SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE Volume 3
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Ardian Syaf, Sandra Hope, and Barbara Ciardo
Published by DC Comics
Release Date: February 4, 2015
Apparently, volumes 1 and 2 of DC’s best selling, designed-for-bookstore, graphic novel series was just warm-up.
I won’t pretend that I was a huge fan of either preceding chapter of this alternate universe take on Superman’s early days as a super-hero. The villains were a little underwhelming. Clark’s personality, while emotionally fresh, was less than developed by comparison to an adult Man of Steel we’re used to seeing. And the women… oh, no, they were not portrayed well. At all.
But with Superman: Earth One volume 3, it’s as if a veil has been lifted, and everything that you love about Superman is waiting, fresh and unburdened from 77 years of wear and tear.
On one hand, it’s a curious move for Straczynski to take such a close parallel story construction to the film “Man of Steel,” a controversial alternate rendition of a young Superman in itself. Centering around the arrival of Zod to Earth, volume 3 picks up with where the previous edition left off — with Superman being questioned for his involvement in foreign affairs and made out to be a danger to the Establishment. It’s only with Zod’s participation in this dynamic, however, that all parties can begin to understand the reality of their situation — human and Kryptonian alike.
I’m expecting the classier fan to refer to this volume as “Man of Steel” done right, but it’s hard to deny that Straczynski is making some really smart choices with the manner in which he brings Superman from reckless novice to maturity in the perspective on his role in the world. Earth One’s Superman isn’t nearly as super-wise as previous incarnations have been about involving himself in world affairs and, frankly, just knowing how to talk with people to initiate awe rather than fear or suspicion.
But that roughness to his personality here is poignant, and it gives this character so often described as “too perfect” an edge without resorting to ultra-violence, snark, or darkness. It’s natural all-too-human frustration and confusion that weaves its way into Superman’s persona, and it makes for a much more relatable hero without losing anything that makes him “super.”
And unlike the previous volume, this third chapter in the ongoing saga puts the women of Superman’s world front-and-center with a much more respectful and fulfilling sense of their independence, intelligence, and relationships with the Man of Steel and Clark Kent both. With no less than 5 prominent women filling out this volume (Lisa LaSalle, Lois Lane, Martha Kent, Alexandra Luthor, and Major Sandra Lee), each one gets a significant moment to deliver in the story and serve a purpose even beyond that of propping up the leading gentleman.
Lisa LaSalle especially feels like a real person, a far cry from whatever strange caricature she seemed in Volume 2, and she’s given a much stronger role as Clark’s confidante by the end of the tale. And in parallel fashion, we see much the same evolution for Lois Lane with Superman. Neither woman’s role feels underwhelming, and certainly isn’t a rebuild of any Silver Age love triangle or Lois-Lana catfight. They both feel like they exist in the world independent of their red and blue trousered man-friend, and it makes them both far more likeable and interesting in the process.
Ardian Syaf’s pencils hold their own exceptionally well in the departure of original series artist Shane Davis, balancing the grit and humility of Superman’s activities in much the same way we’ve seen to date. His Clark is handsome with a sprinkle of naiveté, with Superman ferocious in battle against Zod. Action scenes are deeply charismatic, as one would hope for a fight between two god-like creatures, with no loss of detail in backgrounds or characters from one panel edge to another. In short, this is a true graphic novel, with little surprise given to the extended timeline between volumes in retrospect. Time is literally etched on the page.
And Syaf infuses a great deal of realism and humanity into Lisa’s character that wasn’t quite there in the previous volume, making her far more of an endearing love interest than hot-to-trot vixen. His scenes of Krypton are not quite what we’re used to seeing, but lean toward a happy medium between the coldness of the John Byrne era and the camp of the high Silver Age. Overall, if there is a criticism to be leveled, it’s that I’m not sure I get the connection between the volume cover and its contents, especially when there are so many impressive full page splashes peppering these 80 pages.
By far the best of the three volumes to date in the Superman: Earth One series — finally bringing the Man of Steel up to par with the two other subjects in the novel line — volume 3 gives us everything to love about Superman from top to bottom: a charismatic hero who is strong without being perfect; a set of relationships, complex and compelling, that fill out who the man under the suit is, and more; and an engaging adventure that has real world resonance without losing itself in the darkness. Bravo, gentlemen. You’ve brought Superman home to Earth One.
The Verdict: 9.0/10
“They both feel like they exist in the world independent of their red and blue trousered man-friend, and it makes them both far more likeable and interesting in the process.”
I sense that you don’t like Lois being superman’s lover
I’m actually indifferent to the idea. What I like seeing, though, is Lois kicking ass as a smart, intuitive journalist and neo-detective. More important to me than their relationship details. Either way, they’ve only just met, so it’s not an issue in this world.
well, there is at least two reviews saying that Lois is better not dating Clark. For me she can have a relationship with Clark and be a great reporter. there isn’t any need to choose one over another, She will have a YA book that she is the protagonist and have clark as her loveinterest. we can have it all.Praise because the character is being well writter is good, but because she is not a love interest is silly to me
I would say both are equally important and are not, under a true feminist writer, independent of each other.
Lois was created as Superman’s partner and I don’t care for stories that undercut her role as both Clark and Superman’s closest confidante.
There was an important message in the very idea that Superman, the man we consider our greatest ideal, loved a woman devoted to her career more than anyone else. Sure Lois is attractive but she’s not the ::most:: attractive and that wasn’t the draw. It was a punch in the face to social commentary that has always and continues to paint women like Lois as less desirable and romantically viable. Their relationship is part of the spine of the mythos and a key piece of it is lost when it’s ignored. That love story shouldn’t have to be sacrificed for her to get her due in the story and it’s not actually a step forward for women if it is.
As a woman, I can only share my lived experience but I don’t feel impressed with the use of Lisa at all nor do I feel that JMS is telling a feminist story. Lois’s personal relationship with Clark Kent—whatever stage it’s in—was something that belonged to her and something that she had active agency in for decades. It was important reminder that women can, in fact, be both powerful women in their own right and exercise love by their choice. By negating that second piece of the equation and never even touching it over the span of 3 books….JMS has not done anything new or fresh for the character or for women. Instead, he reinforces the problematic but all too often accepted view that women like Lois can be “strong” or can be love interests but can’t be both at the same time. And, at this point, yet another story that shoves Lois aside and robs her of that romantic agency is not “new” or different or fresh. What would truly be fresh right now would be a true feminist writer committing to allowing Lois to live in her role as both the powerful woman that she is, great at her job AND explore the draw between Superman/Clark Kent/Lois with all it’s nuances, sexuality and love. THAT would be refreshing. THAT would be feminist. And that’s the story I’m waiting for as a woman and as a feminist. Thanks.
Well, I didn’t refer to this story as particularly feminist, which is not synonymous with just writing female characters respectfully, in my opinion. If this was meant to be Lois’ story and not Clark’s, her portrayal would have been a fail. But as a supporting character, she’s off to a good start in my eyes.
Ultimately, I find Clark’s relationship with Lisa here charming, but these are very early days for this version of Superman. 240 pages only. So, a lot could still happen!