I know, I know, it is supposed to be Batman’s time this month.
BUT I finally found and bought the much raved re-telling of Superman’s origin - Smallville style! Jeph Loeb writes the book, the same person who conceptualized Smallville and written the first few episodes of the show. I have been looking for this book since September 2004 (it was first printed on 1999). I didn’t know that this is a huge book about Superman so I just shrugged it off when I saw a copy at Bibliarch in Glorietta. When I came back at Bibliarch to buy it, alas, it was already sold.
And now, I am a proud owner of Superman For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.
Here’s a short review:
SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS is one of the finest Superman stories ever told.
Appearing in 1998 as a four-issue prestige format mini-series, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS was produced by the team of writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale — also responsible for BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN and the Marvel “colors” graphic novels (e.g. DAREDEVIL: YELLOW), among others.
The story’s most influential portion is its first, beautifully depicting Clark Kent’s life on the farm in Kansas, growing up with good old-fashioned Midwestern American values under the tutelage of Ma and Pa Kent. Here is his perception of his difference from others while still very much the human being. Here is his simply joy at his powers, flying with Lana Lang in a scene reminiscent of his flight with Lois Lane in the classic 1978 movie Superman. An idyllic pastoral more than a traditional Superman story, this chapter would go on to exercise great influence on SMALLVILLE, the TV series featuring a super-powered Clark Kent growing up in Smallville without a costume.
Worth reading, and mandatory for Superman fans.
