Books : Superman: For Tomorrow, Vol. 2

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Read It, But Beware
When this story originally came out, I canceled my subscription to whichever Superman book I was getting (there were, like, four), because I thought I'd missed something. Maybe I did; DC isn't as good at keeping their graphic novels organized in chronological order as Marvel. But I figured I didn't want to be spending money on a book I wasn't enjoying. I was surprised, too, because I loved Jim Lee's "Batman: Hush" storyline, but I didn't think about he fact that "Hush" and "For Tomorrow" had different writers, so the stories were majorly different.

Anyway, I've finally read the whole "For Tomorrow" story after all these years, and after a bit of deliberation, I've decided that I like it. It's not my favorite, but it's pretty good.

However, the story is confusing, and not in the same way that "Hush" is. "Hush" is a maze of a storyline where you're trying to find out who's responsible. "For Tomorrow" is philosophical and focuses a lot on questions of ethics, faith, doubt, and the boundaries of a super hero. It's also got a couple annoying specifics (like where Superman tells Batman that he doesn't like him, even though a few story arcs from the same time period would lead you to believe otherwise; also, what's with Wonder Woman and Halycon?), but if you can look above the story itself and focus on the basic themes behind it, it's a very interesting study of the legendary super hero. It took me a while and required me to go back and reread some parts, but I think it works.

Ultimately, I think "For Tomorrow" probably would have worked better as its own mini-series rather than being put in the main Superman books. It doesn't really gel well with the other stories of the time.

Jim Lee's art is good, obviously, though I do think he tends to go overboard with Lois Lane. There's not much else to say on that.

So I recommend reading the book (both parts; preferably in order), but I warn you that it isn't as straightforward as, say, "The Death of Superman." I also personally prefer "Up, Up, and Away" as a Superman story in case you're wondering.

Rating:

- Super Comic
Superman: For Tommorow Vol. 2 is a complicated look into what makes us all human. Jim Lee's amazing visuals make the sometimes too complicated story more intraling than some would beleive. Kal-El finally makes the discovery of where the missing people went too and what has become of Lois. Superman deals with enemys from his fathers past and his own personal demons as he determines if he is truely the hero he believes himself to be.
The comic is great all around and deals with the evolution of Superman better than any other comic. It's a must have for anyone who loves the Man of Steel

Rating:

- Lois...
This is the conclusion to Brian Azzarillo's Superman for Tomorrow books (though why they split them up, I don't know, unless it is for the extra cash). Again Lee's artwork is phenomenal and Azzarillo's story is great.

Rating:

- Good ideas gone awry.

I have been reading Superman since the 1950's (well, the 60's really, but they were old issues) It is tough to challenge the guy! The best Superman stories are the ones that focus on his interpersonal relationships. Second to that are the all-out punch fest's. Good artwork can sometimes carry the day as well. That said, this story had a great deal of potential. I just cannot recommend it however.

The concept of Superman going to a priest is fairly silly to me. This guy's been hanging with the New Gods for heavens sake. He's been dead and has been teammates with Zauriel, an actual member of the Heavenly Host. He hangs with Wonder Woman and the Greek pantheon. His friends Ollie and Hal have both been returned from the great beyond. What does he need a priest for? It is not like Clark has ever shown a proclivity for Christianity before. And the priest has cancer and Superman can't cure him so we know automatically that he will die doing something brave to deliver the Man of Steel from evil. Way too much time spent with this concept of confession, just to get to the concept of messianic Krypto Kryst.

The "vanishing" is a cool concept that, in my mind is totally underdeveloped within the framework of the two volumes. Where they go is equally a cool concept and again, underdeveloped. Way too much confusing dialogue and characters that I really never cared about.

The random Commissioner Gordon looking dude should be (dare I say it again?) better developed and given something real to do. The villains are rather standard and yes, I just said that General Zod is standard. Nothing remarkable here, despite some attempts at major plot twisty-ness. Frankly by the time we get to Zod, I was just trying to make it through to the end.

I like Azzarello. He is gritty and grim and driving and all the things that others say about him. These are all things that Superman is not. I like when people change things up for characters that can easily stagnate. Superman can easily stagnate. The core ideas here are good, there is just too much getting in the way of them.

The artwork is not one of those things. The artwork is the sole reason that I finished the book. Sometimes Jim Lee can look a little too Jim Lee, more of the same and then more. Here he does a very nice job moving the story along with the graphics. Many panels are stand alone good and I went back to them after the story had ended to observe the fine line work and the use of space. Aspiring artists can learn a lot by observing Lee's craftsmanship.

But I cannot recommend this on the basis of artwork alone.

I am giving this three stars, because there is no two and a half and it is definitely better than two star work. Die-hard Superman fans are going to read it no matter what, but the casual reader may want to check out something different.

Rating:

- disappointing
The conclusion of this story did not hold up well for me.
Overall I would not recommend the For Tomorrow series.

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