Here with a review of a recent "classic" comic is our man Lyle Tucker (he's on fire lately)! It's time for the Adventures of Superman!
I've been a Marvel Zombie for most of my comic-reading days. Like many of us old farts I started out with kid stuff (Richie Rich, Sad Sack, etc.), graduating to Batman / Superman / Bouncing Boy / WhatHaveYou Lass, finally being won over to Marvel with the F.F., Thor, etc.
This is what I see as the natural maturation of a comic-book reader, rightly or wrongly. The Distinguished Competitor has, indeed, mostly been Brand Echh for me.
In the '70s I went back to some titles based on the artist drawing the mag (Adams, Wrightson, Nino, etc.), but I found the company's overall “less sophisticated” approach dull compared to Marvel's hyperbolic gaudy fare.
Then I got married, raised a family, and mostly left comics behind, not returning in any real way until I ran across the Busiek / Ross MARVELS. Now I'm back with the fold, but I'm still and will always be behind the times.
Kinda like how I always viewed DC as being.
And now that I see we have something in common, I can appreciate their stable of characters more than I used to. Take Superman. Once I left for Marvel, I rarely looked back at the uber mensch. He was deadly dull. Invincible except for Kryptonite – feh!
However, nowadays, I enjoy the big clod.
Take ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #1, 2012, with three stories respectively written by Jeff Parker, Jeff Lemire and Justin Jordan (this issue could legitimately be sponsored by the letter “J”), and art by Chris Samnee, Jeff Lemire and Wiley Rossmo.
The Parker / Samnee tale involves Supes facing a street addict with inexplicable powers that actually seem to phaze The Big Guy. It's a quick story that hints at greater troubles to come, with dynamic Samnee art propelling its arc.
Lemire treats us to a scene we know all too well – two kids playing at being Superman. The one who has the thankless task of being the villain is unable to decide upon which fiend he's going to stick with, and although Lemire's art is decidedly quirky, it fits the tale.
The final story features everyone's favorite, Bizarro Superman. As I did back as a kid, I got a headache trying to stay up with Bizarro's rationale. Superman does, too. But he works it out and saves the day.
And I think he does so for truth, justice and the American way. Behind the times. As he should be.
Grade: B-
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