Rating:  -
Other than Adam Hughes artwork, there's nothing spectacular here. Just the lame comic book treatment stories leading up to Superman Returns, a film which was a cataclismic disappointment. I would have liked some better story-telling, but frankly this is just more effort to ruin the main of steel.
Rating:  -
Why do I love this book, it's not because of the art or the stories, It's because it doesn't mention Superman II, how could this be, I think the ending of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut explains it. So if you buy this book remember, you must forget the Lester cut, and watch the Donner canonical cut. Bye bye picky bi*****! HA HA HA HA!!!!!
Rating:  -
If you loved "Superman Returns" you'll probably love these comics which do a pretty decent job of bridging the gap between "Superman: The Movie" and the recent film. There is a hint of the events of "Superman II," but not much more than that.
These aren't your average superhero comics, with tons of action and supervillain smack-downs. Rather, the writers (Singer didn't actually pen these scripts, though he probably gave the writers their assignments) take a much more meditative approach to the characters, examining the motives of key players Lois Lane, Martha Kent, Lex Luthor and Jor-El. The finished effect is much like the polished jewels of Krypton--beautiful to look at, but the plaster Hollywood effects become apparent after a while.
There are some really nice moments, such as a brief glimpse of children playing and having fun on Krypton, which the 1979 film gave the impression of being simply a sterile and joyless world. A hint is also given about Krypton's intellectual heritage, which I thought was nice.
The issue featuring Martha Kent was probably the best, and she moves in reverie through her memories of Clark growing up and leaving the farm. It's like reading a really good short story with a superhero as a supporting character.
Luthor's story is probably the least believable, but it does a decent job exploring the unlikely psychology of a man who would nuke California in hopes of a real estate coup.
Lois's issue shows how she got over her past relationship with Superman, and came to write the editorial that made Clark so mad in the recent film. It's readable enough, but it feels like it's just connecting the dots rather than really exploring the character. There is also no clear reference to the events of "Superman II," which was disappointing.
Overall, it's a nice collection that you can put next to your "Superman Returns" DVD. For comic book fans, though, it's a mixed bag.
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