About Heroes

This Review was Submitted by knightwingbk:
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artists: Tim Sale & Bjarne Hansen

I picked this book up mainly to read a good Superman story before Superman Returns opens, and lo and behold I did not pick the wrong book! The book is not an origin story, it’s closer to a study on what makes Superman tick, why he does what he does. Each section, in the form of a season is basically a self-contained story narrated by a supporting character. Pa, Lois, Luthor, and Lana each narrate a season, and have their own particular story to tell about Superman. Each of these stories works, not for the action inside it, but for the narration that accompanies it.

Pa Kent narrates spring, where he reminisces about Clark's last days in High School before he leaves Smallville. In this time period, we see Clark's relationship with Lana and Pete, and Ma and Pa's reservations about letting Clark leave or how they raised Clark. It’s not so much that Clark is manifesting his powers for the first time, it’s that all of his powers manifest fully. He flies for the first time, he can no longer cut his hair, and we see how Pa can sometimes resent Clark for all his strength. It's here that Clark realizes how he can change the world, being only one man, and that it is his responsibility to do so.

Next we have Lois narrating summer, and it revolves around a classic Superman storyline. Lois Lane in trouble and Superman saves her and gives her a ride home. In this book, we find out why Lois Lane has an infatuation for Superman. Jeph Loeb beautifully illustrates Superman's speed, when during one word of Lex Luthor's, Superman grabs a gun out of a terrorists hand in three beautifully rendered panels. Rather than have two panels with the before and after, we have three, where in the middle panel we see a red and blue blur lunging both forward and back retrieving the gun. After Superman retrieves the gun, in classic Lois Lane fashion she kicks the guy in the balls to get his hands off her.

Lex's chapter, fall, explores Lex's love for Metropolis and his jealousy of Superman as the city's golden boy. Lex sets up a scheme in this chapter, not to harm the city, but to make Superman feel helpless. For Lex, it’s not about hurting people, it’s about making Superman feel helpless and stupid, the way Superman makes Lex feel. For Lex, this is poetic revenge.

The last chapter, winter, is narrated by Clark's high school love, Lana Lang. In this chapter we explore how Lana fell out of love when she found out Clark's secret. Up until that point she was ready to have her head Krypto-spermed off (via super-sperm) and get married to Clark. She explores Clark's feelings of responsibility and how that responsibility got in the way of her love.

This story works because of Jeph Loeb's spot on characterizations. Superman feels warm, kind, powerful, and gentle all at the same time. Clark Kent never feels like a bumbling idiot, but only a simple farmboy. Ma and Pa exist outside of their usual old man and old lady characters, but as real people, and consistently act as parents. Lois is headstrong and smart as a whip. The explanation of Lex's hatred of Superman works more than his madman persona he sometimes has. To me, and apparently Jeph Loeb, Lex Luthor works better as a smart businessman trying to win back his city's affections.

I dont know what it is about Jeph Loeb when he works with Tim Sale, but at least for DC, he seems to write better when Tim Sale is illustrating him. Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and now For All Seasons will be added to his list of best works. Sale draws Superman really bulky, built like a farmboy not a body builder. As usual, he can draw really good looking women, and his cityscapes are grand. What really makes the art stand out, are the colors by Bjarne Hansen. The book looks like they watercolored the actual pages in the book in front of you. It may be the good quality paper, but the packaging makes the book shine. The colors, handpainted instead of computer painted give the book emotional warmth and cool, and cold, whatever each season calls for. In other hands, the seasons may feel less pronounced, but in this colorist's hands, the format of the book and title make it all come together. For a light and good Superman tale to get you in the mood for Supeman Returns, pick up this solid A of a book.