About Heroes

This Review Was Submitted by The Dude:

Writer(s): Geoff Johns & Richard Donner
Artist: Adam Kubert

I just got finished reading this sucker and you know what, it's not bad. The main thought I kept having though was "Is this like a sequel to Superman For All Seasons?" but, I'll get to that in a little bit.

First things first, the art. Kubert man I don't know what I am gonna do about you. The cover was...well let's just say fan-freakin-tastic. The lighting/shadowing used on the cover image, a cold don't f' with me stone-like Superman , was just great. All of this having been said, Kubert's artwork within this issue was maybe only a little above average, I don't know particularly what I didn't like about it, I just felt like Kubert was borrowing from Sale's Superman too much. One of the most glaring examples of this I found being Superman's face as it reflected off of a spaceship that had come crashing into Metropolis (see page 10). Frank Millers' artwork also came to mind in the panel of Superman face to face with Steel, eyes glowing almost ready to burn a hole in Sarge Steels' head. I thought to myself..."you know that looks a lot like the Superman from The Dark Knight Returns". Yeah, yeah, I am nitpicky but, I gotta point that stuff out when I see it. I will say I throughly enjoyed the paneling done in this issue. I can't tell you how many times lately I have been reading a comic book and the panels are so screwed up I don't know which ones come first or last over one or two pages. Other people take note, if your gonna do two page paneling look at this issue intensely, save me a headache will ya.

Ok, how about the writing you ask? Geoff Johns & Richard Donner are both accomplished writers, Johns' having numerous credits and current ongoing titles, Donner, well heck Donner did the first two Superman movies. Do these two great writers pull of an enthralling story, short answer yes, long answer sorta. To critize Johns' & Donners' writing style at this point would almost be pointless as it's Richard Donners' first dip into comic book writing; oh sure Johns' spins a good yarn but Donners' writing is key. At this point the only criticism I can make of the issue is at times it seems a bit off here and there but, like I said I'll attribute that to this being Donners' first time writing a comic book. The overall story I am liking, I had problems with it for a smidge until I realized not to read it as being in normal DCU continuity. Maybe I am wrong but, nowhere is Infinite Crisis, Conner, or Clark slowing regainning his powers mentioned. It read almost like an All-Star title. In closing is this the best Superman story I've ever read, no. Could it be? Maybe. I think I'll stick on to this title for one more issue. I give this issue a B+.