Rating:  -
SUPERMAN: EXILE is a worthwhile read for any kind of Superman fan. Both pre- and post-Crisis aficionados will find something to like in this story. And hey, it occurs prior to Superman's exaggerated death, so that's a plus either way you look at it. Collected here are SUPERMAN (second series) #28-30, #32-33, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #451-456, ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #2, and ACTION COMICS #643 (all from 1988-89)... a good chunk of reading that will keep you busy. Almost 300 pages for only fifteen bucks is an anomaly in today's overpriced trade paperback market. The creators list consists of writers George Perez, Dan Jurgens, and Jerry Ordway, and artists Curt Swan, Mike Mignola, Kerry Gammill, and others.
The story itself is epic in scope, following the post-Crisis Superman on his adventures in deep space. But wait, why is the Man of Steel not back on Earth, protecting us from threats domestic and alien? Simple: he is wracked with grief over his recent action of taking the lives of 3 homicidal Kryptonian criminals who escaped from the Phantom Zone. Now, I'll admit this premise is pretty flimsy, even for Superman - on one hand, you have a code that says you won't take a life, but on the other, you have 3 individuals, each possessing your full power, who want nothing more than to plunder your adopted world and kill every last living thing on the planet... I wouldn't lose any sleep over that decision, but then I guess that's what makes Superman better than me, right? Anyway, deciding he is a potential threat to the people of Earth, Supes exiles himself to wander space on something of a "hero's journey". If you've read any Joseph Campbell, you can probably figure out the basic structure of the story from here, but even though the plot is fairly predictable, the adventures themselves are good reading, with a bit of real weirdness here and there. Interestingly, even though our hero is in space for the majority of this book, there's still some crazy stuff occuring in Metropolis, and equal time is given to the supporting cast on Earth, so you get regular diversions from Superman's adventures. Add to this the first appearances of both Mongul and the Eradicator, and you've got some good solid reading that is a worthy addition to your Superman library. The only real negative comment I can make is that the ending loses steam and is fairly routine, especially after the rapid-fire "what next?" style present in the earlier stories. But that's a minor complaint, as I don't plan on getting rid of this book.
Rating: -
Superman: Exile is the story of Superman's grief after the first time he ever had to kill anyone. He has decided that the only way Earth can remain safe is for him to leave, so he dons a gasmask and portable teleportation unit and disappears into deep space. Features the first appearance of the Eradicator, Mongul, and War Planet. I really liked the Exile story-line, and I've re-read it at least once. I would highly recommend it to any Superman fan.
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