic as the character they portray and probably known by a great deal of people around the world. Certainly as a superhero Superman is very much an archetype that has been deeply rooted into the public consciousness since he first appeared in the pages of Action Comics way back when. And he just seems to keep on powering on, although over the years he has been involved in some real lousy projects, the one that initially springs to mind is Superman & Batman vs. Aliens vs. Predators, a jumping on of a cash cow bandwagon if ever there was one and frankly a dilution of the credibility of DC Comics as a comic publisher.
As far as the artwork in this graphic novel is concerned there is a high level of vibrancy and life within the images that gives this a truly cinematic feel. Superman’s cape flaps as he descends to the ground, the long coats of his opponents also shiver and flap as they fly or ‘stand’ in the air looking down on their foes. There is also great use of lighting…almost as if the whole story arc is following the arc of the sun with muted tones and bright light at key points indicating dawn, day and twilight at key points. Frankly my vernacular can’t convey just how great the art is…suffice it to say its damn good.
Gushing about the artwork aside no doubt you are wondering then just what exactly is going on in this particular little piece? What manner of dangers is Superman up against? Interestingly as I mentioned the story draws a lot on the original film and the actual origins of Superman…beginning with the sudden appearance of a strange rocket ship that appears one day suddenly over the skyline of Metropolis, home town of Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent. What does this mean, has some other being, another superhuman arrived in the heartland of America? As he gazes into the rocket and sees a young boy there is no doubt that Superman feels a sense of fission, that history is somehow repeating. This sense is further heightened when it is discovered that the boy from the rocket speaks fluent Kryptonian…
Is this child another survivor from that tragically doomed world? Certainly at the outset it would seem to be the case, but in reality it’s actually the opening gambit of a far more sinister scheme. The ship hasn’t been built on Krypton, Superman’s birthworld, but within the deeps of the Phantom Zone, the alternate dimension created by Jor-El, Superman’s father and a brilliant scientist. This is all part of a plan hatched by the infamous General Zod, a revolutionary who attempted to overthrow Krypton’s ruling council and was along with his allies imprisoned in the Phantom Zone by none other than Jor-El. Consequently General Zod doesn’t have fond memories of Jor-El and his son, Kal-El aka Superman aka Clark Kent.
Thus the young boy’s arrival is the harbinger of an impending invasion of the Earth from the Phantom Zone as General Zod and his lackeys break forth from the zone. Of course it isn’t all about catastrophe engineered by alien invaders or monstrous entities from alternate realities, there is also the fact that Superman feels somehow like a parent to this newcomer, that the child has raised in him a paternal instinct that he wishes to bring forth and for a while with the cooperation of Lois Lane his wife, he manages to do just this. Though it all ends rather poignantly as not only is the young boy, Lor-Zod is not only a harbinger but a key as well. Thus the story ends on a rather tragic note on the one hand, yet despite this Superman doesn’t give up either hope or rail against the ‘unfairness’ of it all. He moves forward, shoulders squared and ready to face what life has to offer…
Superman Last Son is a great read well worth tracking down and getting your hands on, especially if you can get it at a bargain basement price like I did.
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