Superman: Earth One News (SPOILERS)

[Jan]

It's probably been available for some time but I just found the pre-order for the first "Batman: Earth One" here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140...1&a=1401232086

And there's a nice interview/review here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bryan-...b_1632766.html

Jan

[Jan]

A nice interview with Shane Davis just came out:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=40034

Jan

[Jan]

Just found on Facebook:

Originally Posted by Fans of J. Michael Straczynski

Good news: with presales on Superman: Earth One volume two terrific and DC loving the quality of the book they've told me to start volume 3!

Hoping we don't have to wait two years again...I asked.

ETA: And he answered!

Originally Posted by Fans of J. Michael Straczynski

Probably not. The book's been done for a while, but they wanted to make a window for Batman: Earth One to come out first and not be crowded in the marketplace. That issue won't apply now that v1 of that book is out, so my guess (and that's all it is) is that this would be targeted for Spring/Summer 13.

So now I asked if Shane Davis would be doing the art.

Another post:

Originally Posted by Fans of J. Michael Straczynski

I worked out a long arc for the character and for the books in the hope that they would do well, never imagining that they'd do as amazingly well as they have...so yes, I had v3 in mind while writing v2, and much beyond that as well.

Jan

[Jan]

Another reminder from JMS:

Originally Posted by Fans of J. Michael Straczynski

Aaannd a reminder that Superman: Earth One, vol. 2 hits comics stores Oct. 31 and bookstores a week later. Busy October!

Got mine pre-ordered from Amazon but I may not be able to wait. I really liked the first one a lot.

Jan

[babylonlurker]

Originally Posted by Jan

Another reminder from JMS:



Got mine pre-ordered from Amazon but I may not be able to wait. I really liked the first one a lot.

Jan

As did I.
Also - it is a beautiful high quality book, script, illustrations, cover and all.

Looking forward to getting #2.

[Jan]

Joint interview with JMS and Shane Davis. SPOILERS included!

http://robpatey.com/2012/10/15/j-mic...rth-1s-kimono/

Jan

[Jan]

JMS just posted this link to an extensive preview of S:E1:v2 on Entertainment Weekly:

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/10/23/...ve-first-look/

Jan

[Ubik]

I read Superman Earth One – Vol 1 yesterday and quite enjoyed it. It felt like an opening chapter, establishing JMS’ vision of the character and also laying the foundations for future volumes. Some nice little tweaks to the origin story to set up a big bad. I thought the art was lovely; very polished but without that artificial computer coloured sheen that a lot of big Marvel titles suffer from. All in all very cinematic. The only other Superman related books I’ve read have been Steven T. Seagle’s ‘It’s a Bird’ and Grant Morrison’s ‘All Star Superman’. Both are excellent for very different reasons.

Seagle’s ‘It’s a Bird’ deserves special mention as his book uses Superman as a motif to examine his own fears of contracting Huntington’s disease (A hereditary disease with no known cure that results in slow muscle wastage and mental decline) He dissects the Superman myth, and in doing so examines what the character means to him and others. He explores the death of his grandmother, his childhood and how Huntinton’s disease has affected his life in general. It’s a very personal and autobiographical piece with gorgeous watercolour art. I can’t recommend this enough. Not strictly a Superman book in the typical superhero sense, but it really gets to the heart of the character. Do check it out. I think it’s the best Superman book out there.

Morrison’s run on Superman was also pretty stellar. Again it’s a reboot, so Morrison sets up his own Superman mythos whilst drawing on all the classic elements of the character. Most notably, he does the origin story in one super compressed page which I thought was genius. Everyone knows it, so why dwell on it! The ideas are big and zany, the art is to die for (Frank Quietly) and Morrison successfully distils what Superman is all about.

Will definitely be curious to see where JMS goes with this second volume. I’m hoping the supporting cast gets more space and we see the beginning of some story arcs for the whole cast of the book. I think he mentioned wanting to do this is recent interviews.

[Jan]

This is going to be spoiler-ful so if you don't want that, come back after you've read the book. In comic shops now and coming to bookstores this coming Tuesday, Nov. 6.

In no particular order, here are some thoughts:

- As with much of JMS' work, what strikes me is the characters. Even Superman's ship gets a moment to become more than just a machine.

- The dedication JMS wrote to the people who influenced him, particularly two of his former teachers (one of whom has a cameo in the story) is totally cool.

- I liked that Clark's female neighbor continues the tradition of women important to him having LL names.

- There's a hugely interesting dichotomy between Clark's relationship with Lisa and Lois' relationship with the guy in her life which gives insight into both of them.

- Also between Clark and Lois themselves. Clark wants to do. Lois wants to know. I don't see them getting together romantically any time soon in these books, which is fine with me.

- It'll be interesting to see the confrontation that looks immanent between Clark and Lois after his talk with his teacher. I hope V3 picks up immediately after this one.

- As mentioned in one of the interviews linked to above, there are a number of easter eggs in this book. Shane Davis drew himself into a scene at the Daily Planet (which I would never have known if he hadn't mentioned it). JMS' upcoming "Vlad Dracula" TV series gets a mention on the page with Lois' story about Parasite as does a mention of Gotham City and, presumably a nod to Batman Earth One. Anybody see more?

- Lex Squared looks like an interesting take on an old foe.

I'm enjoying this a lot and I *really* hope we don't have to wait two years for the next one. So what do the rest of you think?

Jan

[Ubik]

I have a copy, but yet to read it. More when I have (obviously)...

[Ubik]

WARNING! SPOILERS!

Just finished up reading Vol. 2 and have to admit I came away slightly disappointed. I found I struggled to engage with this one in the same way as I did with Vol. 1.

The parasite as a villain fell a bit flat for me. The back story felt too rushed and I couldn't really trace any clear motivation for his actions (besides 'must have more energy!'), or muster that much enthusiasm for the character.

What the parasite did do well was work as a good exposition device, setting up a number of things in relation to the military learning more about Superman's powers. There's certainly an eventual show down on the cards there. But all in all, the character just felt a bit throw away and I could have done without the extended fist fights that are so typical of spandex comics. Perhaps this will all be fleshed out later on?

What I liked: The lower key elements of the book. Clark's interaction with his neighbors, the difficulties raised by superhuman powers and sex

Like Jan, I loved the ship and enjoyed the banter between Superman and the AI, more of that please!

There was a strong sense of deja vu with the military scene, as very similar plot lines were explored in Supreme Power. Admittedly, that was a very thinly veiled Superman tribute anyway.

All in all, it's solid superhero book, but I expected more from JMS. I wanted more depth, perhaps more pages!? This may well be a series that pans out beautifully in the long run, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

[Jan]

Originally Posted by Ubik

The parasite as a villain fell a bit flat for me. The back story felt too rushed and I couldn't really trace any clear motivation for his actions (besides 'must have more energy!'), or muster that much enthusiasm for the character.

I got that part right away - he was a sicko. You've basically got a guy who's a bully and *likes* hurting things and people, not just making them feel bad, making them hurt and die. There's really no motivation except that he likes suffering and killing so when he became the Parasite, yeah, he lusted after more power but he was contemplating finding millions of ways to kill people.

Sometimes people are products of their experiences and sometimes they're just not wired up right.

ETA: and the power receptors in his mouth have to be some of the creepiest things I've ever seen in a comic!

Jan

[Jan]

Cool interview in the LA Times:

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/...nerable-heart/

Jan

[Ubik]

Originally Posted by Jan

I got that part right away - he was a sicko. You've basically got a guy who's a bully and *likes* hurting things and people, not just making them feel bad, making them hurt and die. There's really no motivation except that he likes suffering and killing so when he became the Parasite, yeah, he lusted after more power but he was contemplating finding millions of ways to kill people.

Sometimes people are products of their experiences and sometimes they're just not wired up right.

ETA: and the power receptors in his mouth have to be some of the creepiest things I've ever seen in a comic!

Jan

I had a bit more of a think about the book having let it all sink in overnight.

I was mulling it over on the way to work and something occurred to me about Parasite. He's the polar opposite of Superman in every way, and is obviously meant to be (he's is the bad guy after all!). As a child he DIDN'T blend in, he chose to fight and retaliate. Obviously his mental health isn't quite what it should be either. BUT, he shares one important similarity with Clark; that he wants to protect those close to him (his sister). Unfortunately his natural tendencies towards violence are exaserbated when trying to do this on a grander scale (earning money, etc). It's the worst possible outcome, and mirrors the choice Clark makes in Vol. 1. He wants to protect and provide for Martha, but in the end he finds the cost is too high, and with her good advice pursues a more noble but lowly job as a reporter.

So, those motifs are quite nicely executed, even though I didn't find Parasite too charismatic a bad guy.

Jan, I absolutely agree that the character designs for Parasite were creepy. I hadn't really touched much on the art in my previous comments. All gorgeous, as per the last book.

[Jan]

Interesting observations about Parasite, Ubik. I hadn't thought of him as a mirror to Clark but there are definite points there.

JMS just posted this link to an interview for MTVGeek:

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/11/12/...man-earth-one/

Jan